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Welcome
Author Message
Richard White Good afternoon and thanks for joining us for today's chat. I'm joined today by our Board chairman Dana Kauffman, who is here with me to chat about whatever is on your mind. We know many of you have been reading the four-part series about Metro that has been in the paper this week. We want you to know that we take the issues that were raised in the articles very seriously, and in most instances we have already taken aggressive measures to fix what needed to be fixed. I'm sure those of you who ride our buses and trains have noticed that reliability generally has improved over the past six months. We expect those trends to only get better. At the same time, the general reaction around the region is that most of what has been reported this week was old news re-packaged to appear new. We have fact sheets on this Web site if you are interested in learning more about the issues discussed in the newspaper over the past four days. We also want to assure you that we know we're not always perfect and that there is alwways room for improvement. We are committed to continuing to make improvements whenever and wherever they're needed. We have a lot of questions today, so let's get chatting!
hunt I thought it was ironic that, as the Metro employees were passing out your reply to the Post--saying the data were out of date--the escalator at Bethesda was down! Fact is, the Bethesda escalators--NONE of which are exposed to the weather--are out a lot.

I don't see what specifically you are doing about this, although I read a lot in the Post about how the refurbishing isn't working.
Dana Kauffman Hi. While the Bethesda escalators are not directly exposed to weather, they are subject to water problems caused by weather and the fountain at the street level, which is over the Metro entrance.

These units are among the longest in the world and have many moving parts and switches. In spite of all the failures, these escalataors were available just over 94 percent of the time for May, which is better than our average.
Metro's "more money needed" culture.
Author Message
gapco Please explain why you strive to “keep fare INCREASES under control” versus striving to LOWER metro fares?
Richard White We actually did lower our fares, at least several components of our fare structure, when we developed and implemented a fare simplifcation program in 1998. Currently, our operating revenues, including passenger fares and fees, account for approximately 57% of our revenues; governmental subsidies account for the remaining 43%. Unless subsidies increase as a percent of cost, our ratio of revenues will need to be retained.
Washington Post articles
Author Message
PublicTransUser1... After reading the Washington Post articles, I had two thoughts. First, is the report based on personal experiences of various Washington Post employees? Second, why couldn't they report on the positive things about the Metro system rather than trashing it? As Mr. White listed in his rebuttal to the Washington Post articles, anyone can see that Metro has been learning from their mistakes and are really making good faith efforts to address their present and future problems. I would like to remind everyone, especially the Washington Post reporters that the Washington Metropolitian Area Transportation Administration is coming up on it's 29th or 30th anniversary and for a relatively young transportation system, it has been quite successful in meeting the needs of not only the combined ridership of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia but the many visitors to this area as well. I also would like to say that yes, there is room for improvement but isn't that exactly what Metro is presently striving to achieve? PTU1980
Dana Kauffman You’ll have to ask The Post why it consciously chose to focus its reports on the negative. Our fact sheets speak for themselves and are posted on our homepage. I encourage you to read them if you haven’t already done so.
Yamr Thanks for taking the time for this.

I must confess that I did not regard the article series as negative -- until I got the leaflet defending the Metro and inviting people to this chat.
Dana Kauffman Hi. I'm glad you logged on and hope you will continue to do so in the future. Metro holds these chats every first and third Friday of the month at noon.
Passes
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KrazyDawg WMATA does not sell monthly passes, however they sell weekly passes. What is the logic in this? Other major transit systems in San Francisco and New York City have more options available and do include a monthly pass in their price structure.
KenF And why can't Smartcard users get the reduced pass rate on their Smartcard? This was promised when the Smartcard first came out years ago.
Richard White Ken and Krazydawg, we are currently looking at the possibility of adding pass capability to the SmarTrip card. Stay tuned, and thanks!
Cracked Rails
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SH I saw where the VRE trains were running at slower speeds due the heat. Do the subway trains have to do that too? Does the heat crack the rails?
Dana Kauffman The heat does not cause rails to crack. Cold, however, is another story. On Monday, the first day of this 90-plus temperature conditions, we had track inspectors checking out recently completed track-work that had been done near Twinbrook to make sure the heat hadn’t affected it. Everything was good. We’ve had extra supervisors out there looking for kinks in the rail, which is what can happen in the heat.
5A Bus to Dulles
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Larry Infrequent. Overcrowded. Unsafe (no place to stow bags so they clog the aisles).

