WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- The general manager for Metro released an open letter one year after the L'Enfant Plaza Metro smoke incident that left one person dead.
Paul Wiedefeld penned a letter for Monday's Express, the paper handed out at Metro stations. The letter starts by noting that Monday is the one-year anniversary of the tragedy that happened at the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station and took the life of one Metro passenger. One woman died and more than 80 people had to be hospitalized that day.
Eric Grace, a frequent metro rider, said he remembers the day smoke filled the tunnel at L'Enfant Plaza. He was near the area at the time. "It was very scary," Grace said. "It was a very shocking thing to find out."
Since the smoke incident Wiedefeld states that Metro has taken a number of precautions to ensure the safety of Metro riders. Coordination with first responders has improved and Metro will continue with training of responders throughout the region.
In the letter the general manager also notes that Metro has made repairs to the tunnel ventilation systems and provided new training for fan operations. These precautions will ensure that smoke can be cleared from tunnels and stations quickly and efficiently.
Lastly, Wiedefeld also said that Metro has focused on improving the public safety communications by advancing the design of a new radio system.
In the area of safety Wiedefeld, the first executive Wiedefeld is recruiting is a new Chief Safety Officer to oversee the Metro system on a day to day basis.
" Time will tell whether this comes out successful; his plans," Grace said. "I think it's good if they [Metro] follow through with it," Rick Richardson said.
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