Unsuck DC Metro: Is MetroForward Making Any Difference?

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Is MetroForward Making Any Difference?

We're coming up on two years of enduring MetroForward, Metro's "rebuilding" project. The self-congratulatory PR (look we fixed some tiles) has been constant, but what about the results? There's no doubt Metro needed serious work, but have Metro managers, in their zeal to spend capital funds, lost track of Metro's mission?

We've tolerated weekend closures, bus bridges, endless single tracking, weeknight track work, mid-day trackwork, single tracking on Columbus Day and Veteran's Day when a lot of people still have to work. A lot of people I know have simply given up on Metro and are likely never to go back.

Metro has spent hundreds of millions on MetroForward, but is it paying off? Are they just placing new equipment on top of a rotten foundation--namely a completely ineffectual board of directors? Is there ever going to be an "ah-ha" moment when things suddenly get better?

By the looks of the daily disruption reports, number of derailments, train malfunctions and switch malfunctions along with numerous cases of trapped riders, it's hard to see much, if any, improvement.

One Metro source explained that trying to maintain Metro is like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Once you finish, you have to go back and start painting again. Metro itself admits that there are likely at least several more years of these kinds of service cuts, particularly on the weekends. Is this the new norm? No one is talking about that.

What do you think?

Comments (54)

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+10 Vote up Vote down

Nick · 621 weeks ago

From that disruption report:

" 6:54 p.m. A Fort Totten-bound Yellow Line train at Huntington did not operate, resulting in a 12-minute gap in service.

7:06 p.m. A Fort Totten-bound Yellow Line train at Huntington did not operate, resulting in a 12-minute gap in service. "

These are the ones that really bug me. I understand sick customers, brake problems, signal problems (well I don't get those, but at least it explains it kind of). How does a train just not operate? Someone goes in to start it and the train is just like "nah bro?" Also, if that report is true, that means two yellow trains in a row did not leave Huntington, possibly resulting in a 24 minute service gap. WTF.

3 replies · active 621 weeks ago

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@perkinsms · 621 weeks ago

I think these are usually where either an operator was not available or the train was not available. Both indicate poor management of the system.

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@code3banker · 621 weeks ago

*rolls eyes at Metro* I am currently listening to a podcast on how to prepare for a job interview. I am just shaking my head and laughing when the podcast is suggesting to leave early and anticipate delays and snafus along the way. Would 25 hours in advance be enough to compensate for Metro's lack of dependable service. I can understand one train, but TWO?! What a joke. We'll charge you full price, too. Thank you for riding!

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Bitter Brew · 621 weeks ago

Actually, I think that would be a36 minute service gap! 6:42 train, followed by a 7:18 train.

But it gets worse:

"7:29 p.m. A Fort Totten-bound Yellow Line train at King Street was offloaded due to a brake problem. Customers experienced a 18-minute delay."

This looks like it could be the very next train (the 7:18 from Huntington), offloading with a brake problem, having made it all of 2 stops. Ugh.

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Veracity · 621 weeks ago

Until someone actually holds Metro's feet to the fire - putting a hard cap on their budget by preventing fare increases and making them accountable for self-inflicted failures through penalizing cuts in budget/staff/rewards - nothing will change. It will only get worse.

Without forced encouragement to adapt, there's never going to be a need for Metro to do anything to change operations. They know to bark to the right people for more funding and/or authorization for fare increases. They know the apathy in governance will allow them to continue "as is".

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Veteran Rider · 621 weeks ago

I think you are right about forced encouragement to adapt, but I am not certain a hard cap on the budget is the way to do that - in response to that I think the Metro Board would just fall back on their regular excuses of not enough funding and no dedicated funding source. The budget cap would become another reason why they can't run a railroad properly, and the apathy which you correctly identify will mean that Metro sinks further and faster into complete disrepair.

I think we need an uprising of Metro riders to make it clear to both the Board and elected official in each of the jursidictions that 'more of the same' is not acceptable and that we demand and expect change and improvements.