The B30 bus to BWI: More frequent. Less crowded. Safer.

When will we get relief on the 5A?
Dana Kauffman Route 5A was established in December 2000 to provide direct, low cost reverse commute service for District residents to access jobs in the Dulles corridor. The once-an-hour frequency was sufficient for this purpose. However, the route quickly became popular with suburban residents commuting to jobs downtown and more recently has been "discovered" by air travelers at Dulles. We are aware of the crowding and late buses on this route and have developed a proposal to address these problems with additional service. We are hopeful that funding for the increased operating costs can be made available by reducing service on some lightly-used routes, so that the improved 5A service can be implemented by December of this year.
Systemic attitude toward the budget
Author Message
gapco Why does Metro seem to need “more revenue” versus “reducing expenses”?
Richard White You're right. Our job is to both control expenses and maximize revenue. A great deal of attention has been paid to cost containment and we have cut over $80 million from our most recent operating budgets, at the same time we have increased - not decreased - our service to our customers.
SmartGrowther When will you restore discontinued bus routes such as the 46? When will badly overcrowded routes like the 42, which routinely passes hordes of passengers at stops for lack of room, see articulated buses or more frequent service? Why do the metrics WMATA uses to measure bus overcrowding omit such considerations? What is Metro doing about endemic leapfrogging--one bus passing another on the same route and destination?? I've been told this contravenes Metro policy, yet I report instances of it to Jack Requa multiple times weekly! Are the drivers being instructed at ALL that they are NOT supposed to pass fellow buses running the same route? What does it say about MEtrobus' ability to maintain schedules when buses are not only not separated by their scheduled headway, but actually LEAPFROGGING each other on the roads???
Dana Kauffman There are no current plans to restore the 46 Line. Metro realizes that there are issues with the 42. Staff is reviewing alternatives to improve service with the understandeing that heavy ridership and traffic cause continuing challenges.
Driving to the Jackson Graham Building
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Silver Spring- R... From the recent articles I have been reading in the Washington Post in addition to past articles, one of the issues that has been mentioned is the issue of METRO's leaders not using the system themselves.

Mr. White, The Post mentioned that you had only recently returned to taking the METRO to work.

Similarly, Mr. Kauffman, past articles in The Post had shed light upon that fact that METRO board members were driving to the board meetings and not using the METRO.

Until recently, I believe METRO board members received free parking in the Jackson Graham Building.

Why is it that METRO's leaders weren't using METRO to go to work until they faced public criticism? If METRO can't transport its leadership back and forth to work to work in a reasonable fashion, how can I, the little guy expect it to? Clearly my experiences using METRO to commute have involved a ton of rude employees and unreliable service. Why are non-service vehicles allowed to park in the garage at the Jackson Graham Building; doesn't it seem hypocritical for METRO employees to be driving to work?J
Silver Spring
Red Line / J Bus rider for 3
Dana Kauffman Hi. I ride the Metro to Board meetings regularly. Always have. Always will.


SmarTrip - Advantages for Subway only riders
Author Message
fallenturtle While the SmarTrip card seems handy... as a user of only the subway and not parking or buses there seems little incentive to use, especially since there is a $5 fee to get one. Have you considered maybe offering incentives for regular riders like discounts for larger purchases like the NYC subway does?
Richard White The SmarTrip card system provides the ability to cancel lost or stolen cards and to transfer the balance to a replacement card (magnetic stripe cards are like cash: lose it and lose the value forever), and quicker passage through the fare gate. The SmarTrip card has a computer chip embedded within it and is expensive to manufacture, hence the $5 fee. Metro is looking at cheaper disposable cards that just now coming to the market for testing, as well as other applications of technology to our fare collection system.
Logisticare / Metroaccess
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Silver Spring- R... Why did METRO sign Logisticare up for an additional year of service when they've been doing such a crummy job?

Also, is METRO doing anything to help the folks who have lost jobs due to consistent tardiness by MetroAccess?

J.J
Silver Spring
Red Line / J Bus rider for 3
Dana Kauffman We are moving ahead with procuring a new paratransit service contract. However, we have recognized the need to continuously improve all of our transportation services, and with Logisticare's cooperation staff has significantly amended the current paratransit brokerage contract to enhance accountability and oversight. New provisions in the current contract include: Metro takeover of eligibility assessments, additional reporting requirements and changing the basis of contractor compensation.
Telescoping Rail Cars
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Silver Spring- R... Following the November train accident at the zoo, what if anything, is METRO doing to prevent a repeat? What is being done to reinforce rail car bodies so that the cars do not telescope? Why is it that METRO hasn't been more cooperative with NTSB in this regard?

