Unsuck DC Metro: How Many Maps?

Friday, November 4, 2011

How Many Maps?

I haven't written much about station names because, frankly, they could be named after cross streets or numbered for all I care. It'd be just as helpful as "NoMa." Just get me around in a safe and timely manner without offloads and single tracking.

The Metro Board, on the other hand, urged on by those who seem to think station names are the most vital issue facing Metro in the past four decades, has spent hours and hours over the past months micromanaging a completely peripheral affair.

They abridge while Metro burns!

(If you want to know the changes that are coming, check out the Metro press release.)

Today, though, reader Chris pointed out something potentially oh-so-Metro about this whole fool's errand:

In Metro's press release today they said the following:

"New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U will be renamed "NoMa-Gallaudet U." "New York Ave" will be shown as a secondary name for one-year to assist customers during the transition."

If I read this right, this means we get new maps in 2012 and then in 2013, they CHANGE the new maps out again so that they don't read "New York Ave." anymore.

Is that right?

Furthermore, how much do you think it costs to change every map in the system, online, print brochures, etc? And then to do it again one year later for three words?

I've tweeted @wmata this question but of course got no reply.

WTOP has an estimate of what changing the signage inside each station costs.

I asked Metro if, in fact, there were going to be three maps in the coming years, the "New York Ave." one, the no New York Ave. one and then the one with the Silver Line station names. No word yet.

So here's your chance Metro. Jump in like you used to and answer this question. Tell us you're not wasting another chunk of our money with this naming/map business.

Other items:
Metro says it needs $2 billion more (Examiner)
Metro hired accountant convicted of bank fraud (Wash. Times)
Another Metro fight (YouTube)

Comments (38)

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+1 Vote up Vote down

UnSuck Fan · 698 weeks ago

How about we have maps like the ones in the station of the surrounding area and just have little stars where the Metro stations are located with the wording "You are here"?

+1 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 698 weeks ago

Can you say make work? The son of the printing company's father probably works at Metro. Corrupt.

+6 Vote up Vote down

@chrisatyoursix · 698 weeks ago

OK - let's low-ball this and take WTOP's lowest estimated cost: $90K per station.

There are 86 stations. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wmata)

86 x $90,000 = $7,740,000.00 EACH TIME they change the maps and that's JUST to update the stations (and the LOWEST estimate). I assume the buses also have maps that will need to be updated and I also assume this doesn't cover the cost of updating the rolling stock of ~1100 rail cars.

$7,740,000 x 3 different maps = $23,220,000 - again, the lowest possible number.

And you better BET Metro will be raising fares again...

3 replies · active 698 weeks ago

-2 Vote up Vote down

Sam · 698 weeks ago

And 86 x $1,000,000 = $86,000,000! Just because I pulled $1,000,000 out of thin air doesn't make it true. Do you realize that the $90,000 that you pulled out of thin air likely includes all the directional signage in each station? Do you think they are going to re-replace the platform signs, pylons, etc. in 2012 and 2013?

The maps cost pennies. The in-station signage is the expensive part and if you believe that they are going to replace the "Franconia-Springfield" platform sign in 2012 AND 2013, you should probably stop talking.

+3 Vote up Vote down

@chrisatyoursix · 698 weeks ago

I assume you work for Metro and are answering our questions formally then. Because unless you are you don't know any more than we do.

We are basing our assumptions on information from several places, not numbers WE'RE making up.

0 Vote up Vote down

Sam · 698 weeks ago

Not a Metro employee, just a transit geek. However, I do know from experience that bulk ordering maps (used to work for a map maker in Pennsylvania) is not $90,000. The WTOP article quoted clearly says that the numbers are for station SIGNAGE. Not just the maps.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 698 weeks ago

No mas!

+9 Vote up Vote down

John · 698 weeks ago

I'm glad station naming was metro's #1 priority as opposed to, you know, safety, delays, HIRING PEOPLE CONVICTED OF FRAUD, etc....

-2 Vote up Vote down

Kara · 698 weeks ago

Why not just use numbers for stations? Eliminate all the politics of 'what do we name station x' in one fell swoop. The only time you would need to reprint maps is when a new station was added, but people could predict what it would be called anyway.

'now coming up on blue 5'

1 reply · active 698 weeks ago

-2 Vote up Vote down

@Fortran · 698 weeks ago

Since I'm from Virginia, I say all routes should start numbering in Virginia! I don't imagine that DC or MD will have any problems ceding stations number one to Virginia! :)

+3 Vote up Vote down

Theo16 · 698 weeks ago

What is NoMa? I've lived in the area 19 years and never heard of it.

4 replies · active 698 weeks ago

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KimmieInDC · 698 weeks ago

NoMa = North of Massachusetts Ave.

