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Transportation investigation finds widespread deficiencies in safety

A News21 and Center for Public Integrity investigation of the country's transit systems found that federal agencies, states and transportation industries take an astounding average of a record-high five years to respond to safety recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board.

Overview of a commuter train derailment on Sept. 17, 2005, in Chicago.

Overview of a commuter train derailment on Sept. 17, 2005, in Chicago.

NTSB

A spark flares on the tracks of the El in downtown Chicago. Sparks are common on the third rail, a separate track with an electrical current that powers the train. In June, sparks on Red Line tracks ignited an underground fire, causing rail cars to fill with smoke.

A spark flares on the tracks of the El in downtown Chicago. Sparks are common on the third rail, a separate track with an electrical current that powers the train. In June, sparks on Red Line tracks ignited an underground fire, causing rail cars to fill with smoke.

Ben Giles-News21

The NTSB said driver fatigue played a key role in a bus accident in Utah in 2008 that killed nine people returning from a ski trip.

The NTSB said driver fatigue played a key role in a bus accident in Utah in 2008 that killed nine people returning from a ski trip.

NTSB

Seventeen church members were killed when a bus swerved out of control in Sherman, Texas, in 2008. The bus company had been ordered out of service for safety violations, but the owner registered the company under a new name and kept driving.

Seventeen church members were killed when a bus swerved out of control in Sherman, Texas, in 2008. The bus company had been ordered out of service for safety violations, but the owner registered the company under a new name and kept driving.

National Transportation Safety B

NTSB investigators concluded that a 1995 engine fire on a ValuJet plane taking off from Atlanta was caused by the failure of "maintenance and inspection personnel to perform a proper inspection." The plane had been repaired at an overseas repair shop in Turkey a few years earlier.

NTSB investigators concluded that a 1995 engine fire on a ValuJet plane taking off from Atlanta was caused by the failure of "maintenance and inspection personnel to perform a proper inspection." The plane had been repaired at an overseas repair shop in Turkey a few years earlier.

NTSB

A member of an airport ground crew checks the exterior of a commercial jet at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in August. U.S. airlines used to repair and service their own airplanes, but by the late 1980s, when labor costs rose and rules about foreign airplane repairs relaxed, airlines began outsourcing maintenance to less expensive repair shops.

A member of an airport ground crew checks the exterior of a commercial jet at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in August. U.S. airlines used to repair and service their own airplanes, but by the late 1980s, when labor costs rose and rules about foreign airplane repairs relaxed, airlines began outsourcing maintenance to less expensive repair shops.

Brandon Quester-News21

Following the crash of a Comair flight that took off on an incorrect runway in Lexington, Ky., in 2006, the NTSB issued three recommendations to reduce air traffic controller fatigue.

Following the crash of a Comair flight that took off on an incorrect runway in Lexington, Ky., in 2006, the NTSB issued three recommendations to reduce air traffic controller fatigue.

NTSB

A large crane lifts a "Ride the Ducks" tour boat out of the Delaware River after it was struck by a barge, killing two in July. The Delaware River accident resulted from a series of malfunctions and errors - the kind safety management systems are designed to address.

A large crane lifts a "Ride the Ducks" tour boat out of the Delaware River after it was struck by a barge, killing two in July. The Delaware River accident resulted from a series of malfunctions and errors - the kind safety management systems are designed to address.

Ariel Zirulnick-News21

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