J.J
Silver Spring
Red Line / J Bus rider for 3
Dana Kauffman The collision last November was a highly unusual and isolated incident. After the internal investigation, we terminated the train operator based on an evaluation of all of the relevant technical data, the operator’s testimony and the operator’s gross violation of basic operations procedures during the incident.

All of Metro's new trains are equipped with manufacturers' latest technology and design, including enhanced crashworthiness. As for the oldest trains in the fleet, external engineering studies concluded that it would be cost prohibitive (i.e., it would have been cheaper to buy new cars) to retrofit older cars and that further engineering assessments would be required to determine any consequential impact that a more rigid structure would have on transferring energy to the passenger area, possibly increasing the risk of injury to a greater number of passengers.

WMATA has been fully cooperative with the NTSB; in fact, the NTSB accepted our position not to increase crashworthiness on older cars, following the collision at Shady Grove in 1996. It's important to note that crashworthiness had nothing to do with the cause of November's collision at Woodley Park.

I recommend that you take a few minutes to review the safety fact sheet posted on our site at: http://www.wmata.com/about/met_news/story.cfm?ID=286.
More Reliable Trains
Author Message
bettertrains Mr. White,
What is the status of the 6000 series car project? Why would Metro go to Alstom when they have such a dismal reliability record on the Breda overhaul project? Alstom has been on the verge of financial collapse for some time. How can you expect a quality product from a firm in such poor financial health? (They sold off their Australian and New Zealand operations yesterday and furloughed 58 in Hornell, NY last week.) Don’t they also make those faulty relays? Are there any other consultants Metro can hire besides Booz Allen Hamilton on car contracts? Thank you for your time.
Richard White WMATA uses a "best value" procurement method to select our railcar builder. Production of the 6000 series railcars is on schedule. The first two pilot cars are completed and undergoing testing in New York. As you've heard me say before, WMATA is in urgent need of railcars to keep up with demand. WMATA has also benefitted from favorable pricing. Alstom is the main supplier of automatic train control parts and while we have had a few previous problem with relays manufactured by Alstom, that problem was resolved four years ago. WMATA uses a competitive bidding process to hire engineering consultants. Booz Allen Hamilton is a well-respected engineering firm that also provides support to the Baltimore MTA, New York MTA, and other transit agencies.
Late night buses from BWI
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Tom The last of the B30 buses leave BWI Airport at 10:45pm. The purpose is to connect to the last Metrorail at Greenbelt, which leaves sometime shortly before midnight on Sundays to Thursdays.

While there would be no purpose in connecting to the Greenbelt Metro Station once the trains stop running, why cannot Metrobus run additional late night express buses into the D.C. city center to connect with other bus routes? There are many flights that arrive into BWI after 10 pm and those passengers who can't connect to 10:45 because they arrive after that or are stuck waiting for baggage have no access to public transportation from BWI. Without the express bus, the next options are a $60 cab or a $40 shuttle. Please look at the flight arrival schedules. Can't you run a once-an-hour late night straggler's bus until say 2am, when the airline traffic really ends? Even Sunday night only would be great for people returning to the city from a weekend away. And if you just ran the B30 to Greenbelt until 2:00am on Fridays, incoming tourists could use it to connect to the existing Friday late night trains.

The late night buses could stop at a few safe key transfer points on the major all-night bus routes...i.e. Farragut.
Dana Kauffman The subsidy for B30 is paid exclusively by MDOT, and we have already passed on to them requests for later trips on Friday and Saturday nights. They have declined due to the relatively low productivity of this service, primarily a function of its length relative to the express fare charged.
Letter to Riders
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massysett Dear Messrs. White and Kauffman,

Why is Metro using valuable staff time to distribute a "Letter to Riders"? The letter is being discarded aboard trains and in stations. The Washington Post stories gave Metro a fair chance to explain its side of the story. The stories were not entirely negative (the story about how Metro is changing its response to sick passengers was quite positive, in my view) and Mr. White was quoted in many of the stories. Wouldn't the staff time used to distribute the leaflets be better used for projects that will help our Metro run better?
Dana Kauffman Hi. You’re right, Metro staff time is valuable, however yesterday’s distribution of the “Dear Fellow Rider” letter was done completely volunteers who did so on their own time, after their normal working hours.

