Three incidents at MATA prompted this Special Review: two derailments and a service shutdown of the MATA trolley barn. TRA also evaluated the staffing at MATA, which included an evaluation of headcount, training and qualifications, future staffing plans, and staff’s involvement in inspections, operations, safety, investigations, maintenance of rolling stock, facilities, and infrastructure.

While on-site in Dallas, TRA was tasked to interview MATA personnel, inspect MATA facilities, infrastructure, and equipment, and develop practical and tangible findings. At the conclusion of the on-site review, TRA submitted a final report to TxDOT, containing findings and recommendations from the review. The report included an analysis of MATA’s compliance with TxDOT’s State Safety Oversight requirements of rail transit systems in the State of Texas.