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Andrew · 621 weeks ago

I think it's a complete joke. Basically there is always something wrong or seriously malfunctioning with the metro. Basically every day there's some kind of malfunction, accident, fire, brake problem, derailment. When that's not happening, you can always count on the cars to just sit on the tracks for 10 minutes, or stay at the station for 5 minutes for apparently no reason. Then there's the weekend and weeknight single-tracking, single-tracking on government holidays that make having a car a virtual necessity. And when that's not happening you have the "next train arrival" signs just stop displaying when the next train is coming, like happened earlier this year. The system is a complete joke and I can't wait to get out of here and go to NYC with a functioning public transit system.

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Parrish · 621 weeks ago

What do you mean, the "new" norm? I resigned myself to this being the norm a long time ago. I don't even bother to check the weekend service delay reports anymore, I gave up on that about three or four years ago. Now I just assume that going anywhere on weekends on Metro will take far too long to be worth the trip. I almost never ride Metro anymore. (Mercifully, last year, I got a job that's only 1.5 miles from my house.)

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Dave Alturd · 621 weeks ago

This is money well spent. I think we can all agree that the program has been a rousing success.

If you look at the number of people on the system, vs the number of cars in the DC streets or the surrounding areas, you can clearly see that the master plan of getting 90 percent of all people to use public transportation no matter what is working!

Did Metro Forward make a significant number of passengers stop taking Metro? No. A few did, but they came right back when they saw that thanks to my organization and people like me: there is no parking in DC!

You can complain about Metro all you want, but realize that it serves a greater puprose of "Smarth Growth". And that's more important than these petty little compliaints about "service", "Safety", "value", "reliability", "efficiency", or "practicality". Do you guys really want a world where everyone has a car and everyone can get there on time and in comfort? I know I don't!

Metro Forward addresses the fact that repairs are needed in the system. It's not Metro's fault that they ignored repairs for two decades. It's YOUR fault (the reader) for being so pro car and not funding these guys whenever they put their hand out. AND it's OUR job to help Metro fix these years of non-repairs. Metro should never be held liable for anything it's done to avoid proactive repairs. That's not their fault. That's AAA's fault.

Metro Forward also fights off antis and 1950's thinkers like this blog by providing a transparent look into the repairs. It's open and honest and it's money well spent. I hope Metro gets even more funding to continue much needed ingenius programs like this one!

Read My Blog!: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/

24 replies · active 621 weeks ago

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Nick · 621 weeks ago

Dude wouldn't your juvenile trolling be more effective on GGW? I'm sure you can think of a slightly more nuanced way to be a sarcastic douche in the comment threads over there.

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John · 621 weeks ago

The comments section over on GGW is guarded like Fort Knox.

I think its funny. It reminds me of the sarcastic Stan Dessel comments. Have a sense of humor and you'll enjoy it.

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Veteran Rider · 621 weeks ago

Yeah, but at least the Stan Dessel comments make sense and are appropriate on Unsuck. These are just boring.

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Nick · 621 weeks ago

Exactly. They're irrelevant. If you hate David Alpert, Progressivism, and Smart Growth, go comment on WTOP, Fox News, etc.

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Dave Alturd · 621 weeks ago

Nick,

As you are well aware being a regular GGW reader, you know that I am on the Metro Riders Advisory Council (and also served as the Vice Chair for DC for a while).

As such I represent ALL Riders to the Metro board and present Riders issues to them and advocate for their rights.And as you can see, I'm doing a bang up job as rider satisfaction is up 300 percent in the last year!

Hence why I have also added my commentary here in addition to my blog!: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/

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Dave Alturd · 621 weeks ago

Nick,

As a regular GGW commentator you know that I'm on the Metro Riders Advisory Committee (And once served as the DC Vice chair).

As such I represent all Riders to the Metro board and present their issues, suggestions, complaints, kudos and viewpoints to the board.

Since I have taken this job, rider satisfaction with Metro has gone up 400 percent!

I'm sure you'll understand why my comments are needed on here to fight the antis and the Metro BACKWARD blogs like this one.

Read my blog!: http://greatergreaterwashington.

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Guest · 621 weeks ago

If he posted there his posts would be deleted by his namesake.

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Joolz · 621 weeks ago

The many Dave Alturd comments are all a little "off" -- not funny, not clever, not a good use of sarcasm. They're making the comments section of this blog a lot less fun to read. I don't read GGW and don't care about any stupid drama there.

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Hal · 621 weeks ago

These are almost annoying as the "Stan Dessel" and "Jackie Jizzle" posts. Not only do they not contribute anything to the discussion, but they're downright lame and not funny. Don't quit your day job.

