Unsuck DC Metro: Escalator Root Problems Part II: Foxes Guarding the Hen House

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Escalator Root Problems Part II: Foxes Guarding the Hen House

How would you like to write your own performance review or grade your own test?

That's basically what Metro does with escalator inspections.

Yesterday, the Examiner published more damning statistics about how badly Metro's escalators suck.

It's good to quantify the problem, but regular riders need only to reflect on their daily commute to realize there's something seriously rotten in the state of Metro escalators.

Sure, some of the equipment is old.

Yes, Metro is cash strapped.

There are no magic bullets for these two problems. They're constants for the time being.

But on this blog, we've tried to shine a light on some root causes Metro could, if it had a little will, remedy with little, if any, money.

In part I, we pointed to the pick system, which destroys the incentive for workers to do well at their job. Get rid of it, Metro, despite Jackie Jeter's slant.

Now, we've learned that Metro inspects its own escalators!

"It's like letting the fox guard the hen house," said a source familiar with Metro's escalator operation, who added they know of no other organization that does this.

"You don't have Macy's inspecting their own escalators," they said.

Metro confirmed there are 30 Metro escalator workers charged, in some capacity, with conducting escalator inspections.

"Metro has four full-time, dedicated Jurisdictional Inspectors, and the other remaining inspectors on staff have other duties," they said in an email.

"If you have other duties besides inspection, it's like you're inspecting your own work--it's a conflict," said the source. "Inspectors should be completely independent of the owner and maintenance performer."

It's clearly not working.

The Washington Post reported that after the "proactive, precautionary" (bullsh ... cough cough) inspection of all Metro's escalators instigated by the news broken on this blog about a cover up of known brake problems at L'Enfant Plaza, Metro found "scores of brakes that need to be replaced or [that had] oil-contaminated brake pads."

This confounded our source who wondered how, all of a sudden, so many basic safety problems were found if regular, well done, inspections were being done.

"Their current inspection process is obviously not working," the source said. "Either their inspectors aren't checking as close as they could, or they're not keeping good records."

Part III coming soon.

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+13 Vote up Vote down

John · 740 weeks ago

I've said it once and I'll say it again.. (PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JOIN!)

FIRE
DAVID
LACOSSE!

(Who's with me now?)

17 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+11 Vote up Vote down

guest · 740 weeks ago

David Lacoose is not the only person that needs to fired from Metro. Was he a mechanic who was assigned to perform work but would work for a hour or not at all and then pencil whip his paperwork?? They are former mechaincs now instructors at Metro who I know did this. I used to work for Metro, I feel your fustrations. Warning to you:. If you see unsafe practice and want to keep your job, I sugguest you just keep your mouth shut. Mgmt. will make your life a living hell. You will also be mandated for a pysch. eval.

You sound like one of the many mechaincs who have work ethic and morales. Sadly, Metro requires you to compromise those values

+4 Vote up Vote down

Radner · 740 weeks ago

If you were fired or have any colleagues that were fired due to informing their superiors or the public about things that are unsafe, you should really seek legal advice. Things like The Whistleblower Protection act are in place to keep this from happening.

+1 Vote up Vote down

bet · 740 weeks ago

Radner where do you know of uneducated blue collar workers get over $50,000.00 a year?

+3 Vote up Vote down

Radner · 740 weeks ago

I don't understand where you're getting the $50K a year number. It is my understanding that to file one of these suits it doesn't matter your income, only that you were fired or mistreated for being a whistleblower. There are attorney's out there that may help you enforce your rights pro-bono or on a damages recovery basis.

+7 Vote up Vote down

Radner · 740 weeks ago

I think I just figured it out . . . you mean they won't report anything because if they lose this job they won't be able to get another one with as much pay. That is a good point. And really sad.

-4 Vote up Vote down

mr metro · 740 weeks ago

you would be wrong. dont feel sad for me because im a blue collar worker. unless your a doctor or high price lawyer i have
made more then you for the last 25 years.

+5 Vote up Vote down

former employee · 740 weeks ago

Meto is a sovereign immunity entity. In legal terms they can't be sued. (if you google cases against Metro, you will find that is their escape) Many lawyers do not like taking cases against Metro because of this. Metro will spend millions of dollars defending a case, because its free money to them (taxpayer money) and bankrupt the person seeking justice.

As far as reporting waste, abuse or fraud to the OIG, that is a joke. OIG
report complaints to Mgmt. . Agencies, such as, the NTSB, OSHA or the fire inspector, you will be told that Metro has their own department who do investigation and fix saftey problems. "fox gurading the hen house"

Former Metro GM, David Gunn was paid thousands of dollars for input. He recommended that employees be allowed to report safety viloations without being retaliated aganist. Whisleblower and safety hotline set up--yes, directly to a Metro department "fox guarding the hen house"

Your politican appoint the foxes to guard the hen house--Board of Directors. Metro's boss

+1 Vote up Vote down

Radner · 740 weeks ago

In other words . . . it may be more effective to slice and dice them via the media than any other means? Again, Sad.

