Unsuck DC Metro: Making the Tenleytown Escalator Problem Worse

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Making the Tenleytown Escalator Problem Worse

Via @TheTalmidian @unsuckdcmetro @wmata Officially ZERO working escalators at Tenleytown. #wmata http://t.co/CUBAamF

Winston, a "15-year Red Line rider," was disgusted by the situation this morning at Tenleytown where two of the three extremely long escalators were out of service, and the remaining one was a "walker" (stairs) for both entering and exiting riders. He adds that the two out of service escalators have been that way for over six weeks.

It must have been 90 degrees in the escalator tunnel, and several older passengers had to stop to rest on the way up, clogging the escalator and creating unsafe jams of people stuck behind while others were descending past them.

I asked the station manager why they couldn't open one of the downed escalators so people could at least rest on the way up, and he said "see that [escalator] tech over there, it's up to him."

I did not talk to the tech because he was working somewhere inside the escalator, and I was so disgusted with the station manager's response that I needed to walk away.

Naturally, at the platform level there were no signs or warnings to passengers that all three long escalators were out of service. The elevator for this station is only accessible from the platform and riders cannot even see the long escalators until they pass through the ticket gates.

It is pathetic that Metro has ignored the two very long malfunctioning escalators for over six weeks.

At least one of these has been rebuilt in the last five years.

It is even more pathetic that the station manager made no effort to inform riders that the escalators were out of service and completely exculpated himself from any responsibility for rider convenience or safety.

Thanks Metro, for another great commute.

Comments (39)

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+6 Vote up Vote down

F'n JD · 718 weeks ago

Dan Stessel - Care to comment for WMATA or ATU?

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

-7 Vote up Vote down

Sally · 718 weeks ago

DON"T u GET IT?

If you inconvience the customer they will "squawk", then they can ask for mor money~!
This is the ploy for the past 10 + years and with McCulskie and others she raves and rants for more money. Have you ever heard her say "NO more Overtime"! Never! How about comp time lik other feds.

The salaries and overtime for these employees bleed the federal government and metro's budget!

0 Vote up Vote down

Katy G · 718 weeks ago

I am sure he would tell you it isn't his job to let riders know about the malfunctioning escalators. I think it would have to specifically say in his job description that he needs to do that. Otherwise, heaven forbid he makes an effort to go above and beyond his job because it might make others look bad.

It really wouldn't take much effort for Metro to provide each station with signs to put by the fare gates or the entrance, depending on where a lengthy escalator is. People would then be able to make a decision and probably prevent some of the hostility towards Metro.

+15 Vote up Vote down

Whitney · 718 weeks ago

I'm not sure if Metro stations have an emergency plan or not, but wouldn't that be some kind of a fire hazard? If people had to get out of there in a mad panic, and the two other escalators had been under construction (like with big gaping holes) and couldn't be accessed, that would be a really dangerous situation. It seems dangerous enough having people squeeze up or down steep stairs, but only having one slim emergency exit route seems rather dumb.

15 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+16 Vote up Vote down

Kennedy · 718 weeks ago

Of course they have an emergency plan. In the event of an emergency a magic carpet will appear and Aladdin will shuttle everyone to safety.

+9 Vote up Vote down

MadAsHeck · 718 weeks ago

I like this focus on "emergency" and "fire hazards". I think that Metro is not going to take initiative on its own to fix escalators in a timely manner. Maybe if we get them reported for fire code violations, they will actually start to react.

I'll be contacting DC departments responsible for fire code violations. I encourage others of you to do the same.

+7 Vote up Vote down

guest · 718 weeks ago

i've always looked at these escalator outages (and lack of staircases) in terms of "what would happen if two 8 car crush load/SRO trains came into the station simultaneously and both had to be evacuated to the mezzanine immediately?" (think: trains on fire, or something)

my conclusion was that we'd basically all die. i think that's probably what it will take for metro to actually *do* something about these situations: some catastrophe with high loss of life, and the family/survivors suing the the authority into bankruptcy, forcing a government takeover.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Ever and Anon · 718 weeks ago

Unfortunately I do not believe that would improve anything with Metro. Remember the red line crash.

