Unsuck DC Metro: Autumn will Fix AC System

Friday, September 14, 2012

Autumn will Fix AC System

From anon:

From: csvc@wmata.com
Date: Sep 13, 2012 2:05 PM
Subject: RE: RAIL DELAY BLUE
To: xxxxxx@gmail.com
Ms. xxxxxxxx:
This is a follow-up from our earlier conversation. According to my research, equipment has been reset to cool the lower level of our Crystal City Station, which will do away with the humidity. We will correct the air conditioning system after the summer season is over. Again, thank you for your patience and ridership.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Strother
Rail Transportation Customer Service
When responding to this email, please perform a reply with history so that the following conversational identifier "[THREAD_ID:XXXXX]" is included in your response.

Other items:
Metro says they've closed some NTSB recommendations (WMATA)
Metro just doesn't get how people use transit or how bad L'Enfant is (WaPo)

Comments (22)

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+14 Vote up Vote down

@FixWMATA · 654 weeks ago

Un. Believ. Able. Unbelievable. Customers first... you know, after the summer season.

+3 Vote up Vote down

@davinpet · 654 weeks ago

Why do you have to wait for Autumn, which starts Sep. 22?

It is hot inside the Captiol South station and Metro can't seem to keep the lights working at this station either.

+3 Vote up Vote down

anon · 654 weeks ago

LOL

+6 Vote up Vote down

@VeggieTart · 654 weeks ago

So they'll fix the air conditioning at a time when riders won't be needing it for much longer? Way to go!

+6 Vote up Vote down

Daily Rider · 654 weeks ago

Earlier this summer, it seemed as if the HEAT was on in Crystal City instead of the AC. The escalator enclosures were hot to the touch, and one day the escalator hand rail was just about too hot to hold.

+14 Vote up Vote down

Ever n Anon · 654 weeks ago

I do believe the a/c is fixed in autumn by Mother Nature's cooling system. I suppose that is cost savings for Metro? ahemm..

+13 Vote up Vote down

Kevin · 654 weeks ago

From: csvc@wmata.com
Date: Sep 13, 2012 2:05 PM
Subject: RE: RAIL DELAY BLUE
To: xxxxxx@gmail.com
Ms. xxxxxxxx:
This is a follow-up from our earlier conversation. According to my research, equipment has been reset to ensure that doors do not open while the train is moving, which will do away with any risk of death or serious injury. We will close the doors permanently once the train is out of service. Again, thank you for your patience and ridership.
Sincerely,
Marjorie Strother
Rail Transportation Customer Service

+9 Vote up Vote down

PeeWee · 654 weeks ago

The Union doesn't want their HVAC techs to get sweaty

+12 Vote up Vote down

ShakesHead · 654 weeks ago

you guys are TOO hard on Metro. Do you know how hot it can get around that AC equipment in the summer? The techs need air conditioning before they can get anywhere near it. (for those of you who don't know sarcasm, this is it)

+11 Vote up Vote down

NoNo · 654 weeks ago

What surprised me the most is that you got a real answer...
Usually, I receive first an automatic answer based on key words in my email (like escalators, track maintenance, delays...). If I insist for having an accurate answer, I receive a second email, saying that my demand has been forwarded to the appropriate service... and then nothing.
I guess that the "appropriate service" for customers complaints is called "Trash"

+7 Vote up Vote down

guest · 654 weeks ago

i'm sure you all saw....?
http://wtop.com/654/3037110/Metro-admits-Rush-Plu...

the whole peak-of-the-peak thing failed miserably--why does wmata think rush plus will change rider behavior?

2 replies · active 654 weeks ago

+5 Vote up Vote down

finch2012 84p · 654 weeks ago

For some reason I find the whole bribing-people-with-$5 thing hysterical. I know that's basically giving them a free ride or two, which is not a bad thing, but it just comes off as cheap and stupid pleading.

I also have no doubt that at least 30% of the fare cards they hand out will malfunction.

+3 Vote up Vote down

jkuchen · 654 weeks ago

Five bucks says that the majority of the people taking the cards at L'Enfant aren't going to be those transferring between Orange and Yellow! What a waste.

+5 Vote up Vote down

russell.j.coller.jr · 654 weeks ago

>>> !! UnSuck: the Patron Saint of sweaty commuters everywhere. Swoop down & protect us from homeless wackos & deliver us from our imperilled fates. Amen.

+14 Vote up Vote down

Stan Dessel · 654 weeks ago

Stop complaining, and I'll give you five bucks.
You're welcome!

+4 Vote up Vote down

jimlcunningham 80p · 654 weeks ago

Some people who come from warmer climates like it warmer. They figure they have to be on the train, or in the station, or on the bus all day and you don't, so they might as well make it comfortable for THEM.

I once watched hot customers on a bus trying to convince the driver (who sounded like he was from Kenya or Ghana) to turn on the AC. Everyone was just sweltering and he was perfectly happy just having his window open.

-5 Vote up Vote down

n2deep · 654 weeks ago

It would nice to show everyone what is involved with "repairing" what you all call air conditioners. They are actually chillers, no A/C units. and if parts need to be changed it sometimes takes a crane to remove and replace larger components of the unit. The letter said the unit had been reset which is standard procedures to get the units running again. anything else usually requires more than a "looksie" and is a job for a few techs not one. So to pull a group together and remove them from other scheduled maintenance is not feasible.

Your letter is dated Sept. 13. so it will not be a priority assignment like it would be in June or July.

4 replies · active 653 weeks ago

+4 Vote up Vote down

Matt · 654 weeks ago

Excuses. They didn't fix the one that were broken in June, July, or August either. Negates your entire point.

+4 Vote up Vote down

former employee · 653 weeks ago

Don't blame the HVAC techs for procurement and upper mgmt. failures. These techs have been putting band aid on stab wounds for way tooooo long. No parts, need parts . Many times getting a major part from stock installing it and only have it fail. Don't blame the tech's.. it is Metro mgmt. that wants numbers out for revenue.

Remember Unsuck did story on "operation brezze" Refer back to that..

0 Vote up Vote down

JustARider · 653 weeks ago

I appreciate when you and n2deep comment on the blog. It's nice to get more perspective.

Speaking for myself, when I bitch about Metro I mean the upper management. Unfortunately, this kinda lumps everyone together, but it's the organization and not (most of) the individuals that is to blame.

If management had their shit together, policies would make sense, priorities would be dealt with in order of importance (ie: parts and repairs over $5 fare cards), and we might get to a point of improvement (or at least back to satisfactory). The Metro beast is a ferocious one—cut off its head!

Either way, the email did seem like a blow-off. Even one sentence, something to the effect of "Unfortunately, repairing a chiller is a major operation and we have scheduled it for maintenance" would put the matter more in perspective.

Thank you both again, and don't let the bastards grind you down.