On your other observation about The Post’s series of articles, if you’re interested in our unedited side of the story, I urge you to read the fact sheets that are posted on our home page. The fact sheets are at the bottom of the item entitled “Metro Responds to Washington Post Series.”
Mr. White's Continuation as GM/CEO
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Silver Spring- R... Dear Mr. Kauffman:

Why has METRO has METRO kept Mr. White onboard as GM/CEO? Given the vast array of problems that have developed during his regime, wouldn't it make more sense to start from scratch in terms of leadership?.

J.J
Silver Spring
Red Line / J Bus rider for 3
Dana Kauffman Hi. Mr. White is one of the best and brightest minds in the transit industry, and we are fortunate to have him guide the system as we respond to record ridership success. The recent stories you’ve read about him omitted what I know are pages of accomplishments and improvements that he has brought to our system. He saved the bus system from extinction; we’re leaders in technological improvements (Trip Planner, e-Alerts, call center, web site); he has overseen explosive growth in rail ridership; he helped author and execute the jurisdictional Metro Matters funding agreement; post 9-11 he has been a recognized leader in regional emergency preparedness; he beefed up and strengthened our safety department; he completed construction of the rail system; he helped secure federal funding for security for mass transit and Metro specifically. I could go on and on.
Rush Hour Blue Line Service
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jjhare I ride the metro every day and I've been having some trouble with Blue Line service lately from Metro Center to Franconia-Springfield. The last couple of days, leaving metro center shortly after 5, first of all there are less blue trains running than orange trains-usually 2 oranges for each blue and the blues are usually a 6-7 minute wait. On top of that, it's almost always a 4 car train and by the time you get out of metro center, it's standing room only with people jammed in tighter than sardines. People end up almost getting caught in doors, and getting off the train at whatever stop you're heading to is a real pain. All of the other lines run 6 car trains during rush hour. Why are there 4 car trains on the Blue Line? It's definitely used- getting off at Franconia-Springfield is always interesting because of the huge backup at the escalators/stairs/elevator.
Richard White I'm an Orange Line rider myself, so I've had this experience, too. The schedule of service for the Orange and Blue lines is based on demand and major "load points." You are correct in your observation of two Orange line trains to every Blue Line train. Those four-car trains are called "gap trains" which we use to supplement the service provided by other six-car trains. We are currently evaluating our schedule based on those "load points" to determine the best use of our rolling stock equipment. Stay tuned!
Metro Use by Board Members
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KenF I would like to ask Mr Kauffman how many times in the last 3 months he has ridden on MetroRail? And how many times in the last 3 months he has ridden on MetroBus.

And, if the answers are not large numbers, how can he properly oversee something he has no firsthand knowledge of.
Dana Kauffman Hi KenF. At least twice a week I'm on Metrorail. As to Metrobus, my paths are served by the Fairfax Connector, not Metrobus.
Informing Passengers
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mundey Hello,
Thanks for having this forum. My question is: Is it standard procedure for train operators to inform passengers of the reason for stops or delays when they are aboard a train? I've noticed that some operators do and some don't. I think it should be standard procedure on all Metro trains that if the train stops or is delayed, that operator immediately informs passengers why they have stopped or was delayed. I boarded an Orange Line train in L'Enfant Plaza yesterday afternoon (about 4pm) and the train sat between the tunnel and the platform for at least 15 minutes with no explanation from the operator of why we were delayed. I and many other passengers around me were talking to each other wondering what the problem was (train ahead of us, sick passenger in another car, terror scare). Who know? I personnally think the hundred or so passengers on any train, at any given time, for any given reason should be informed as much as possible for train stops and delays when in a train. It is not just courteous, but necessary!
Richard White You're very welcome. We think this chat is a great way for us to communicate directly with our customers. It is standard operating procedure to make announcements when the train is stopped for any reason. This operating procedure is being reinforced on a daily basis with our operators. The Blue Line experienced a communication glitch yesterday, which is why you had a delay at L'Enfant Plaza. We apologize for the delay on the line, and we will continue to reinforce the importance of our operators making these announcements. Thanks.
Dependence on foreign oil--Metro helps
Author Message
Doc Jones Metro reduces our dependence on foreign oil, and not by a small amount, either. Here's why: You can send 10 people down the road in a bus, using a heckuva lot less fuel than using 10 private cars (or 9 or 8 or whatever), if only because the bus uses a diesel engine, which is more efficient.

