Metro to remove newspaper vending machines, relocate bicycle lockers at Metrorail stations

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is locking up newspaper vending machines that are located inside its Metrorail stations in a first step as it prepares to remove them as part of a comprehensive effort to improve security inside its stations. Newspaper vending boxes remain available outside Metrorail stations for customers' use. In addition, bicycle lockers, located at many Metrorail stations, are being shifted to locations more distant from the stations, also for security purposes.

During the first weekend in October, Metro removed its trash and recycling bins from the areas between Metrorail faregates and station platforms in a similar effort to improve security.

The double-decker brown newspaper boxes inside stations, known as "condos," have a flat front metal panel that affixes to the front of the boxes. It is similar to putting a lid on a box. The metal lid encloses the condos and makes them inaccessible to customers. The condo-style newspaper vending machines that are located under Metro's right-of-way, or beneath elevated tracks, are being removed at 11 locations this week.

In addition, there are 124 newspaper boxes inside the stations next to the fare vending machines that are being made inaccessible until they are able to be physically removed from stations. They also are expected to be locked and removed this week.

"We are taking these added precautions to increase security with an eye toward the safety of our customers," Metro General Manager Richard A. White said. "We hope that customers understand and will purchase their newspapers outside the station from the many vending machines located at our station entrances if they want to read one of the papers available there.

"Additionally, we continue to ask our customers to be our partners in keeping

the system safe and clean," he said. "We ask that customers report any suspicious
package or activity to a Metro employee or police officer, and we ask that they show
their patriotism by depositing their newspapers and other trash in the tash bins that are still located at the station entrances and exits instead of leaving it on the platforms and in trains."

Many Metro stations have bicycle lockers so customers are able to conveniently ride their bicycles to a Metro station, place them inside secure lockers and then take Metro to work. Several of the bicycle lockers are located in areas with tracks and platforms above them. Seven bicycle lockers will be moved to another convenient location at Metrorail stations for customer use.

Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, Metro officials have been taking extra security precautions to help ensure customer and employee safety. The locking and eventual removal of the newspaper vending machines is being undertaken to eliminate them as a possible location for someone to leave a package or device that may cause harm. Additionally, the shifting of the bicycle lockers is also an effort to make them less likely to be used as a place for a harmful package.

"This is a natural next-step to removing the trash and recycling bins and is another way that we are taking our already safe transit system and making it even safer," said Metro Transit Police Chief Barry McDevitt. "We have instituted additional safety precautions since September 11. Some of those additional precautions are easily recognizable such as increased visibility of our uniformed officers and our K-9 units; the removal of the trash and recycle bins in the paid area of our Metrorail stations; recent distribution of two ‘Dear Fellow Rider' letters; and the shift of our Pentagon bus bay area to Pentagon City. Other precautions and security enhancements are not as visible, and are designed to be that way. In this case, the removal of the newspaper vending machines and moving of bicycle lockers are noticeable changes."