Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee

NEWS RELEASE #381

Wednesday, August 17, 2005
10:30 AM

PCAC Urges Improvements to MTA Agency Emergency Communication

In a report released today, Ladies and Gentleman This Is Not a Drill…. A Study of Internal and External Emergency Communication Policies at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and New York City Transit, the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee (PCAC) to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) called upon the MTA and its operating agencies to implement measures to improve their quality of communication in emergency situations. The recommendations presented in the report address communication among the MTA and its operating agencies, between the MTA and external agencies, including police, fire, and other emergency responders, and between the MTA and its agencies and their customers.

The report discusses the emergency plans developed for the MTA as a whole and the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and the NYC Transit subways, focusing on internal and customer communication. It examines the training that is provided to agency personnel to prepare them for communicating with the public in emergency situations and reviews each agency’s performance assessment process for actual and simulated emergencies. It discusses the means established to modify plans and procedures to improve performance. Finally, the report presents recommendations for actions that each agency can take to improve its performance communicating during emergencies with its employees, other agencies, and customers.

The PCAC found that that there are differences in the approaches taken by MTA Headquarters and the MTA’s operating agencies toward emergency communication. Each approach has its strengths and presents opportunities for improving the communication process within the MTA and its agencies. The report draws upon these strengths to recommend actions designed to make communication more effective.

The recommendations contained in the report include improving and better utilizing technology such as the MTA web site and internal employee intranet systems, revising emergency plans and policies to make them more accessible and useful in critical situations, creating new informational materials for customers, and strengthening performance assessment and emergency plan review and update processes.

PCAC Chair William K. Guild stated "The recent attacks on public transportation in London highlight the importance of effective communication during emergencies. The MTA and its agencies must continue to improve their ability to coordinate operations and provide vital information to customers in both large and small scale emergency situations."
The recommendations of the report are attached to this news release. Copies of the full report are available upon request from the PCAC office at 347 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor or can be downloaded from the Committee’s website at www.pcac.org.

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The PCAC serves as the coordinating body for the three councils created by the New York State legislature in 1981: the Long Island Rail Road Commuter’s Council, the Metro-North Railroad Commuter Council and the New York City Transit Riders Council. The 38 volunteer members are users of the MTA system and represent the interests of the riders. They are appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of local elected officials.