Question: Do you have a ball-park estimate of how MUCH Metro reduces our dependence or foreign oil? Another question: Do you have a rough estimate of how much Metro reduces air pollution? Metro keeps some 350,000 cars off the road every day. (Source: Online posting by wmata)

Doc Jones
Dana Kauffman What’s up Doc? (I couldn’t resist.) Your question allows me to share some of my favorite facts.

Metrorail’s existence eliminates the need for some 1,400 lane-miles of highway construction. According to the American Public Transportation Association, Metrorail and Metrobus help keep approximately 1,400 tons of hydrocarbons, 9,000 tons of carbon monoxide, and 700 tons of nitrogen oxides out of the region’s air. And without Metro, the District of Columbia would need another 150,000 parking spaces than it currently has (approximately 40% more than currently exists).

I don’t have knowledge on hand of how we specifically impact dependence on foreign oil.
Metro Delays
Author Message
phanie Hello.
Thank you for taking the time to speak with the public. I have read the Washington Post articles with great interest. It seems they are not comparing Metro to other systems, but to itself. As someone who relies almost entirely on Metro to get around, I am concerned about the more and more frequent breakdowns and issues on trains and in stations.
It's ironic to me that yesterday, as I was leaving work, a Metro employee handed me a flyer about how great and reliable Metro is and then I got on the Orange line for my normally 15 minute ride to have it last 50 minutes. The announcer on the PA (which was difficult to hear on the lower level of L'Enfant Plaza) said there was a "minor delay" on the Blue and Orange lines. What constitutes "minor"? To me that's 10 minutes, not 40.
It seems that Metro should start asking what it's frequent riders want or need from their system instead of relying solely on a board and directors who don't ride the Metro enough to experience the day-to-day problems we all encounter. How would you respond?
Dana Kauffman Yesterday a temporary computer glitch caused the computer to think that a Blue Line train at Rosslyn was an Orange Line train and it routed the train to the Orange Line. It was turned around at Clarendon and sent back manually.

Prior to that, a Blue Line train at Morgan Blvd experienced a mechanical problem. We single tracked around it, but trains did back up on the Blue and Orange Line as a result.
Rebuttal to Washington Post series
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tunafishgirl Even as I discovered Metro's rebuttal to the Post series of articles, the scroll at the top of the page was announcing 16 minute delays on the Blue line. Oh, what beautiful irony.
Richard White The delay you saw scrolling across the top of our web site, tunafishgirl, was the result of a previous mechanical failure on a Blie Line train at our Morgan Boulevard station. As you know, we have very limited flexibility on our system because we have only two tracks, with no "shoulders" or "off ramps." Once we decide on a single tracking operation, we know we'll experience minor delays to the etire line. We apologize for the inconvenience...and the irony!
Riders with Disablilites
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disabled rider I use two canes and sometimes a walker to get to and from work everyday on Metro.

The problems I encounter every day are:
1. Elevators/escalators that don't work. The train operators do not announce before each station whether there is an outage.

2. When the elevators do work, I have to plead with able-bodied riders to allow me to get aboard.

3. I can only use certain seats on the trains because I have to pull myself up with my one good hand. I always have to plead with able-bodied riders sitting in the seats designated for the disabled and seniors to let me sit there.

I struggle every day to walk and commute to work. It is disheartening that I have to cajole able-bodied riders into allowing me to use the accommodations that are there to help folks like me. I can only imagine how difficult it is for those in wheelchairs.

What is Metro doing to address these issues?

Also, please explain how the new cars that will have the poles removed by the doors will preserve seating for the handicapped. I have not read anything about this.

