A transportation exec with experience at systems around the country was named the new Chief Safety Officer in Massachusetts, a post that will have him overseeing safety and operations for the MBTA, highway, rail and paratransit operations.
Governor Maura Healey named Patrick J. Lavin to the post created when she took office earlier this year.
Lavin has previously worked as Chief Safety Officer for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and as Senior Director of Operations for system safety at the New York City Transit.
“Pat Lavin is a dedicated public transportation expert who shares our administration’s commitment to improving safety and reliability across our transportation system, including the MBTA,” said Healey in a statement accompanying the announcement of Lavin’s appointment.. “We created this position to ensure we had a senior official coordinating efforts across all modes of transportation and driving strategies across the system to improve safety for riders and workers. I’m confident he will work closely with Secretary Fiandaca and General Manager Eng to deliver the service that the people of Massachusetts deserve.”
MBTA GM Philip Eng referenced the effort to “transform the safety culture” at the embattled agency he oversees in his remarks welcoming Lavin..
“I look forward to Pat Lavin taking on this new, crucial position as we transform the safety culture at the MBTA,” said MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng. “Prioritizing safety for our customers and our workers must be a daily priority in our transportation system, and Pat has the experience and expertise that is needed as we improve safety for all.”
Federal officials only last week put the state on notice that it had to step up safety at the T after a series of close calls during maintenance and construction operations in recent weeks.
In a letter sent to Eng, the Federal Transit Administration stated that it “remains deeply concerned regarding MBTA’s implementation of its right-of-way access procedures and practices.”
The series of accidents includes five near misses and one incident that left a worker “seriously injured,” according to officials.
Transportation Secretary Gina Fiandaca said Lavin’s experience will be a welcome addition in the state.
“Patrick Lavin is a nationally recognized expert in the field of transportation safety and has a proven track record evaluating processes and improving safety at major transit systems in the United States,” said Fiandaca said. “Mr. Lavin has led collision and derailment investigations, evaluated organizations for compliance with regulations, managed multi-million-dollar budgets, and developed and implemented safety programs for public transportation systems. In addition, he has a familiarity with the MBTA having been part of an independent safety review several years ago, and he understands the sense of urgency now to identify issues and find solutions at the T.”