+1 Vote up Vote down

KimmieInDC · 698 weeks ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NoMa

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Jamie · 698 weeks ago

I guess Metro is trying to be hipster, getting in early with a new neighborhood nickname and hoping it catches on ... or else they'll probably change the map again. "I can't believe nobody liked 'NoMa'!! What should we try next?"

+2 Vote up Vote down

Mitch · 698 weeks ago

DC is trying to be hipster. Metro doesn't want NoMa, DC does. Read the article people!

+4 Vote up Vote down

beema · 698 weeks ago

wmata once again proving they really have their priorities straight. my incredulity has reached critical mass. the people running this system have to be the biggest imbeciles in the history of public transit.

+4 Vote up Vote down

RGG · 698 weeks ago

Didn't Metro have to update the maps anyways to accommodate the Silver Line? My understanding is all new maps were coming anyways, so WMATA took this as an opportunity to address the station name issue so all the changes could be made at once.

That being said, I'm curious as to how they're going to remove the "New York Avenue" reference on the cheap....Duct tape, maybe?

9 replies · active 696 weeks ago

-7 Vote up Vote down

EdH · 698 weeks ago

Yeah, I'm a bit confused that people are complaining about Metro actually doing their job here.

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@chrisatyoursix · 698 weeks ago

We're complaining that, according to the Metro press release, they're going to change the maps in 2012 (fine) but then in 2013 change them AGAIN to remove 3 words: New York Ave. This is a COMPLETE waste of money. That's the complaint.

-2 Vote up Vote down

Sam · 698 weeks ago

They aren't going to change them solely to remove three words. Any time they have planned stations, they periodically refresh the maps as stations start opening and moving from "planned stations" to actual stations. Have you used Metro during a time when new stations were being built? Do you realize that maps in train cars are constantly being reprinted due to changes (e.g. Franconia-Springfield no longer being used for Amtrak last year, yellow line extending to Ft. Totten a few years ago)?

The maps are cheap. It's station signage that is expensive. In 2012, they are going to start replacing EVERYTHING: signage, maps, etc. After that, maps are going to be updated as things change, like they currently are.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Dalat · 698 weeks ago

They haven't changed the map in years. If they did, youd think they would have taken out the "Metropolitian" typo.

Also, if you think the maps cost pennies, think about how expensive the labor will be to hang them all up!

Nothing at Metro is done with any kind of foresight at all.

This is another scam to bilk riders for more money either through higher fares or more subsidies (your tax money)

Enjoy

-3 Vote up Vote down

Sam · 698 weeks ago

You mean the labor that is already paid for to go through the train anyway to update advertisements on a regular basis?

+3 Vote up Vote down

Kara · 698 weeks ago

No, we mean in addition to that. If you add a task to an existing task, no matter how small it will *gasp* take more time/work.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Sam · 698 weeks ago

Actually, after you wrote that I made it my mission to verify. The maps were reprinted in 2010 after Amtrak stopped servicing Franconia-Springfield. The current maps in the trains do not have the Amtrak logo next to the Franconia-Springfield station nor is it covered by a sticker.

Additionally, the re-extension of the yellow line to Fort Totten in 2007 was originally depicted as a sticker bubble and is now represented as an actual yellow line extension, which means that the maps were reprinted in 2007 as well.

Not sure why they didn't use that opportunity to correct the typo.

+7 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 698 weeks ago

Your confusion is understandable, but it is because you are misunderstanding what people are upset about.

YES, Metro would need to provide new maps for the Silver line, and the idea is to have all the station names finalized so that they only change the maps once.

HOWEVER, they are planning on having NY Ave. on the initial "new" maps, but then phasing that out. So, they would have to replace the maps a second time in order remove NY Ave.

Plus, the timing of the initial "new" maps would indicate that they will have to replace the maps AGAIN for the Silver Line.

Finally, people are frustrated because one of the problems that has been repeatedly cited in the Metro Board is their insistence on micromanaging. Yes, station names that help people navigate are important, but the Board has been focusing on this for MONTHS. Yet the switches, track problems, driver safety issues, passenger safety issues, electricity failures, train malfunctions, etc., continue to receive little to no attention from the Board.

Does that help clear up some of your confusion?

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Pete · 696 weeks ago

They don't have to replace anything. They can use temporary stickers like they've done before.

-3 Vote up Vote down

EdH · 698 weeks ago

I think you're picking the wrong battle here. Station names aren't the impetus behind the map redesign. The maps have to be redesigned anyway, to take into account the Silver Line and a number of other things, like readability and usability -- something you ostensibly would be in favor of.

Additionally, some stations have to be renamed, such as Waterfront-SEU (because Southeastern University no longer exists), and changing to the main station name with a subtitle (such as simplifying the monstrosity that is U Street-Cardozo/African-American Civil War Memorial, among others) improves usability and user comprehension. (And, perhaps now they can fix the typo that appears at the bottom of every map -- "Metropolitian" in WMATA's name on the copyright line).

