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Federal safety oversight of MBTA returns to Massachusetts

Federal safety oversight of MBTA returns to Massachusetts

Rule Changes Boston, MA local

FTA closes its final directive; seven MBTA safety orders remain open under state watch

September 18th, 2026: Healey announces end of federal oversight

Overview

Updated Sep 22

Four years after a federal investigation found a 'lax safety culture' at the MBTA, the Federal Transit Administration has closed its directive to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and returned daily safety monitoring to the state. The FTA's Sept. 11 letter found the state agency now meets federal standards, though seven directives the FTA issued to the MBTA itself remain open under state supervision.

The turnaround followed a string of dangerous incidents, including the 2022 death of a Red Line passenger dragged by a train, and a 90-page federal report citing 53 problems from staffing to maintenance. Massachusetts responded with a new Rail Transit Safety Division, rebuilt tracks, and hired thousands of workers. Phil Eng, the MBTA's general manager, says the agency has submitted 99% of its required corrective actions, but the T still has work to do.

Why it matters

With the FTA watching from afar, Massachusetts regulators alone keep Boston's transit system safe for nearly 200,000 daily riders.

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Key Indicators

53
Problems cited
Findings in the 2022 federal report on the MBTA that the state and agency had to fix.
42.7 km
Track replaced
About 140,000 feet of rail replaced during shutdowns led by MBTA GM Phil Eng.
7
Open FTA directives
Directives the FTA issued to the MBTA that stay unresolved, now tracked by the state DPU.
70%
Tracks in good repair
Share of MBTA track in a state of good repair, up from 11% in 2023, per Eng.

Voices

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People Involved

Maura Healey
Maura Healey
Governor of Massachusetts
Sitting governor, announced the FTA decision
 Phil Eng
Phil Eng
Interim Secretary of Transportation and MBTA General Manager
Leads the T and state transportation
SR
Staci Rubin
Commissioner of the Department of Public Utilities
Leads DPU, which now supervises MBTA safety
RL
Robinson Lalin
Red Line rider killed in 2022
Deceased

Organizations Involved

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Transit agency
Seven of eight FTA directives still open, now under state oversight

The MBTA operates Boston's subways, buses, and commuter rail.
Federal Transit Administration
Federal Transit Administration
Federal agency
Ended direct oversight of MBTA safety

The FTA oversees public transit funding and safety nationwide.
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities
State Regulatory Agency
Regains full safety oversight of MBTA

The DPU oversees utilities and transportation safety in Massachusetts.

Timeline

April 2022 September 2026

9 events Latest: September 18th, 2026 · 2 months ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Healey announces end of federal oversight

    Latest Announcement

    Governor publicly confirms FTA decision, calling it a milestone.

  2. FTA closes final directive

    Regulatory Action

    Federal agency formally ends its oversight, returning authority to DPU.

  3. FTA closes directive 22-8 to DPU

    Regulatory Action

    Federal agency closes the directive requiring DPU to oversee the MBTA's corrective action plans.

  4. Phil Eng becomes MBTA general manager

    Leadership

    Former NYC Transit official takes over, launches overhaul.

  5. DPU creates Rail Transit Safety Division

    Reform

    State agency builds capacity to independently oversee MBTA.

  6. FTA releases scathing 90-page report

    Report

    Report cites 53 problems, including lax safety culture and under-funded operations.

  7. FTA issues initial directives

    Regulatory Action

    Inspectors find 8 in 10 dispatchers lacked certifications; order fixes.

  8. FTA launches safety inspection

    Investigation

    Federal inspectors begin probing MBTA operations and state oversight.

  9. Red Line passenger dragged to death

    Incident

    Robinson Lalin, 39, died after his arm got caught in a train door.

Scenarios

1

MBTA Maintains Safety Gains, State Oversight Sticks

Likely Resolves by Sep 18, 2027

Discussed by: Transit advocates and state officials; Healey and Eng have expressed confidence.

The Rail Transit Safety Division continues its inspections and audits without incident. No major safety failures occur, and the FTA sees no reason to re-enter. Ridership gradually rebounds as public confidence grows.

2

New Safety Failure Triggers Renewed Federal Oversight

Possible Resolves by Sep 18, 2027

Discussed by: Safety critics and some politicians who point to recurring issues in other transit systems.

A derailment, fire, or other serious incident exposes ongoing weaknesses in state oversight. The FTA uses its authority to step back in, issuing new directives and reimposing federal monitoring.

3

Budget Cuts Weaken State Oversight, FTA Issues Warning

Unlikely Resolves by Jan 1, 2028

Discussed by: Fiscal watchdogs and budget analysts; state fiscal pressures could force cuts.

Massachusetts faces a budget squeeze and reduces DPU's rail safety funding. The division loses key staff, inspection frequency drops. The FTA, while not taking over, issues a formal warning that state oversight is again insufficient.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

May 2015 - July 2021

WMATA federal safety takeover (2015-2021)

After a deadly smoke incident on the DC Metro, the FTA assumed direct safety authority from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the first such takeover in U.S. history.

Then

WMATA implemented a six-year safety improvement program, with FTA oversight of its rail operations.

Now

The FTA eventually returned control after verifying the agency met safety benchmarks, though WMATA still faces chronic funding shortfalls.

Why this matters now

Shows that federal safety oversight can be lifted after a sustained improvement period, but also that the underlying problems often persist after the spotlight fades.

1983-1986

Boston's 1983 MBTA safety crisis

A series of accidents and fires led to a federal investigation and a court-ordered safety monitoring program by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Then

The MBTA committed to extensive track and signal upgrades and hired more inspectors.

Now

The system regained autonomous operation but struggled with decades of underinvestment that later resurged in the 2000s.

Why this matters now

Illustrates that past oversight episodes have not prevented long-term decline; vigilance after relinquishment is critical.

Sources

(12)
+6
Universal Hub WCVB NBC Boston GBH WBUR Railway Supply Metro Magazine CBS Boston Boston.com Federal Transit Administration via WBUR Mass.gov WBUR