The Examiner reports that WMATA is planning on asking customers for suggestions and input on the design of their Series 7000 railcars. Beginning in January, the transit agency will be conducting a public input campaign, which they hope will address issues like the effectiveness of handle placement and other design issues. From WMATA’s press release announcing the process:
Starting in January 2011, Metro will use a range of research and outreach methods to gain information from customers on their preferences for amenities within the car interiors, such as wall and floor covering materials, signage displays and locations, lighting and handheld bar styles. In addition, train operators will be consulted on design elements related to the operator’s cab, while mechanical staff will be requested to provide input to ensure maintainability.
“The whole approach is customer-driven to ensure that the new cars are a reflection of what our customers want, and also to project a forward-looking transit car fitting for our nation’s capital,” said Metro General Manager Richard Sarles. “We will build on the information that we gathered previously for the train car specification, and test concepts, learn about amenity preferences and validate our work throughout the entire design process until we begin manufacturing the cars.”
More rider involvement in the train design process: always a good thing. But wait — didn’t we already talk about this almost two years ago? We sure did, back in January 2008. Back then, the latest Series 7000 renderings featured stainless steel exteriors instead of an aluminum car body, thinner stainless steel seats offering more leg room, 64 cloth-padded, taller seats with seat-back grab handles on each car, rubber floors in lieu of carpeting, interactive maps on LCD screens that would probably also display advertisements, automated station announcements and security cameras on all rail cars.
Based on the reactions that DCist readers left on that post, you guys were excited about the additional room for standing, rubber floors and security cameras, but begrudged the lack of wider doors, bench seating, four-door trains, additional poles to hold on to and the elimination of manual station announcements like the endearing “Judishuwary Square.” Commentariat: approximately 22 months later, do you still hold onto such design suggestions?
