Last May we pointed to a Post article detailing the troubles WMATA was having with Metro’s ubiquitous platform lighting. According to the paper, the light-bulbs — over 25,000 throughout the whole system — lasted but three months at a time, requiring late night replacing that could involve as many as 13 employees working seven three-hour shifts to cover a large station. At the time, we asked if the expense was really worth it. Given all the other troubles the transit agency had to deal with, was constantly changing lightbulbs one they should have to bother with?

Apparently not, thinks Metro Chief John Catoe. FreeRide reported yesterday that Metro has started changing the platform lights, replacing traditional bulbs with amber- and red-colored LEDs. The reason? Cost and customer safety, according to a online chat Catoe held last week:

Yes, we are testing new LED lights as pilot program at the Gallery Place Metrorail station. A few weeks ago, Metro installed new amber yellow LED platform edge lights on the lower level at Gallery Place on the Yellow and Green Line. Last night, we installed red platform edge lights on the Red Line platform to Shady Grove. We hope to install the edge lights on the other platform. The decision to test these new LED lights is threefold. We wanted to find a technology that would lower our maintenance costs and reduce the number of times we must take a track out of service to install the platform edge lights. Another benefit is reducing energy consumption, which has a direct benefit of lower electricity costs for the authority. And we want to see if there are any potential safety benefits. For example, we hope to see if customers will behave differently if there are red lights on the platform edge instead of the traditional white or other colors such as amber.

We’re fans of the idea. Catoe came in promising to streamline the agency and cut costs where possible, and small things like this are a place to start.

Picture snapped by randomduck