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John · 621 weeks ago

It must be difficult going through life without a sense of humor....

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Nick · 621 weeks ago

Some of our senses of humor are a bit more sophisticated than:

"LOL progressives are dumb - taxes are bad!"

"Haha bike lanes are stupid, how am I supposed to bike if it rains!"

"Jackie Jizzle said something about slavery!"

-1 Vote up Vote down

John · 621 weeks ago

Didn't know there were so many GGW and Dave Alpert defenders out here. Wow....

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Nick · 621 weeks ago

We're coming for you John, on our bicycles. Your income is not safe from our taxation powers!

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Dave Alturd · 621 weeks ago

Nick, you've been a very very naughty boy!

I'm not sure what about my comments you find unfunny or even funny. They are meant to defend public transportation against the evil assault being perpetrated by this blog against Metro.

Metro is being attacked here and you're busy telling everyone about your sense of humor.

I expect better from a regular Greater Greater Washington commentator such as yourself. Never take your eyes off the prize Nick! Focus! The enemy is cars! All of them! And neighborhoods that are already formed! And people too old to use public transportation! And women who expect safety!

Anyone who stands in the way of our "smarth growth" must be haraunged, pestered and annoyed so much that they stay in silence!

Read my blog!: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/ (Nick, I expect to see you back there soon!)

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Nick · 621 weeks ago

You're hysterical!

But seriously, aside from making fun of Alpert/GGW, what's your strategy?

I know: build more roads!

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hrh king friday 13 · 621 weeks ago

Man, the GGW crowd is really coming out today. SO DON'T STOP!

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John · 621 weeks ago

I bet Alpert sent his entire staff over here to go after "Dave Alturd" especially this humorless "Nick" fellow.

Did you see what happened when the guy from AAA called Alpert retarded? Alpert went and made the ENTIRE GGW STAFF write an article condemning him. I also notice right when "Nick" posts, he has 4 thumbs up, and the posts making fun of alpert swing down 4. Pretty easy to see whats going on here...

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Nick · 621 weeks ago

Hahahahaha WTF I don't post on GGW. And I don't think those people are "staff" - lol - they're all just blog post contributors who have day jobs elsewhere.

Sorry if you don't get my humor John.

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Nick · 621 weeks ago

Also, in my first reply to the Alturd moron, I encouraged him to go troll on GGW, where I said it would be more effective.

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John · 621 weeks ago

Dude, you cant post criticism over there. I already said: they guard it like Fort Knox.

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Veteran Rider · 621 weeks ago

I am no defender of Alpert and I am definitely not a staffer of GGW. I just think the Alturd posts are juvenile and pointless here. As others have said, if you don't like Alpert, go to GGW and figure out how to harass him there. Poking at him here just makes no sense. Whatever point is being made has been made and now the posts are just boring. Enough.

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John · 621 weeks ago

Its pretty clear "Nick" is either Nick Caey or Nick Partee over on GGW.

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Nick · 621 weeks ago

Jesus Christ how dense are you. Nick is an EXTREMELY COMMON NAME. I am not affiliated with ggw.

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youreClearlySanta · 621 weeks ago

If by " extremely common" you mean "it's the name of two GGW staff and no one else except for that saint from the north pole", then, yeah.

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phan · 621 weeks ago

I just don't understand how it's gotten so bad. I first started riding Metro in 1997 and it was efficient, clean and not as surly. I moved from Maryland to Virginia and took different lines and it was still okay. Then, what, 5 or 6 years ago, it started a head-long tumble into the mess we have now. I really am interested in seeing the decline and why it happened. Many of the problems we have now existed 16 years ago. Why are they worse now?

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hrh king friday 13 · 621 weeks ago

The "ah-ha" moment will only come once the board's fat heads are so far up thier fat asses that they completely invert themselves.

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Jason · 621 weeks ago

What I don't get is the complacency. It's not normal that in a city with what is supposed to be a halfway good subway system, people eagerly ditch Metro for sitting in some of the worst gridlock in the country (you'd never see people in NYC do this, for instance).

