CATS addressing safety concerns

Safety concerns raised by the Capital Area Transit System’s maintenance workers don’t reflect immediate danger, but they are being addressed, says CATS CEO Brian Marshall. Last week, mechanic Fred Quiett and a colleague advised the transit agency’s board of directors of what they described as hazardous conditions and worn-out equipment, including the lack of an eyewash station and the need for new lifts and jacks. “There is no imminent danger,” Marshall says. “Before now, we did not have the capacity to replace equipment and tools. Many of the items on the list will be repaired or replaced within the next two months.” He says the agency is determining the cost, with plans to pay the expenses from the capital and maintenance budgets. Marshall also is defending RouteMatch, CATS’s new GPS software, which is intended to inform riders in real time when a bus will arrive at their stop. Since being launched in January, the system has gotten mixed reviews. But the CEO says it’s common for such systems to require tweaking after being installed. “We selected RouteMatch because they are a stellar company with a major reputation for customer service,” he says. “Be it RouteMatch or any company that offers this service, the process is the same: The system is installed and then schedules and equipment are adjusted accordingly. We installed this system two months ahead of schedule, and we are still ahead of other systems for full implementation.” —Penny Font