+3 Vote up Vote down

former employee · 740 weeks ago

It is a no win situation for the riders or to the many good employees at Metro. The only way I see this corrupt system getting fixed, is to let your politican know if they want your vote, fix Metro. Take your cars to work clog the city, picket at JGB. Votes and money will get action.
Change the law-- soverign immunity is BS and it protects Metro from accountability.

+6 Vote up Vote down

John · 740 weeks ago

Thats exactly my point though, David Lacosse is overseeing this department in which people are working for 1 hour and report it as a full days work. I asked metro if he had any engineering background whatsoever and they said that information is confidential. He is incompetent. That is not to excuse Jackie Jeter, who promotes incompetence. You should contact the editor of this blog and local news outlets, They will hear your story, as bashing metro has become fashionable for media outlets.

+3 Vote up Vote down

jim · 740 weeks ago

Take notice those that get promoted lately have not produced their
Bio's. Uh oh!

-3 Vote up Vote down

mr metro · 740 weeks ago

john do you work for metro?how did you ask "metro" about lacosses background?how many times did you work 1 hr and charge for 8?
metro mirrors the general population you have those that work and those that choose to avoid it. john if you worked as a mechanic at metro you have wronged a lot of good people.

-3 Vote up Vote down

mr metro · 740 weeks ago

hmmm "i used to work for metro"......."mandated pysch eval"
what was outcome of your pysch eval?

+2 Vote up Vote down

guest · 740 weeks ago

Said I was not grazy. Pissed mgmt. off and the union did not know what to do with me. Paid for months while waiting for dumb and dumber to make a decision on the recommendation of eval Dr. Will keep blog updated on ligation process.

+6 Vote up Vote down

an insider · 740 weeks ago

Hey guys! These problems are system wide! Not just escalators. The problem ladies and gentlemen is> "0" ethics.

you have former criminals abusers and persons in programs running things, uneducated "buddy" networks masons who promote each other without the proper education/experience!

UHhuhmmm- what do you expect?

+2 Vote up Vote down

jacob · 740 weeks ago

Exactly. You got a bunch of former criminals, drug dealers, con artists, killers (not joking), drug addicts working in these jobs. Mechanics, bus/train operators, station managers- its all the same. And they're the ones that end up getting promoted right to the top.They don't bring in people from the outside. Its a result of metro/dc area's population expanding, and original metro workers that are starting to retire. They are bringing in people to do these jobs asap, cutting corners in hiring practices, and as a result this filth gets sucked in. They don't even do psych evaluations anymore. It reminds me of the DC Police back in '90. They cut corners, brought in filth, and you had Chief Ramsey over a decade later saying that they are still trying to weed those people out of the department. lol.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 740 weeks ago

$$$$more deficit money for him to throw "to the wind".

-12 Vote up Vote down

Corresponding Toads · 740 weeks ago

the root escalator problem (more of an epidemic really) is how everyone thinks it's "okay" to fart when they're on an escalator. working escalators or no, we can all agree that farts on an escalator are NOT okay. let's get this taken care of first before anything else.

much love,
CT and the place 2 be

5 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

-3 Vote up Vote down

@kara_h · 740 weeks ago

Umm .... how does being rude cause a mechanical problem? An escalator would not be affected at all. Which would make it *hardly* a root problem!

Or do you see downed escalators due to people tooting all the time in other places? Come to think of it, how often do you see escalators in other places down *for any reason* in other places as compared to the frequency of them being down in the metro system?

-7 Vote up Vote down

Corresponding Toads · 740 weeks ago

if you've ever been farted on, then you would know it's more than just a mechanical problem. it's a way of life.

question: how is it that dulles airport is able to keep all of their escalators functioning?

answer: people who fart on the escalators are promptly arrested and taken to JAIL!

-2 Vote up Vote down

@kara_h · 740 weeks ago

'the root escalator problem (more of an epidemic really) is how everyone thinks it's "okay" to fart when they're on an escalator.'

The discussion is about escalators having mechanical problems and calls it a root issue. You describe the root problem of escalators. Using simple logic, tooting must cause mechanical problems, right? Using that as a starting point, I was asking how.

+3 Vote up Vote down

ANON · 740 weeks ago

Because schindler has the maintenance on the elevators and escalators at dullas, So bring them back to metro.

+2 Vote up Vote down

VeggieTart · 740 weeks ago

<headdesk>

Gee, the articles I said suggested that the problem, at least with external escalators (the ones that lead to the outside) was the WEATHER. Electrical equipment gets kinda cranky when it's rained or snowed (which melts) on.

I'm guessing aging equipment and a shoddy system of assigning work, not to mention all-around incompetence is to blame for the internal escalators.

It's a fustercluck, folks.

+7 Vote up Vote down

· 740 weeks ago

+12 Vote up Vote down

Anonny · 740 weeks ago

I'd like to add that Ive never seen one of those inspection cards you normally see in elevators on ANY Metro elevator. Do they even pretend inspect those?

+5 Vote up Vote down

Radner · 740 weeks ago

I'm not sure that anyone was actually surprised by this or by Examiner's article. I read the headline and thought, well, yeah. All you have to do is take the Metro to work everyday to see that the escalators are going out more and more often.