Thank you.
Dana Kauffman Sounds like you’re running into a lack of common courtesy. Our elevators play a recording that asks customers to allow those with a disability to have priority usage. We have posted new signs over seats indicating that they also are priority seating for persons with disabilities. You clearly have access to a computer, as evidenced by your participation in this chat. I’d encourage you to use our web site to check on daily elevator availability at timeliness
Author Message
glennaa11 I read your response to the Post's series that was handed out yesterday afternoon. In it you tout on time performance. I would suggest, however, that there is a big difference between being on time and being timely. This morning trains were running 8 minutes apart during rush hour on the blue line. On weekends and evenings trains run every 20 minutes at times and on my recent trips using the orange line to RFK Stadium for DC United games the trains were 30 minutes apart and every other train only went as far as Eastern Market. Such a scheudle is totally inconvenient for most people. There was also huge crowding on the platform after games because the trains were so far apart. 8 car trains are nice, but more frequent trains are necessary. I now plan to drive to games since I can get in and out a whole lot faster than your poor service provides. Service during rush hour (after 6PM) on the orange line is also poor. I often have to wait for 3 or 4 trains at Rosslyn on the Orange line to Vienna before one comes through that I can squeeze onto. Meanwhile nearly empty blue line trains go through the station.
Dana Kauffman The frequency of the trains on the lines is dependent upon how many trains we have and service demand. Service demand on weekends is such that the intervals between trains (headways) is longer than during a weekday rush hour. On a typical weekday, there are about 700,000 customers (actually, yesterday we had more than 750,000 riders, our 9th highest day ever). On a Saturday we get fewer than 300,000. On a Sunday we get about 225,000 riders in the rail system.

With that said, we do most of our maintenance projects on weekends, so as to inconvenience as few people as possible. We’ve been working on a project near Stadium-Armory for several weekends, and have single-tracked around the work. That indeed means headways have been longer.

We post that type of scheduled track work on our web site and we issue news releases. The Washington Post used to run briefs in the Metro section on Fridays when we had big weekend track projects. We provide that to them regularly, but they stopped carrying it.
Negligent Bus Drivers
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SmartGrowther Hi, for months now I've been reporting problems with any bus I ride to Jack Requa, head of Metrobus operations. He's told me that drivers are support to report any problems with their buses, but that he has no way of knowing whether they have. Now the Post confirms what I've been saying I suspected for months--that bus drivers are NOT regularly inspecting their buses, as required by law, or reporting problems with them, as required by Metro policy. Who is overseeing this? Who is holding drivers accountable for reporting broken back doors, missing pull cords, malfunctioning destination signs--it seems that whenever I or other riders mention these to drivers, they simply become defensive and are apathetic about the actual problem.
Richard White Our Metrobus operators are issued a vehicle condition report each day and return them at the end if their shift. Defects are forwarded to our bus maintenance divisions, and safety related items are resolved before the bus ever returns to service. Safety items are prioritized and repaired as quickly as possible, so we can get a safe bus back into service as fast as we can.
Metro Advisory Board
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Long Time Metro ... What is the process for being nominated to serve on the Riders Advisory Council that is being created?
Dana Kauffman That has yet to be determined. When it is, we’ll let people know by issuing a news release, posting it on the web site, and getting out word through our local jurisdictions.
Kiss & Ride Area "A" & Handicapped Parking Spaces Blocked at...
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Greenbelt-Z Who is responsible to keep the parking spaces in the Kiss and Ride area clear of vehicles who straddle the spaces when waiting for their passengers?

This is becoming a real problem at the Greenbelt Metro Station in the afternoon hours. I am currently on crutches so need to be able to get to a handicapped space and my ride often cannot get into a space without getting out of the car and asking people who are just blocking spaces to move.

Please help. When I asked yesterday after a Metro Spokesperson asked if I had any questions when leaving turnstile area I was given a paper about this online chat. That did not move the cars. Isn't there someone at each station who takes care of issues like this?
Richard White Thank you for bringing this concern to our attention. Your concern has been referred to our Metro Transit Police Department who will get a police officer out there this afternoon. Deputy Chief Dave Webb can be contacted at 202-962-2154 for issues like this one. Feel free to call him. It might be helpful if you do so today, if you can, so he can get more specific information from you, including the time, exact location, and vehicle description. Again, thanks.
Radio Division
Author Message
Silver Spring- R... The Washington Post articles included the results of an internal audit that cited METRO employees fraternizing with prostitutes as one of many problems. For privacy reasons, the names of those employees were left out. What if any disciplinary action has been taken against these employees? What has been done to prevent this from reoccuring? Have positions in the radio division been reduced to reflect the need for radio employees?J
Silver Spring
Red Line / J Bus rider for 3
Dana Kauffman Hi. The radio division reflects the current ratio of radio personnel needed to run an efficient operation. We have also taken the necessary disciplinary actions with the employees who were cited for fraternizing to ensure that this would not happen again.
Trip planner time accuracy?
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dctraveller Hello. I use the Trip Planner a lot so I don't waste time waiting for trains at my "home" station of Van Ness. It's a great feature, I'm glad you put it in place.

