NYC Transit Takes New Safety Steps

New York, NY —

New York City Transit and the Transport Workers union say they've taken new safety steps, following a report which found basic safety steps were ignored prior to the deaths of 2 track workers. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.

REPORTER: Daniel Boggs and Marvin Franklin were each hit by trains while doing track work in April. An internal report on the deadly accidents found critical safety rules weren't followed - including a lack of communication, short-cuts across a live track, and a supervisor who left his post.

REPORTER: New York City Transit President Howard Roberts says the report revealed certain weaknesses in the system. Transport Workers Union President Roger Toussaint also blamed pressure from management to keep the trains running. But both agree two new task forces will go a long way toward improving safety, and say they've already made important changes.

REPORTER: Track gangs now always have at least a couple of radios on them and control towers make announcements about any work. But some union members who oppose Toussaint also want more enforcement from the state. For WNYC I'm Beth Fertig