But what's more is that it's terrible for the economy around here, DC in particular but I'm sure that Arlington, Alexandria, etc suffer from it as well. I've spoken to plenty of people who stopped going into DC on the weekend because they simply don't want to deal with the Metro. And I live in Clarendon, which is only about 10 miles from Old Town, yet I pretty much never go because I don't have a car and with weekend track work it can easily take at least an hour.

Also this is a policy that existed before Metro went into decay but closing the Metro before last call, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, is basically egging people on with regards to driving drunk.

3 replies · active 621 weeks ago

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guest · 621 weeks ago

this. ^ i never come into DC anymore unless i have to (i.e., work). and i used to come down here all the time.

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karah 81p · 621 weeks ago

The reverse is true as well. When I lived in Crystal City I would visit friends in Alexandria on weekends and evenings via metro. Not the best (especially if it was for something early on a Saturday) but doable. As soon as I moved to DC on the red line it was no longer worth the hassle to use metro in off-peak to get there ... unless I can get a ride in a car I do not go. Yes, I am a little further but not THAT far, it is the off-peak transfer that is the killer.

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ani · 621 weeks ago

I live in Adams Morgan (about a 1/2 mile from the Woodley Park station) and took a class on Saturdays in Farragut North.

After scrambling for two weeks, I realized that walking the 2 miles there and back took the same amount of time and was much more enjoyable than dealing with Metro

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guest · 621 weeks ago

OT: another gallery place brawl
http://wtop.com/41/3304939/Students-brawl-at-Gall...

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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Civilized · 621 weeks ago

Worthless pieces of shit...

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Stan Dessel · 621 weeks ago

I'll comment whenever I damn well please!

MetroForward is great success!

You're welcome!

2 replies · active 621 weeks ago

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windy · 621 weeks ago

You might want to pull your head out of the sand and rethink your reply.

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Dave Alturd · 621 weeks ago

Stan are we still on for lunch?!

Read my blog!: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/

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@JimLCunningham · 621 weeks ago

I think it's because they're not ACTUALLY performing preventive maintenance. I think the employees get away with checking a box on a clipboard that they did something when they didn't. With so many people supposed to be checking so many things, it's hard to point the finger at just one person when something finally wears out, right? So just check the box.

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windy · 621 weeks ago

Regarding the reference about painting the Golden Gate Bridge, it is and remains functional, even while being painted. Metro, on the other hand, does.NOT.work, maintenance or otherwise. MetroForward, RushPlus and all these other programs are failures, much like the people who run the agency.

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J to the Jeetz · 621 weeks ago

You want this work to actually get done correctly?? On a reasonable schedule???? Apparently you believe in slavery.

2 replies · active 621 weeks ago

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Joe Jonas · 621 weeks ago

haha this is funny because "J to the Jeetz" implies that she is black, which is true

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PeaToThePeats · 621 weeks ago

Joe to the Jonaz,
I only posted this to make a swamp joke.

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@savemetro · 621 weeks ago

Welcome to the New Norm! Is that the new slogan and marketing campaign? I love it #wmata

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Daily Rider · 621 weeks ago

I had thought that one of the issues on Metro was with some guys being far too "Forward"?

Seriously, they seem to spend quite a bit of effort and dough on PR while operations aren't getting that much better.

I do still say the PIDs now generally work when I ride, however.

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Annabel · 621 weeks ago

To answer your (Unsuck's) question, it is not possible to tell from the rail reports that you linked to because they only go back one year. Even if it went back farther, we would need to know the amount of trains in service at the times those incidents happened in order to get a sense of whether a higher proportion of incidents was occurring now versus before Metro Forward.

1 reply · active 621 weeks ago

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karah 81p · 621 weeks ago

It is pretty easy to figure out. Before rush- it was mostly claimed to be 6 minute headways during rush and 12 minutes during non-rush. The only variance on most previous schedules were the blue and yellow line at twice the norm (since they share their lines with another one for most of the route).

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NoNo · 621 weeks ago

In 12 days, I'm moving to a new place, at walking distance from my work (I work on weekends too).
I am a fervent supporter of public transportation and public service, I ride metro and public transportation all my life, on 4 continents.
And the Washington metro is the only one that convinced me to change my habits to walking/biking/driving instead of riding metro...
I am already sorry my money won't contribute anymore in "rebuilding the system", but my time is now more precious than the metro employees expensive advantages... So I quit!