However, I've noticed several times recently that the trains have been off the schedule by several minutes, even when there were no advertised delays or single-tracking. Are the train schedules and trip planner times still in sync?

Thanks
David
Van Ness
Dana Kauffman Hi David. The good news answser is that yes, trains are in sync with the published schedule. When we experience 2 to 3 minute delays to a respective station, it is more than likely that we experienced some sort of mechanical problem. We appreciate your feedback and we will continue to improve on our level of service that we provide.
Where are my posts?
Author Message
Long Time Metro ... I attempted 2 posts (this is my 3rd) to the forum. Whereas other posts appears within minutes, mine got a message saying the forum was moderated and the posts were subjected to review. So far they haven't appeared. What's going on?
Richard White We have received many more questions today (over 100) than we have time to answer. We have tried to answer as many questions as possible, especially those with the broadest interest, based on the numbers of questions coming into us on each topic. I'm sorry if we didn't get to your questions. Please submit any questions you still have during another chat, and we will do our best to get to it. Thanks!
Extreme frustration in attempting to participate in this for...
Author Message
Long Time Metro ... I made a bona fide attempt to participate in the forum, but have given up in frustration. Here are some of the things I experienced:

On the forum home page is a line saying "Instructions for using the forum". It is not a link so it doesn't point to any instructions. I never found any.

I went to the active topics page and it showed page 1 of 15 pages. However, there was no button to go to the next page to see the next set of topics.

I logged in but under the forum it say I had not subscribed. It's not clear what the difference is. In any case, I could not find any place that allowed me to subscribe.

Please fix the user interface so I can participate in the next forum.
Dana Kauffman Hi. Sorry you had difficulty. The "Welcome" link at the top of the forum leads to the instructions for using the forum. To see subsequent pages of forum listings, click on the "next" button at the bottom of each page. For the subscribe process, please see the instructions under "Welcome."
Safety Issues--All Escalators down in Bethesda 6/7
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heishmst My experience yesterday as trying to exit the Bethesda metro statino was horrific. All three escalators were "down due to safety reasons" but ironically the escalators being down created a HUGE safety issue.

When riders asked Metro employees if the emergency stairs could be used all metro officers asked claimed that the emergency stairs were "broken." Passengers coming to and from the station had to use the elevator, creating a large back up and many upset riders.

My question is this: Is metro prepared for an emergency? If something more catastropic than stopping three escalators ever happens are we REALLY prepared for that level of emergency?

Unfortunately, as experienced yesterday, I feel we're not, and as a rider everyday between Dupont and Bethesda, I walked away yesterday hating that I have to take the metro each day. Stephanie, Washington, DC
Richard White Yesterday around noon, all four entrance escalator units at our Bethesda rail station were removed from service because Monday night's heavy rain filled the escalator pits with water and created an oily film on the escalator steps. This condition was a safety issue that required immediate attention so that no one would slip, fall, and be injured. Two of the escalators were returned to service at 2 p.m. yesterday, and all four were back in service by 8:45 p.m. While this was a safety issue for a brief period of time, it was not an emergency. In an emergency, everyone in the station would have been evacuated using the stairs. I hope that addresses your concern.
Escalator service is POOR
Author Message
gapco Please explain how metro considers itself “excellent” when escalators at Judiciary square are closed for SIX months?
Dana Kauffman Hi gapco. Escalator performance has increased 4 percent since the inception of a major rehabilitation project in July 2000. The escalators at Judiciary Square are part of that project to rehabilitate the oldest and poorest performing escalators. We realize that this is a major inconvenience to our customers, but as the increase demonstrates, the results will be better performing escalators for years to come. The escalator work at Judiciary Sauare is scheduled to be complete at the beginning of September.
Recent Improvements
Author Message
SH I've glanced at the Post's articles this week but they don't seem to be interested in the changes that have taken place. What things have you done that you think have made the biggest impact? What's been working best in terms of your changes? Not to jinx it or anything, but I've had good rides for a while now.
Richard White Thanks! We noticed the same thing you did! To answer your question, I would say the two most important changes we've made were the decision to give our employees the authority to do their job and take ownership of what they do, and the operating changes we made to improve "traffic control" of our trains, especially when there are minor malfunctions that in the past would have caused major delays. More improvements are coming, so please keep riding and keep watching.
Closing message from the CEO