D.C. rail system has safety issues

WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) -- The Metro system serving the Washington, D.C. area is in need of major improvements in both safety and administration, investigators say.

A federal investigation of the system found that Metro has no process to ensure safety problems are identified in a timely fashion and top leaders are informed about safety issues, The Washington Post reported Friday.

In a sternly worded report, the Federal Transit Administration highlights the failures of both Metro executives and the independent safety monitors at the Tri-State Oversight Committee.

"Our audit makes clear that these two agencies are not doing enough to guarantee the safety of Metro passengers or Metro workers," FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff said.

Rogoff said the findings are a symptom of a much deeper problem extending from executive leadership all the way down to the most junior employee.

The FTA initiated its audit at the request of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md.