Metro's swift, aggressive discipline isn't so swift or aggressive
A while back Metro promised to crack down on MetroRail drivers who were running stop signals, after a KPRC-2 investigation.
The light-rail train ran a stop signal at a busy intersection near downtown -- a horizontal bar meant stop, but the driver kept going.
METRO said the train was also speeding throughout the route along Main Street and near the Museum District. It was clocked going as fast as 48 mph in a 35 mph speed limit zone.
Records showed the train operator was also driving with his cab door open talking to passengers, which is another major violation.
It all happened during one afternoon's train ride.
[snip]
METRORail supervisors agreed and filed paperwork to fire the train operator, Charles Lightfoot, for his "willing disregard for public safety," and said he should never be rehired.
Earlier this year, METRO leaders promised tough disciplinary action after the Troubleshooters uncovered METRORail operators running stop signals at intersections across town.
"I happen to think when a train runs a signal, it's not a casual event, it's a life-threatening event," said Dave Feeley, senior vice president of METRO operations.
So, what happened to Lightfoot? Houstonians are still paying him to work and he's still carrying METRO passengers across town.
The Troubleshooters spotted Lightfoot eating a sandwich in the driver's seat of his new job -- driving a METRO bus. They followed him on his north Houston route to downtown Houston.
In less than one hour, he ran a red light in Midtown, according to the Troubleshooters' video.
Ah yes. Like any good government agency, Metro rarely fires anyone; Metro just shuffles the players around.
"He was never completely terminated because I put him back to work," Feeley said.
Feely is the METRO vice president who promised tough discipline for rail violators.
"We all make mistakes, as long as they're not repeated over and over and over again," he said.
Oh my. Where to begin? It's not okay for private citizens to run red lights, but as long as a Metro driver doesn't repeat the mistake over, and over, and over, it's okay? How many "overs" are needed before a termination WILL be considered? Will VP Feeley get serious when Lightfoot (what a name!) crashes into someone?
By the way, in the latest MetroRail crash data released to Tom Bazan (through an open records request, of course), an accident on September 8, 2005, at Main and Leeland was caused by (in Metro's own words):
Train proceeded through intersection hit by vehicle - not vertical bar.
There was not a vertical bar. That means the MetroRail driver ignored the stop signal. And it should read, "Train proceeded through intersection and hit vehicle," not "hit by vehicle" since the train ignored the stop signal.
KEVIN WHITED ADDS: When I crossed midtown starting my commute to work today (a little before 7 am), the lights were flashing at Elgin and Main. Thankfully, there was no Danger Train in sight. Still, I have to say that the situation was pretty scary, and I hadn't even seen this report yet! I hope METRO gets that light fixed ASAP. And the light-running problems too!
Posted by Anne Linehan @ 11/22/05 07:27 AM | Print |
Previous Entry | Home | Next Entry
ADVERTISING
DISCLAIMER
All content © 2004-09, blogHOUSTON and the respective authors.
blogHOUSTON.net is powered by Nucleus.
Site design and Nucleus customization are by Kevin Whited.