Oops or a/k/a riding on the Metro

WMATA rescinded their decision to run 4 car subway trains on the weekends to save money. See "Amid Complaints, Metro Reverses Cuts: 6-Car Trains Will Be Back in Off Hours ," from the Post.

I rode the subway on Saturday some and took some photos and I intended to write about the policy, but the policy change beat me to it. There was terrible crush in mid-city, but once you got past Dupont Circle (we were going to Twinbrook), it was no big deal.

But my first reaction, besides remembering when Richard White did this, and then being forced to go back to normal service due to negative reactions, is that you don't institute such a policy during December during the holiday season, when ridership is still high, and likely many people who ride the system, especially on the weekends are occasional riders, who if they have positive experiences, would ride more in the future..

You do this in January and February when ridership is low.

I mean, duh...

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From "Q&A With Metro's Richard White," Washington Post, 3/31/1998.

Fairfax, Va.: I have read and heard a lot of controversy regarding passengers paying rush-hour fares and not receiving rush- hour service. Particularly, I am talking about the hour at which trains are reduced from six to four cars and tend to be very overcrowded. My question is this: Is it really that much more expensive to operate a six-car train vs. a four car-train? Thank you.

Richard White: This issue has been a great source of frustration for many of our riders. During the mid-1990s, because of funding shortfalls from the local jurisdictions, we were required to advance an unfortunate set of fare increases and service reductions. Included in this mix was a one-hour extension of the afternoon peak period from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. I hope to correct this problem in the near future. By the way, it is only marginally more expensive to run a six-car train versus a four-car train.

From "Anacostia line gets preliminary OK" Destination Freedom newsletter, 2004:

The same day, the wire service also reported two-car subway trains could be coming down the tracks as Metro looks to plug a budget gap estimated to be as much as $36 million. The cash-strapped transit agency said it is also looking at cutting service to disabled customers, and doing away with some studies and surveys. It already is eyeing another round of subway and bus fare hikes. ...

“We’re looking for every dime we can find to try to bring this budget into manageable size.” Board members favored running two-car trains after 10:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. Metro General Manager Richard White said that would save the agency $1 million in overtime costs.

WMATA’s directors voted against running two-car trains the entire week, even though it could save $2.3 million. Metro officials told board members there would be rush hour crowding on Friday and Saturday nights. Normal capacity for Metro’s rail cars is between 175 and 187 people. Officials projected riders would still be able to find a seat on two-car trains the rest of the week.

Most board members were against jamming people into rail cars, including Smith, who diplomatically raised a safety issue. “These aren’t your typical rush hour riders,” Smith said of passengers who could be boarding trains late at night on the weekends.