
From anonymous:
Metro has annoying issues, hot cars, delays, malfunctions, off-boarding, buses not showing up, etc., but in general, I am grateful to have public transit since I do not own a car. Metro is how I get to and from work, as well as participate in other activities.Other items:
As of late, there has been a serious uptick in crime in the Mount Vernon Triangle/Chinatown neighborhood and at the Chinatown Metro.
I have felt very unsafe and have contacted the general police - who never show when I call.
The other night, I witnessed a particularly disturbing incident at the Chinatown Metro after the Nationals game.
It was around 10:30 p.m. There were a lot of people (since this is a major transfer point), and as I came off the train, I saw an altercation taking place on one of the escalators.
People were screaming for Metro police, and a few gentleman were trying to hold two juveniles who appeared to have attempted to rob somebody. The two juveniles were throwing punches, but the good citizens were not standing down.
People continued to scream for police, but none showed up.
So I ran to the other side - also screaming for help and prompting others to try and get help - and went to the vestibule at the 7th and H St. exit.
There were two gentleman there, and what happened next cannot be expressed through a message.
I conveyed what happened (other people were there, too) and asked why these things keep happening. I asked what they were doing about it?
One of the gentleman began to chastise me, tried to intimidate me, and belittled me. The other followed suit.
I was upset and conveyed how I felt unsafe.
To say they were unkind would be an understatement.
I exited through the gates and went to the front of the vestibule. A name plate said "Station Manager on Duty" with the name "A. Harris" listed.
I asked one of the gentleman who A. Harris was, and he asked why I needed to know.
I told him it was because that was who was listed as the station manager on duty, and I wanted to know who was responsible.
He told me I didn't need to know that information and then proceeded to call transit police on me - to scare me off.
The transit police did not show up, and I left realizing how futile this all was.
I submitted a formal complaint through Metro and called Transit Police myself the next morning to relay the incident and ask why there weren't several transit police visibly present when they knew there was a large sporting event. Chinatown is a problem station and a busy transfer point, particularly after games.
The response I got was "Just like you can't be all places at all time neither can our people."
That is unacceptable.
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knows metro · 661 weeks ago
Also, they could be upset because there was a recent pick, and that station is not considered a good one to have for the reasons listed in the article.
former employee · 660 weeks ago
Anony · 661 weeks ago
Even if WMATA is hamstrung by a union that protects awful, awful employees, they can at least ensure police presence at certain stations.
There should always be at least one police officer at each of the big 3: Metro Center, L'Enfant Plaza, and Gallery Place. Every office building downtown at night has a security guard. Why can't at least these 3 stations have a cop present?
@VeggieTart · 661 weeks ago
16 cents · 661 weeks ago
@VeggieTart · 661 weeks ago
John · 661 weeks ago
Unfortunately, the metro police are usually hiding out at "high-crime" stations like Vienna, West Falls Church, Bethesda, Grovesnor, Twinbrook, and Shady Grove....
Cowards.
Kara · 661 weeks ago
Jin · 661 weeks ago
Jason · 661 weeks ago
ABC · 659 weeks ago
jimlcunningham 80p · 660 weeks ago
jkuchen · 661 weeks ago
Mike · 661 weeks ago
corey babcock · 660 weeks ago
abc · 660 weeks ago
eed017 · 660 weeks ago
montagthezine 51p · 661 weeks ago
PeeWee · 661 weeks ago
Arnaud · 661 weeks ago
red line · 661 weeks ago
One take · 661 weeks ago
nomoreimigreants · 661 weeks ago
DCRider · 661 weeks ago
@Hell_on_wheelz · 660 weeks ago
Sizzle · 661 weeks ago
But yeah, I definitely agree that these huge transfer stations should always have Transit Police present.
Sizzle · 661 weeks ago
But yeah, I definitely agree that these huge transfer stations should always have Transit Police present.
Will · 661 weeks ago
Guest · 661 weeks ago
The riders shouldn't have to police metro, but nonetheless kudos to the good riders who are standing up to these punks.
guest · 661 weeks ago
Tricky Dick · 661 weeks ago
Bigger · 661 weeks ago
Zach · 661 weeks ago
Better yet, such incidents should be cataloged and released in periodic digests.
John · 661 weeks ago
guest · 661 weeks ago
One take · 661 weeks ago
My 8-year old niece is in the 3rd grade; and she is more educated than this particular station manager.
Average Customer · 661 weeks ago
My dad came to visit and I decided to play tour guide and go to a Nationals game. Well during our excursion out and about we are going through the gates. I swipe my card (I see the the balance flash and I keep going)
Guy yells at me to stop and accuses me of jumping the gate.
I say I saw the balance flash and I didn't jump.
He says I'm lying.
I tell him to swipe my card and it will show I left. Because if I didn't and I tried to use it at another station , the station manager would have to do the same thing.
He takes it - comes back and just goes "FINE YOU WIN! WHATEVER!"
Typical METRO clown.
Chris · 661 weeks ago
Trollopian · 661 weeks ago
YTK · 660 weeks ago
Anony · 661 weeks ago
But here's a question --- does WMATA have security cameras that watch the station manager's booth? They are near faregates, which you would think would have some cameras watching them. Then again, even if the camera was watching them, would the camera be working and would WMATA be willing to look into customer allegations of worker abuse/incompetence?
Jason · 661 weeks ago
What do you think?
Guest · 661 weeks ago
DMC · 661 weeks ago
FU MWATA · 661 weeks ago
There's more to life than sitting in a hot, overcrowded, broken down train car, only to deal with nasty Metro employees and getting assaulted by Hood Ratz.
Tricky Dick · 660 weeks ago
dcdriver · 660 weeks ago
jimlcunningham 80p · 660 weeks ago
All Metro Employees should have their names written across their backs like football jerseys.
jimlcunningham 80p · 660 weeks ago
russell.j.coller.jr · 660 weeks ago
tunnelpig · 660 weeks ago
tunnelpig · 660 weeks ago
YTK · 660 weeks ago