Doing all of this at once is a cost-saving endeavor, and is every bit of what WMATA's board should be doing. They're doing their job -- and you're complaining about it. It's like saying the Gap should stop changing the signage in their stores because what they really should be doing is making T-shirts; no, they do both.

4 replies · active 698 weeks ago

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@chrisatyoursix · 698 weeks ago

We're NOT complaining about them "doing their job". The complaint here is the SECOND round of map changes in 2013 just to remove 3 words: "New York Ave" (according to the Metro press release). Maybe you didn't read UnSuck's full article above before commenting?

+1 Vote up Vote down

Sam · 698 weeks ago

Were you complaining when Metro re-printed all the maps in 2010 and 2007 for minor changes?

+3 Vote up Vote down

RGG · 698 weeks ago

I don't know if WMATA should go through with it Ed.....they risk misspelling "Washington" this time.

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Kara · 698 weeks ago

The analogy would only work if the Gap stopped making tshirts to do the signs. If they are 2 seperate groups of people they can do both tasks, but with the board you have only one group.

+2 Vote up Vote down

Mark · 698 weeks ago

This really is un-Fing believable. They need to change all maps twice in two years just so freakin' morons aren't confused? Seriously, if you're a tourist you won't know the old station name anyway, and if you're a regular you will know of the name change and where the station is according to the rail line. A simple taped up piece of paper warning of the station change is sufficient, and if it's not OH FREAKIN' WELL, you're stupid, can't fix stupid, have fun acting all confused like the idiot you are.

Here's a question: would such a decision be made if the money spent would lessen the salaries of the decision makers? That's what we're looking at, people, the more money metro wastes the closer we move to another fare hike, get ready folks, they've been a'waisting and we'll be a payin'.

Wonder why it wasn't just "NY Ave & FL Ave" in the first place, maybe the sign maker is paid by the letter and a friend of metro's.

3 replies · active 698 weeks ago

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Sam · 698 weeks ago

I guess you were really pissed when Metro reprinted new maps last year for minor things like taking off the Amtrak logo from Franconia-Springfield.

They are made out of paper. They are printed and re-printed OFTEN. Assuming an average of 10 maps per station (86 stations) and 6 maps per rail car (1,126 rail cars), you'd need to print at least 7,616 maps for the system. Let's round up and say WMATA will order 10,000 per order. Bulk ordering is not expensive. When you order that many, you're talking a few pennies per map. It might cost a whopping $200 to reprint the maps. At 30 seconds to replace a map that slides into the frame (pretty generous), that comes to approximately 63 man hours to replace 7,616 maps. It's not tens of thousands of dollars like people think. We're talking MAYBE $1,500 in printing and labor.

+2 Vote up Vote down

n2deep · 698 weeks ago

30 seconds to change a map?? far from it. have you noticed there are anywhere from 8 to 12 screws that hold the lexan cover on the door panels. there also are nuts on the back of the rohr panels and the emergency door panels,( the red boxes) have to be removed as well. looking at about 7 or 8 minutes a panel. half hour or so per car.
how do i know?? i did it many times over the years

0 Vote up Vote down

Sam · 698 weeks ago

Alright, giving you the benefit of the doubt, let's say 8 minutes per sign. I miscounted originally anyway and said there are 6 maps per rail car. There are only 4 in each car.

So, 5,364 maps rather than my initial 7,616 estimate brings the labor to 715 man hours. Much different than my initial approximation but still not $90,000 worth in maps and labor. At $20/hour (feel free to chime in there with the average pay of someone that would be responsible for changing maps in trains), we're looking at less than $15,000 to refresh all the maps in Metro, including the printing of the maps themselves. Far from the $90,000 figure that people are throwing around.

-1 Vote up Vote down

@VeggieTart · 698 weeks ago

The maps coming out next year will show the planned Silver Line, due to open in--ta da--2013. They are NOT changing a map to remove three words but to take into account the Silver Line.

And yes, there are other name changes that are necessary. I just wish they could remove the 40th president's name from the stop next to the airport.

+3 Vote up Vote down

A Less Whiny Rider · 698 weeks ago

This complaint is way off base.

2012 new maps - show the reroute of the Blue Line plus an outline of the future Silver Line
2013 new maps - show the newly opened Silver Line

They are reprinting the maps for these changes anyway so they will do the changes for the NY Ave / NoMA stop then. The 2013 reprint is not due to the NY Ave / NoMA name change.

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Josh · 697 weeks ago

In all fairness the Silver Line opens in 2013, so they'd have to update the maps anyways. Not saying changing the station name twice isn't dumb, but it certaintly isn't a waste of money.