Metro spent two years refurbishing the Friendship Heights bus station to the tune of half a million dollars. The new design was supposed to ease the flow of buses in an out of traffic and make the station more pleasant for riders. It was also part of the development plan for Friendship Heights years ago, when taller, more dense development was only allowed on the condition that a bus terminal would remain linked to Metro’s rail station.

There’s a problem with the shiny, new terminal though: about a third of Metro’s current bus fleet – and more in the future – can’t use it. Newer hybrid electric or natural gas Metrobuses are taller than older diesel buses by several inches, and are unable to clear the covered loading area.

Instead of the uncluttered transit center that was envisioned, The Washington Post reports that buses now crowd the intersection of Wisconsin and Western Avenues, and commuters are more unsure of where to go than ever. Metro has been unable to explain the error away, saying only that it was discovered as the construction process was coming to a close. Of course, Metro also tells the Post that the “…older diesel buses are just as environmentally friendly as the newer hybrid or natural-gas powered buses,” so we are having a hard time putting much stock in their explanation.

Fixing the error won’t be any easier then explaining (or spinning) it. The floor of the office building above prevents Metro from increasing the height of the ceiling, and lowering the floor could damage the building’s foundation. Though some say Metro appears poised to abandon the station, Friendship Heights zoning requirements require it.

Quite a pickle indeed. Perhaps Metro could just scrap the Friendship Heights routes that use the station and call it cost cutting to make yet another tight budget?