APTA’s Alberts Briefs WMATA on Peer Review Findings

7/27/2026

Brian Alberts, APTA senior director – safety and advisory services, addressed the Finance and Capital Committee of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board of Directors July 23, providing a briefing to General Manager/CEO Randy Clarke and agency leadership on the Rail Modernization Program peer review APTA conducted for WMATA April 27-May 1.

The briefing included an overview of the APTA peer review, a presentation of findings and recommendations from peer review agencies Metroselskabet (Copenhagen Metro) and TfL (London Underground), and an introduction of the concept design for the platform door element of the WMATA Rail Modernization Program.

In January 2026, WMATA requested that APTA conduct a peer review of the planning process and efforts for its Rail Modernization Program and the Red Line Modernization project. WMATA’s request to APTA included a review of the agency’s program planning, technical development, and mitigation strategy, as well as governance and program management.

“[Peer reviews are] a really amazing part of APTA, and it’s why we’re members of APTA,” said Clarke. “It’s really appreciated, and you’re helping us move forward on a critical program.”

Peer review participants and international agency representatives on the WMATA headquarters rooftop deck in April during the review. APTA’s Brian Alberts is center, in gray jacket and brown shoes.

The peer review included five experts from four agencies: Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), Metroselskabet, London Underground, and Metro de Madrid. Each agency was selected due to its direct and recent experience with similar projects and programs. The peer systems each have experience with some combination of automated operations, complex re-signaling retrofit projects, or installation and operation of platform doors.

“This is such a special opportunity, thank you APTA. I don’t know when else we’d have the opportunity to learn from the experience of others like this,” said Dr. Tracy Hadden Loh, 2nd vice-chair, WMATA Board of Directors. “To see peers collaborating like this and helping each other learn is inspiring. This is the industry at its best.”

View a recording of the July 23 WMATA board meeting.

APTA peer reviews utilize subject matter experts from within the transit industry to help agencies address a broad array of issues. Learn more.