April 24, 2008
Transit on Thursday: The Last 30 Days Edition
Unless you've been out of town for the last 30 days, you've been experiencing one of the busiest months in the history of the metro area's mass transit.
A majestic flurry of events - drawing large masses of people from the city, the suburbs, and all over the world - has barraged the area's public transportation this spring. In the last four weeks, we've seen the visit of the Pope, the beginning of the baseball season in a brand new ballpark, a run to the playoffs by the Capitals and the Wizards, the beginning of spring with the return of warm weather, the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Kite Festival, and the National Marathon, among others. Not surprisingly, Metro's been setting records left and right -- just yesterday the agency recorded its 10th highest ridership day ever, thanks to a Nats home game that was better attended than any game since opening day (32,780).
The reviews of Metro's performance over the last month have had one constant theme - adequacy. Dr. Gridlock of the Post gave Metro a grade of B+ during the Pope's visit, noting that Metro worker's sense of "calm" redeemed the fact that a train broke down at a crucial moment, while at least one of his readers seems to have fallen back in love with the system. Marc Fisher felt that the events revealed the gap which exists between everyday riders and those who crowd the trains on special occasions, while WTOP reported that with what seem like relatively small improvements, such as reducing choke points and effectively controlling crowding on platforms, one of Metro's busiest months ever could be considered largely successful.
If you had to give a grade to the area's mass transit system during the relative insanity of the last month, what would it be?
After the jump: door malfunction-o-rama, and your usual roundup of the transit stories you might have missed this week.
Photo by B Tal.
Dude, That Car's For C.H.U.D.s Only: Just a few days after Metro announced it's new policy of having Metro rail operators open doors manually, Dr. Gridlock reported on one car's very odd and frightening experience with the new system. In Rosslyn, the train doors of the last car on the track opened on the correct side, except that the car was still inside the tunnel. The train then continued to Foggy Bottom, where people got off to catch the next train back to Rosslyn. Metro says it is investigating the situation.
Just Graduated? How's Senior Director of Metro Sound?: Metro's got an issue with its labor force - WTOP reports that about 3,000 employees will be eligible for retirement benefits in 2010. The answer? "A move toward younger, fresher ideas." General Manager John Catoe outlined a plan for the next 12 to 18 months which could potentially elevate young people fresh out of college to director and supervisory positions through an intensive training program.
Engines and Cabooses: Metro ridership up 1.6 percent from March 2007 - but not as high as the 6 percent hikes in January and February 2008; April will likely be a banner month (see above)...Arlington County approves property tax which will provide $10 million for Metro station improvements and streetcar development...The Beltway will be intermittently backed up this weekend - check your traffic report before driving on it...14th Street Bridge lanes scheduled to reopen tomorrow morning......Gas tax maybe, possibly, could be not dead in Virginia.
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how's this for a "younger, fresher idea"? employees who don't have disdain for their customers. once the surliness is gone, metro will well on its way to being a better system.
Yeah, I would definitely be in favor of Metro retaining employees who don't actively hate on their ridership. And maybe give an explanation of why it takes seven people (six standing around, one working) to fix the escalators.
That said, I'd give the Red Line a B plus this month: no major delays, and I'm so grateful that there aren't the 45 minute wait times on weekends between Van Ness and Grosvenor.
My only issue with metro lately is that during rush hour (am and pm) you have to wait from 6-10 minutes for a Green Line train in the direction of Branch Ave.
So the Fast Track plan for younger workers sounds like a reality TV show in the making. I think that Bravo TV should put a film crew in there and film this. It could fill the void being left by Project Runway in the Fall lineup.
The logic that is escaping me is that 10,000 people are going to be eligible to retire in the next 2 years and they are talking about replacing 10 people in Sr. Management positions. What is Metro's plan to replace the other 9,990 employees set to retire?
For example, on opening day of the new baseball stadium, the trains were filled to the brim, and the Navy Yard station was totally packed as we shuffled our way up the stairs and through the gates. But it all only took a few minutes and overall was pretty error-free. Yet still a woman behind me made the comment, "Note: don't take metro to the game again." Meanwhile, I was thinking that though it was crowded, with 40,000 people converging into one spot, I couldn’t really expect much better and I’d rather do this than drive.
Some drivers, I guess, are willing to put up with traffic and excessive parking costs because that is what they have grown used to from doing many times over at almost every other special event. They are not willing to cram themselves into a filled Metro car because most of the time when they are on the Metro it’s a Saturday morning and they hop on near the end of the line, finding a seat on a mostly empty car (this obviously doesn’t hold true for most drivers, but I’m willing to bet it holds true for many suburbanites).
The moral of the story: it’s all perspective. But I’m only now coming to this realization.
And maybe give an explanation of why it takes seven people (six standing around, one working) to fix the escalators.
That would be the union rules, god bless 'em. Same deal with most construction sites: one guy works, half a dozen watch in case he actually fixes something, at which point he gets sent on a coffee break and the other five watch while one of them undos the repair. Rinse, lather, repeat.
As much as Metro pisses me off, I'd have to give them a B+/A- for their level of service since Opening Day. There haven't been any fires around Dupont/Farragut North. There's been lots of Metro people on the platforms directing people. The extra security and workers at the Navy Yard stadium has helped tremendously. And the station managers along my Red Line commute actually are outside their Fortress of Solitudes and greet people in the morning and afternoon.