Does Metro think riders are unaware? I'm sure they're just taking advantage of the fact that most people are going to take the Metro because even at its worst (with the exception of killing people) it's more convenient or cheaper than the alternative.

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

+4 Vote up Vote down

James · 740 weeks ago

I think that's debatable. There seems to be an inverse relationship between what Metro charges and the quality of the service they provide....

+2 Vote up Vote down

Radner · 740 weeks ago

Well sure it's debatable, but in cases like mine, a taxi ride or parking fees would cost a lot more than taking the Metro, and this goes for federal workers or workers whose employers pay for Metro as well.

+3 Vote up Vote down

James · 740 weeks ago

I guess it all depends where you live. I used to take the Metro and had to drive to Greenbelt to do so. For anyone in that situation, it's probably costing them $75 a week just for the Metro part of their commute.

+1 Vote up Vote down

Guest · 740 weeks ago

Epic escalator FAIL at Union Station this morning.

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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GuestCC · 740 weeks ago

That fail was happening last night during rush hour, too. 1 skinny escalator for people to walk up and down with luggage? Really?

+1 Vote up Vote down

@kara_h · 740 weeks ago

Metro actually promotes those skinny escalators as a feature (when it is pretty obvious someone just forgot an elevator in the original design). I know I always make sure I am the first one off the train there in case the skinny escalator is the only up one and just one person in front of me decides to stand.

+4 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 740 weeks ago

Sarles just want Congress/Senate & House to rally up more deficit money for him to throw "to the wind".

Get the Feds in and take the crap over!

+6 Vote up Vote down

@deafinthecity · 740 weeks ago

I saw the news report this morning on ABC Channel 7.

It's been said time and time again that WMATA needs to hired back the company that were maintaining the escalators.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Everly Anonerly · 740 weeks ago

Speaking of escalators. The circus is back! Yes oh yes! Da elephants er tooting coming down da road at New Carrollton station! I could not see them but I know they were there! The lone wee escalator for going up the IRS side had been broken for nearly the entire month of January 2010. It was miraculously back in action last week. But last night and this morning I heard those elephants nearby oh so loudly!

Using my Metro Duh Vadar brain helmet let me ask - Wonder if there's a connection there? Those elephants and escalators. Are the elephants riding the escalators again?! No wonder they keep breaking! (or is that "braking?" We does get confused...)

+9 Vote up Vote down

Exmetro · 740 weeks ago

As a former Metro employee in the JG building, I can say this is pretty much exactly how Metro does everything. There is no accountability at all.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Annie · 740 weeks ago

Twice in the span of a few days, the escalators at Huntington stopped, mid ride, as we were heading up. Station manager seemed neither concerned or surprised.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

+2 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 740 weeks ago

And they were broken for 4 days straight!

+4 Vote up Vote down

Mike · 740 weeks ago

Let's start a new trend- Outsource the repair on the escalators.
The Metro idiots have no clue as to how to repair or maintain them.
On Monday and Tuesday evenings, all 3 of the escalators were down.
I wonder if we could sell the naming rights to the escalators and outsource the repair work? Or just install a heavy duty unit that will run 99% of the time.

At least if they sold the naming rights, there would be someone who might be interested in maintaining it in proper working order. Based on past performance,
Metro sure doesn't give a dam* whether they work or not.

+6 Vote up Vote down

Thor · 740 weeks ago

I am done with Metro, and my life is measurably better.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

+5 Vote up Vote down

James · 740 weeks ago

Amen to that brother...when they start providing reliable service at a reasonable price, I might go back to the Metro.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 740 weeks ago

Even gamblers would bet on metro's demise. Let those who pass the time on metro decide

+6 Vote up Vote down

hrh king friday 13 · 740 weeks ago

Inspect Jeter's head for brains.

+7 Vote up Vote down

CRBLMK · 740 weeks ago

That's like letting a company conduct its own financial audit and saying "look, our finances are perfect!" A) No one should believe them and B) Who knows what's being hidden.

The worst part of this is that I can't even ben incensed anymore - I just log it in my brain as "just another Metro indecency." I stopped riding for this reason...not that they've noticed.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Anon · 740 weeks ago

Hey Jim- Call the Feds in N O W !!
It is system wide!

+2 Vote up Vote down

Dalia · 740 weeks ago

I and about 250 others from my train inspected the escalators at Farragut West this morning. They were both broken.

+3 Vote up Vote down

Jen · 740 weeks ago

I go through the busy Union Station and Farragut North metro stations everyday. A couple of the escalators are out of order and people are jammed up waiting to get up and down the few available escalators.

What happens if either of those stations needs to be evacuated quickly? How in the world is that going to happen when only one or two escalators are available?

Basically, this whole escalator situation is a disaster.

+3 Vote up Vote down

jacob · 740 weeks ago

BRAKE DUST

Does anyone know what that is? Its the waste from the friction in the brakes of the trains whenever they stop in a station. The brake dust is so thick that the escalator techs must conduct routine maintenance on them, or they will clog and shut down. That's right. The dust is so thick, it can clog and stop an escalator from working. This dust is so thick that train operators and track walkers wear masks to protect them from breathing it in.