Unsuck DC Metro: A Good Report. Now What?

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

A Good Report. Now What?

Update 2: Virginia Gov's response (doc)
Update: Maryland Gov's response

A report released today by the Board of Trade and the Council of Governments calls for dramatic changes to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

You can read the whole thing here (Metro's response), but the main takeaway seems to be:

The Task Force finds that what may have been an appropriate governance structure for WMATA to build a new transit system in the 1960s is not appropriate to operate today’s mature system.

Yes!

Reading through the report, you're likely to nod your head in agreement quite a bit as it details the lack of accountability, lack of leadership, lack of regional cohesion, a seeming ignorance of the best practices of other transit systems ... the list goes on and on.

The report urges the mayor of DC, and the governors of Maryland and Virginia to take "a much stronger role" in selecting the Board members.

It all sounds pretty good, but then you get to this sentence, and you wonder if anything will ever really change.

In 1982, a study commissioned by the Greater Washington Research Center concluded that while the composition of the Board may have been appropriate to plan and construct Metrorail, “it is entirely unsuitable for overseeing the management of an operating transit system.”

In 2038, let's hope we will read a report about marked improvements at Metro, not another indictment of its major shortcomings and inability to change with the times.

Comments (13)

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USACZAR · 748 weeks ago

A metro czar?

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+3 Vote up Vote down

Dino · 748 weeks ago

Metro already has a ZAR, the OIG who does nothing.
This document is a change of Roles/Board politicians.

I saw nothing about firing middle managers and hiring a dew crew of managers.

That is the problem!

+2 Vote up Vote down

Dino · 748 weeks ago

The Managers who are in place have no educational skill, qualification and management " pigskins" and as soon as this is in place "Business as Usual". You can bet on that. Rhetoric!

+6 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 748 weeks ago

The current structure is very convenient for those "in charge" of Metro. There's no one point on which to apply pressure, so "responsibility" diffused and no one pays when things go wrong. This is from the train operators on up.

Who do you write? Who would you petition? Who can change things? No one.

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No Democracy · 748 weeks ago

They also specifically excluded the possibility of having elected accountable board members. Can't trust the people with decisions that affect the people, after all.

4 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Dino · 748 weeks ago

The Managers who are in place have no educational skill, qualification and management :pigskins" and as soon as this is in place "Business as Usual".
Sweep it under the carpet again.
Fire /replace the "good ole' nepotism, favoritism clan!

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Pissed · 748 weeks ago

You are correc!!!! I worked for Metro. "good ole buddy system" Nepotism and favoritism is slapped in your face. Metro " soverign entity" seems to let them off the hook when you sue for discrimation. That is why it is ok for idots to hire their stupid buddies. Metro know they are protected. It is the worst place to work. Metro clamis divesity. That is BS. I only know of 1 white female working in CMT and she just recently quit. Should be investigation in the hiring practice of METRO.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Dino · 748 weeks ago

Metro already has a "cZar" A OIG, Helen Lew. What has she done for the safety reports she has received?

+3 Vote up Vote down

Pissed · 748 weeks ago

Nothing

+2 Vote up Vote down

GlenmontGirl · 748 weeks ago

"In 2038, let's hope we will read a report about marked improvements at Metro, not another indictment of its major shortcomings and inability to change with the times."

I'm with UnSuck on this one.

Mr. Sarles: I know under the current organizational structure it is difficult for one individual to make [any] changes happen. But you just received a recommendation from a nationally-recognized organization calling for changes to that structure. Push for changes that call for more accountability and transparency. Re-gain the trust of the riding public by being upfront and honest about the problems with all parts of the system and actually listening to our suggestions on how to fix them. You be straight with us, we'll be straight with you and support your push for changes to the system.

Let's make a better Metro system a reality instead of a pipe dream.

+6 Vote up Vote down

John · 748 weeks ago

Has anyone in the last 10 years at metro EVER been held accountable for their actions? Im actually asking this. Has anyone ever been permanently fired for incompetent, negligent, or borderline criminal actions? Its pretty obvious why all the employees have a nonchalant "Whatever" attitude. Because no one at metro will ever put a foot up their ass.

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Ever and Anon · 748 weeks ago

Well folks I for one see a new delay in any movement on improvements. This morning the WTOP website mentions the Metro communications system is down. They are speaking of email alerts, PA system, etc. but do you not find it ironic that it is "communications" that is down? (http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=2123210&nid=30)

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Meredith · 748 weeks ago

Did anyone else notice that Metro will look into it "with all deliberate speed?" I may be the only huge nerd on this board, but does anyone know the most famous use of that phrase? Brown v. Board of Education -- schools were to be desegregated "with all deliberate speed" and it was that specific phrasing that allowed schools to continue to segregate for almost 15 years after the decision was handed down. I just view this likely unintentional phrasing as an cosmic coincidence and indicator of the broken system.