Colton calls on MTA to put ‘positive controls’ on trains
Says precautions needed after Metro-North tragedy
As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continued its investigation into the Metro-North train derailment that killed four people, a Brooklyn lawmaker issued a call for “positive” changes in the brake mechanism of commuter trains.
Assemblyman Bill Colton (D-Gravesend-Bensonhurst) called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates Metro-North, to install special brakes known as “positive controls,” that would automatically decrease train speeds.
Colton said the positive controls could prevent future train derailments. The federal government mandated five years ago that positive controls be installed in transportation systems across the country, but the MTA requested a postponement for implementation, Colton said.
“This is life-saving technology that can be used to prevent future train accidents from occurring. The MTA has a responsibility to make sure everything possible is done to protect the lives of those who use its public transit system. The installation of this system is a no-brainer,” Colton said.