Posts by Michael Perkins — Contributor
-
Arlington considers using fees to reduce parking
Arlington may consider instituting a fee for developers who provide less than the “standard” amount of parking in office buildings. The money could be used to pay for improvements in the surrounding area, particularly ones that encourage using alternatives to driving. At an Arlington Transportation Commission meeting last Monday, staff presented the results… Keep reading…
-
Metro policy for refunds after delays falls short, riders say
Many major transit systems offer a “service guarantee” policy where riders get a free trip or a refund if there are severe delays, but WMATA’s policy is much more limited. After repeated rail delays, some riders are demanding a better deal. Rockville resident Dave Tucker recently complained to WMATA on Twitter after his train was evacuated due to brake problems. Keep reading…
-
WMATA launches “Short Trip” rail pass on SmarTrip
Starting Monday, Metrorail riders can purchase a “short trip” pass online or at a fare machine and apply it to their SmarTrip cards. It’s a big improvement for Metro customers that commute regularly and use Metro on the weekends or for additional trips in the evenings. The pass costs $35 and is good for one week. It covers all off-peak trips and the first $3.50… Keep reading…
-
Metro fare signs confuse the riders who need help most
Nearly every Metro fare machine has a paper sign on it: “Using a paper farecard? Add $1 to every trip.” Yet even with this reminder, some riders get stuck at the faregates, wondering why Metro won’t let them leave. Keep reading…
-
Shocking rhetoric from John Townsend and AAA
This week’s Washington City Paper cover story quoted AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman John Townsend calling Greater Greater Washington editor David Alpert “retarded” and a “ninny,” and comparing Greater Greater Washington to the Ku Klux Klan. Many other reporters, people on Twitter, and residents generally have clearly stated in response… Keep reading…
-
Rider’s SmarTrip money temporarily vanishes
A Metro rider, Barbara, wrote in to Unsuck DC Metro about a problem where she added funds to SmarTrip online but then still couldn’t go through a faregate. What’s going on is one of the unfortunate consequences of the 1990s-era faregate systems WMATA is still using. I had added funds online on March 4. I didn’t use my card before March 18, and when I did, I had to… Keep reading…
-
Does Metro’s budget hide a service cut?
For years, WMATA has been proposing budgets with ever-increasing rail service. The approved FY 2013 budget has almost 8.4 million miles of scheduled railcar service, almost double the amount scheduled in FY 1997. So why does it feel like the amount of service is actually declining? Because it is. According to figures reported to the Federal Transit Administration National… Keep reading…
-
WMATA saves some money
Yesterday, WMATA announced in a press release that its expenses were lower than predicted during the 2012 fiscal year, which ended in June. The transit system took in $2 million less in fare revenue than it expected, but spent $30 million less. The savings comes in part from lower fuel and energy costs and an audit of which Metro workers’ dependents were eligible for health… Keep reading…
-
Metro headway policy needs clarity
WMATA’s board put off approving a headway policy in July, amid criticism that it set too low a bar. The board will take up the issue this fall. It’s good for Metro to define a specific headway policy, as many other transit systems do, but that policy needs to be clearer so that elected officials, taxpayers and riders know for sure what level of service their money buys. Today,… Keep reading…
-
Tell Arlington to build the Columbia Pike streetcar
This coming Monday, the Arlington County Board will vote to either approve or reject the Columbia Pike streetcar. Keep reading…