SEPTA is advising bus and trolley customers to expect delays across the system. In response to what SEPTA’s web page says is “a series of recent accidents involving SEPTA vehicles that resulted in the death of one customer and multiple injuries to other passengers and employees, SEPTA will remove drivers from service to ‘train them.”‘ The Philadelphia Inquirer states it more bluntly: “There have been eight crashes involving SEPTA buses and trolleys since July 21.”
SEPTA says it’s investigating. According to Andrew Busch, SEPTA’s director of media relations, SEPTA does not know the cause of the spate of accidents. “In terms of a trend among these five incidents, there isn’t really a thread that we can see connecting them, because they have many different characteristics, [and] happened in different parts of the system,”
Since Mr. Busch’s statements, there have been three more accidents. And SEPTA has been quoted as saying they are investigating if the lack of workers may be the problem. To date, however, the focus has been on what the workers are doing incorrectly, not on any other part of SEPTA. Until SEPTA and others finish their investigations, SEPTA’s General Manager, Leslie Richards, will have new training that does not exist today.
“Following these recent incidents . . .,” Richards said on SEPTA’s webpage. “SEPTA has dispatched safety officers throughout the system to have discussions with employees about safety. These new trainings will emphasize the need to be vigilant about safety in all aspects of all jobs throughout the Authority… The training will emphasize safety guidelines that are in place and provide employees with a forum to give feedback. SEPTA is working jointly with the unions representing employees to develop the content that will be covered in the trainings.”
Ms. Richards goes on to write: “The safety for our customers and employees is always our top priority, and we are redoubling our efforts to be even more intentional about safety in everything that we do, at all levels of the Authority,” The recent series of accidents has caused us to look internally with a critical eye to ensure we embrace safety as a core value every day.”
The 10 minute delays will be across the system, and SEPTA advises riders to check its web page for updates on the delays. The delays will be caused by SEPTA removing employees from service and training them. “The training will emphasize safety guidelines that are in place and provide employees with a forum to give feedback. SEPTA is working jointly with the unions representing employees to develop the content that will be covered in the trainings.” SEPTA’s web page did not disclose the safety training given to employees before they begin service, if there is an annual retraining or any other specifics of why they believe training is the issue.
The web page doesn’t list any investigation Ms. Richards is conducting to see if SEPTA’s management’s decision was a part of the problem. Nor does it mention if SEPTA plans to use any of its $ 400 million reserves to hire more workers.
The SEPTA Board issued a statement saying, “We have stressed to executive staff that they need to be transparent with the public about the findings of these investigations.” The Board then canceled its August meeting without taking any other action.
In May of this year, the SEPTA board did act. It gave Ms. Richards a 21% pay increase and a new four-year contract. In thanking the Board, Ms. Richards said, “We’ve been through a tough three years and I really think we’re just hitting our stride here and seeing a lot of big positive change . . . We’ve been tested, and we are ready,”
At this point, the consultant running the “Bus Revolution” hearings has not stated whether the bus safety issues should affect bus routes or lead to changes in the consultants’ recommendations. The number of accidents, SEPTA’s management, and board concerns apparently will not be considered. The consultant has scheduled hearings on its recommendations in September before any investigations are completed.
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