Metro Stonewalls Pentagon

Illustration from this event. Photo via Kate

On Jan. 30, I published a story about how the Pentagon escalators had been allowed to run for months without undergoing routine safety inspections. In effect, Metro was rolling the dice with riders' safety.

I thought perhaps someone in the media would try to follow up, but alas, they didn't. I'd hoped the story was wrong and that Metro hadn't risked riders' lives. I'd hoped Metro would offer proof to debunk my tipster, but they didn't.

But one reader wanted to know more.

They wrote the Pentagon's facility management group asking them to look into it. The Pentagon said they'd asked Metro about it,  and while the answer is hardly satisfying, it does show that Metro answers to no one--not even the Pentagon.

Names and titles are redacted at the request of the reader.

-----Original Message-----
From: XXXXX
[mailto:XXX@xxx.mil]
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2013 10:26 AM
To: XXXXX
Cc:XXXXXX
Subject: RE: Metro Escalators

Mr. XXX,

Couldn't get as much from Metro as I'd like, but Metro reports the
following:

The current escalators at Pentagon Station are 18 years old and are being
scheduled for replacement. The first escalator replacement project (south
escalator) is currently underway and project mobilization will occur as
early as today, but sometime this week at the latest.

Metro will not comment on blog articles or other numerous non-official
websites that may be available for public viewing. Equipment and facility
inspections are an on-going SOP for Metro.

XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX

How are we doing?  http://www.xxxxxxx

Pretty unbelievable.

As I've said before, we're all alone out here. No one has our backs. Even when the U.S. military asks Metro for more information, they get stonewalled with Metro BS.

Other items: 
Cell phone coverage delayed again (Examiner)
Public outreach meetings seems scheduled for minimal attendance (WMATA)
Metro issues pathetic "investigation" results on July Green Line meltdown (WaPo)