Pathetic is indeed the appropriate word.

+1 Vote up Vote down

SoBa · 718 weeks ago

Have to agree with you. Killing 9 people in a single incident was not enough to change anything.

By the way, has anyone at Metro been fired, demoted, disciplined, or even reprimanded because of the Red Line crash?

-3 Vote up Vote down

ANON · 718 weeks ago

you're an idiot it's all metal and concrete wtf is going to burn. the escalators have been rebuilt by local 10 the elevator contractors that installed them, unfortunately metro maintains the escalators or lack of.

BUT NOTHING IS GOING TO BURN

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Kara · 718 weeks ago

It is not the escalator that is going to burn it is the lack of sufficient exits. Or do you wonder why there are fire code regulations about exits?

+2 Vote up Vote down

anon · 717 weeks ago

Hey fucktard, look up King's Cross fire before talking out of your ass.

0 Vote up Vote down

guest · 717 weeks ago

hmm, the trains are made of concrete and metal? new one on me...

-1 Vote up Vote down

HotFlash · 718 weeks ago

Look around you moron whats gonna burn?

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Kara · 718 weeks ago

Stop insulting people of lower intelligence and read my reply above.

0 Vote up Vote down

xxx · 717 weeks ago

Google escalator fire. It can happen.

0 Vote up Vote down

@bgriffler · 717 weeks ago

I wonder if the station manager has a way to open all the faregates in the event of a mandatory evacuation? Otherwise you'll have PLENTY of folks that cannot physically "jump" the gate, and only so many people can cramp through the "handicapped" gate.

+3 Vote up Vote down

paul · 718 weeks ago

metro does fire code in house.good luck

+1 Vote up Vote down

Kara · 718 weeks ago

Unfortunately metro does not fall under the jurisdiction of the local police and fire departments. Yes, seriously.

+6 Vote up Vote down

Erwos · 718 weeks ago

Metro needs a hotline where you can complain about these issues in realtime, and have an empowered operator actually do something about it.

2 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+4 Vote up Vote down

fool · 718 weeks ago

They do, but by the time you're taken off hold, the escalator is fixed and broken again several times over.

+1 Vote up Vote down

bet · 718 weeks ago

They "fix" complaints and "save" their union buddies with deals and union persons who screw up!
For example the drivers who killed employees are still working or collecting benefits. Never charged!

+7 Vote up Vote down

Ted · 718 weeks ago

I work in Tenleytown and these comments are spot on. The escalator has been down for about a month now and usually the up escalator is working but the down escalator is always out. The third escalator is blocked off. As the writer mentions, the elevators are only accessible from the platform, so if you go to the escalators only to realize they're out, you have to pay again just to get to the elevator. There really needs to be a sign on the platform. There is a sign, however, at the top of the escalators on the Best Buy side entrance telling you that the down escalators are out.

+8 Vote up Vote down

John · 718 weeks ago

Why is David Lacosse still employed by WMATA? He has turned the escalator situation into a complete and utter JOKE over the last few years! A JOKE! Then they moved his incompetent ass to the parts department, and now some of the parts are screwed up before they even make it to the escalators to replace old parts! Incompetent is an understatement when it comes to this guy.

Stessel - Any comment as to why WMATA still deems it necessary to pay this absolute SLUG David Lacosse an exorbitant salary?

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

-4 Vote up Vote down

roadwest · 718 weeks ago

What exactly do you think you know about David Lacosse , please , let me in on the JOKE

+1 Vote up Vote down

John · 718 weeks ago

Well lets see.....
His Resume:
Took over the escalator and elevator department in the early 2000's.
Mid-Late 2000's The escalator situation deteriorates
Lacosse takes a vow of silence, refusing to comment to the media and declines to do ANY interviews.
October 2010: Escalator malfunctions at L'enfante Plaza, injuring many passengers. EVEN IN THIS SITUATION, he declines to comment.
November 2010: It is reported that Lacosse knew of these dangers, and swept it under the rug.
Late 2010/Early 2011: Lacosse has been reassigned to the Parts Department, which is in charge of the parts used to repair escalators
Union Meeting, June 2011: Escalator mechanics report that much of the parts that are supplied to them to replace aging parts are in horrible condition before they are even installed.