But Metro has done this to me before. They act all nice and lovey-dovey. And I once again rekindle my fondness for them. And then they turn on me. Money is tight with them. They can't pay their bills or fix things. They show up late. Act all pissed off when I ask what's the matter. Don't act like they appreciate me at all. It's like a vicious cycle between Metro and me. I hope that this time is different, but I've been too embittered by previous promised made that Metro couldn't keep.
sorry, cranky, the 'relationship with metro' meme has already won comment of the week once, don't think they'll do the same this week...
I've been one two trains in three days during non-rush hour periods where the train operator has come over the intercom to tell riders that a door somewhere along the train wasn't shutting, and to please push it in place. One would think that Metro would just offload and shut down that car once a door malfunctioned, but instead they trusted riders to close the door sufficiently and then travel 40+ mph through some tunnels or along an elevated rail. I guess they just sent up a wish and a hope that it wouldn't fly open in a tunnel, or get stuck open again at the next station.
Since I'm apparently now responsible for maintenance of the trains, do I start getting free trips and a retirement package?
I ride Metro 2-6 times daily, and have had no complaints these last two or so months. Two thumbs up! They clearly worked very hard on the Navy Yard station, and it shows. Even the weekend/s a few weeks (months?) ago when the red line was going to be delayed--it was so well publicized that I could easily avoid it all through judicious bus usage.
Not to mention the videos! I'm not even joking (much). It is evidence of a sense of humor. I like seeing that in my public servants. The Metro police working the Navy Yard after games have been in good spirits, also.
WAMU was announcing delays/lack of delays for a while, that was convenient too. They stopped though, IIRC...or maybe they have gone to just announcing delays?
As usual, my biggest WMATA complaint is the homicidal/puke-inducing driving of about 1 in 20 bus drivers. Those assholes really do frighten me. Cabdrivers have nothing on them.
IMGoph: But I need that comment of the week validation! I only won it once - and that was back around Christmas when it was basically me that was on this site. It made me feel good.
You know, when I first moved here about a decade ago, I started hearing this "surliness" term being thrown about to describe the typical style of customer service in D.C., and at first I thought it was merely a code word for "racist." But it didn't take long to see that the folks around here who are in a position to provide customer service treat everybody that way, regardless of what they look like!
The whole "Northern charm and Southern efficiency" thing really is true.
The "Mystery Rider" program is not nearly as exciting as the title makes it sound.
"The doors were open for a minute while the train rode over a bridge above the river. It was so frightening. And then a man pushed his way from the back of the crowd, walked confidently up to the doors and pulled them shut. And just as swiftly, he walked out the emergency exit never to be seen again. Who was that Mystery Rider?!"
we need to start a fund here, commenters, the "buy cranky a token to show that we appreciate his contributions" who wants to pony up?
It's been 20 minutes and we've had no takers. This does not bode well.
That would be the union rules, god bless 'em
To quote Homer Simpson: "Oh, I always wanted to be a teamster. So lazy and surly."
Has anyone else picked up on this gem on the WJLA website about how the city purchased street cars three years ago and has not set a time table for building stations or tracks for implementing the street car program?
Maybe people are taking long lunches. Here are a couple bus tokens for Cranky.
Drew - Have you know faith? If you buy them, they will come and build themselves tracks, stations and a management organization. We should all be looking to the corn fields to await James Earl Jones coming out to fill us with learned wisdom and long-lasting cliches.
I've got a coupon for two-for-one botox that I'll split with Cranky.
Wow that WJLA thing is like the least detailed story on anything ever. Not to excuse what could be a dumb move, but I'm assuming they ordered the cars back when they thought CSX would give them the right of way on some unused property. But then CSX said no. They even held a groundbreaking ceremony for the line back in 2004.
drew: see my comment about it here in the morning roundup thread.
So I have to say that I'm kind of tired of people hating on Metro. Yeah, sometimes it totally blows, but the fact still stands that we have a world-class system in a country where there has never been a huge emphasis on public transit. It's inexpensive, effective transportation, and given the alternative of driving everywhere, is really a great option. I wish people would just stop and try to look at Metro's positive aspects...
Seconded Loganite.
loganite: i'm not hating on metro, though it may not be the most constructive criticism, i love metro. i wish it could live up to its full potential. of course, the politicians who refuse to properly fund it are what's really holding it back, so maybe i should direct my vitriol at them...
They've had that "fast track to management" program for years. Basically, you had a 12-18 month internship and then could follow on in management positions if they thought you were a good fit. Having been a bus driver for 3 years in college, an engineering major for a few years, and having a strong interest in urban planning, I applied. Eventually, they did try to hire me. By eventually, I mean 9 months after they said they'd be calling. In the interim, I got hired to be in the Foreign Service...yes, you got that right. WMATA is less efficient and slower moving than the State Department.
B. I was slightly pissy with Metro for the game yesterday (holy cow were the platforms full), but they brought up an empty train and that seemed to solve most issues.
Hopefully they will get better as the eeason goes on. I was more pissed off at the poor quality of basic staples at the game. A cold, hard pretzel for $4 and slightly burnt popcorn for $5? I can live with those prices (cheaper than most other items at the game), but at least deliver mediocre quality. Your food items should not be performing worse than the horrible team on the field which had a problem throwing the ball to first base yesterday.
I'd contribute to the Cranky fund but all my assets are tied up in the Jim Graham STFU fund.
I don't know if the problem is entirely politicians not funding Metro properly, so much as their constituents who don't see Metro as their top priority. Let it completely implode from neglect, spilling tens of thousands onto the roadways, then they'll start haranguing their politicians and complaining, "How could you let this happen!? We need more people off the roads and into mass transit so I can get to work faster! But don't raise my taxes."