By Lex Doig, Jaehee Kim and Adrian Mancera Cota
Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University
The U.S. Department of Transportation will “dramatically increase” the number of government railroad bridge inspectors — a major expansion of federal oversight — just weeks after an investigation from the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at Arizona State University revealed railroads had largely self-inspected bridges and kept findings hidden from the public.
The DOT called the changes a “major leap forward in railroad bridge safety oversight.” The Howard Center investigation in August revealed the Federal Railroad Administration had been operating with just six inspectors for nearly 70,000 railroad bridges. That number will now rise to more than 160.
The changes also come after officials in two states — Texas and Virginia — reached out to the FRA and “asked about ways to enhance bridge safety oversight,” according to FRA spokesperson Warren Flatau.
The Texas Department of Transportation advocated for national reform because it said its state rail inspectors were not allowed to inspect rail bridges under the current system.
Adam Hammons, a spokesman for the Texas DOT, expressed gratitude to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and his FRA staff for their swift action to add government inspectors for rail bridges.
“Once state rail inspectors complete the FRA’s new bridge inspection training,” Hammons said, “this will help (state investigators) confirm that rail bridges are structurally sound and improve safety for Texas.”
Duffy said the Trump administration plans to take existing federal and state workers who inspect railroad tracks and teach them how to also inspect bridges. “Leveraging our existing, dedicated workforce to improve oversight of railroad bridge safety is another common-sense win for Americans,” Duffy said in a news release.
The federal announcement included comments praising the reforms from Jared Cassity, a rail union leader with SMART Transportation Division, who had told the Howard Center in its initial report it was “shocking and scary’’ the federal government was attempting to provide oversight with just six railroad bridge inspectors.
The SMART Union said on its website the government’s actions are “a clear step forward in addressing one of the most pressing safety concerns facing rail workers today.”
The Association of American Railroads, which had for years lobbied against an increased federal role in railroad bridge inspections, expressed support. “Railroads appreciate FRA’s expansion of its bridge inspection program,” said Jessica Kahanek, assistant vice president of communications for the railroad trade group. “This important step complements the industry’s own comprehensive bridge management safety programs.”
FRA Acting Administrator Drew Feeley said the added training, which will begin in November, will give the agency “many more opportunities to confirm the structural soundness of railroad bridges.”
After training, government inspectors will have the option of recommending civil penalties for certain critical defects they find in the field.
Reporters Matthew Bird, Mackenzie Miller and Justin Patton contributed to this story.
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