You think this is a stellar resume?

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HOTFLASH · 718 weeks ago

he was fired for being CRAZY. LOL

+1 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 718 weeks ago

You have to write your congress man and if they do NOTHING do not vote for them and kick off the board members who allow this

+2 Vote up Vote down

Lisa · 718 weeks ago

I stopped using these escalators a few days ago because so many of the lights were out. I would come in from the bright sun and have to navigate down the first section of the stopped escalator, which was very dark. I always felt like I was holding up everyone else.

I now use the elevator whenever possible at Tenleytown station, but an elevator for 10 (max) will not solve this ongoing problem.

+6 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 718 weeks ago

I can't believe there's talk of metro expanding while stuff like this goes on. the core needs to be improved. if you moved out to loudon, tough toenails. poor choice. expanding metro enables sprawl.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Ever and Anon · 718 weeks ago

You read my mind, Anon!

+2 Vote up Vote down

Kara · 718 weeks ago

Their usual excuse is that they are exposed to the elements. Well, since those escalators connect to an upper mezzanine before more escalators that excuse is pretty much null. Okay, if you consider temperature 'the elements' but that word implies rain and snow.

The other excuse is that they run them 24 hours a day. Well, why would they do that? The metro stations are closed part of the day. I am sure any employees in the station after closing are not riding up and down the escalator for the entire shift.

Since most of my shopping is at Tenleytown I know I will have to take the elevator every time to get back. All of those extra people on the elevators just breaks them down faster for the people who really have no other choice. Good job metro, you managed to make the problem worse!

-6 Vote up Vote down

roadwest · 718 weeks ago

The station manager was following "lockout tagout " procedure regarding the escalator. It is up to the technician.
Why don't you complain to the escalator company who provided such poor repair that metro had to take over. And maybe you can do something about the punitive effort of that same company to slow down Metros ability to get parts. Did you realize that escalator parts are quite specific, not manufactured by many people.
If you were to ask real questions regarding the logistics involved instead of sarcastic comments and questions Other readers might take you seriously and answer the question.. As it stands now there is just a handful of you exhibiting how little you know.

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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jkuchen · 718 weeks ago

What are the logistic involved in elevator repair and/or shutdown? What requirements are there for communication between the elevator technicians and the station manager?

+1 Vote up Vote down

John · 718 weeks ago

Hey, Lacosse lover:
Ever since metro has moved the escalator repair in-house, the escalator situation has gone down the crapper.

Are you a fan of Lacosse, or David Lacosse himself?

0 Vote up Vote down

Kara · 718 weeks ago

Histories do not lie. Metro takes it in-house and the problem gets worse. What will a reasonable person conclude might be an issue worth looking at? Oh, that's right, you have look at the problem (all those consultants) .... you just never listen to what they put in their final reports.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Daily Rider · 718 weeks ago

Now revealed: Metro's super-secret evacuation plan for disasters in crowded stations (stolen from D.C.'s disaster traffic evacuation plan):

"You dead, Jack!"

+2 Vote up Vote down

anon · 717 weeks ago

If I ran Metro and didn't have a terrible union to deal with, I'd institute a zero-tolerance policy for bad behavior by Metro employees, particularly for station managers. Station Managers have the job of, well, managing the station, and they are supposed to be THE point of contact for passengers (sorry, "customers"). They are the public face. It is imperative that they have people skills. If they cannot deal with the public at its worst, then they need to be in a different position entirely.

That would mean that a station manager would never, under any circumstances, be permitted to punt a problem to a technician. I don't give a shit if it's the tech's call to shut down escalators. You're in charge of the station. If a passenger asks you about it, you can tell them you'll find out more info for them or give them what info you have - you never tell them to go see the tech, who's obviously got better things to do. Giving the passenger information that's accurate and helpful is your job. I know that dealing with irate customers in any job can be stressful. We all know that. That's no excuse for unprofessional behavior, though, because you should be able to handle the worst of situations as deftly as you handle the best.