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May 19, 2004
Metro Sucks (four in a continuing series)
Heard a new Metro ad on the radio. A guy is obviously agitated about his date being late. She tells him a sob story about not finding parking. When he says he had no problems getting there, she says something about him having magical powers.
So the guy responds that he took Metro and got there early. Fine so far. Then he adds, "I wouldn't call it magic". Right. Cause it sucks.
Why, when they are millions in debt, are they spending money on these awful ads? And why are they spending money adding a holding bar on the second generation Breda trains?
The new trains have these holding bars that stretch from the pole closest to the inside of the car at the far doors for about three feet. So, since we don't want cars that don't have the same aesthetic, it seems they are now retrofitting the older cars.
If they are going to make changes, they should be changes that make getting on and off the train easier. Like moving the poles away from the doors. And putting poles on the backs of ever seat so people will move inside.
Sigh.
Posted by Samer at May 19, 2004 08:19 PM
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Comments
What I don't understand (or, rather, I choose not to understand) is why Metro is going to make tourists and the casual rider who parks at a metro lot suffer? Which, in turn, will make commuters suffer. They're going to force everyone who parks to get a smart card. If you're a tourist here for a day, you'll need to buy a card for $5 to park. $8 total isn't a bad parking fee, but how many people are not going to know they can't use cash until they're in their car blocking the exits?
Posted by: bunny at May 24, 2004 04:56 PM
This is real good. Like, duh!
Metro Temporarily Halts SmarTrip Card Sales
Panel Also Suspends Two-Car, Late-Night Trains
Associated Press
Thursday, July 22, 2004; 3:37 PM
Metro is temporarily suspending sales of SmarTrip cards and permanently suspending late-night two-car trains.
Metro officials said Thursday they only have about 20,000 of the plastic SmarTrip cards left. Although supplies will be trickling in, they have decided to halt sales next Monday, and resume again in September when a stockpile is built up.
Board members criticized managers who didn't foresee the shortage--especially after requiring SmarTrip cards to pay for parking at Metro lots beginning last month. Drivers without a SmarTrip card will have to buy paper farecards for the exact amount of the parking fee. They'll hand them to one of 48 temporary workers Metro is hiring to collect them.
Officials said they didn't expect the big increase in tourism or the overwhelming demand from local residents. The cards are now accepted on most Metrobuses, adding to the demand.
Meanwhile, Metro announced Thursday it was the end of the line for tiny late-night trains.
On June 27, Metro began operating two-car trains after 10 p.m. on nights Sunday through Thursday. That angered passengers who were either shoehorned into sardine-like conditions or were left behind on station platforms.
Board members said the mini-trains were a mistake, and that they had based their original decision on winter ridership numbers -- before the surge in tourism.
Metro general manager Richard White said he would have to figure out where to come up with the $1 million Metro had expected to save each year.
© 2004 The Associated Press
Posted by: Christa at July 22, 2004 05:42 PM