Internal Audit Warned Metro of Escalator Issues Prior to Oct. 30

The blog Unsuck DC Metro made public Monday a report, dated Sept. 30, that warned the transit agency of the potential for problems before the brakes failed on a L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station escalator causing it to speed up and dump several people in a pile at the bottom, injuring six.

The internal audit by independent consultant Vertical Transportation Excellence assessed escalators at Woodley Park, Dupont Circle, Bethesda and Foggy Bottom. Among the issues it found were major amounts of oil and lubricant on step treads and risers symptomatic of leaking at drive motor/reducer coupling and brake pads worn beyond usable life expectancy and out of adjustment.

After the Oct. 30 incident on a ridership-record-setting day thanks to the Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert rallies at the National Mall, a Metro safety report found one brake had oil on it from a leaking motor housing and brake pad wear.

Metro Deputy General Manager Dave Kubicek briefed Metro Board on findings of the audit Oct. 14 but didn't mention brakes.

"They had the alarm bell, and they didn't follow up on it until there were two incidents or problems, and the transgression puts our customers in peril," Jim Graham, a board member from the District, told The Washington Post.

Metro spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein called the posted report "an outdated and incomplete draft." She said the report will be made public when it is finalized. She noted that Kubicek had stated on Oct. 14 that Metro was dealing with safety concerns raised by the report, such as removing water and debris and hiring mechanics.

Reports of an incident similar to the L'Enfant incident at Gallery Place-Chinatown last week were not confirmed.