Well, here we are again.
We had hoped that there wouldn’t be any further need for this site after MV Transportation took over the MetroAccess contract at the start of 2006. Unfortunately, it appears the need still exists.
This time, we’re planning on doing things a little differently, learning from our experience running this site previously. One of the biggest problems encountered by the community whilst Logisticare had the contract was rebutting the figures they were giving WMATA. We hope to go some ways towards addressing this issue with the RideTrack system currently under development.
RideTrack will allow riders to post trip reports, ranging from experiences of booking trips, the rides themselves, as well as documenting any responses received to complaints. These trip logs will in turn allow the site to generate metrics that we hope can be used to confirm or deny the metrics that are coming out of WMATA and MV.
In addition to RideTrack, the site features a forums system, allowing riders (and others if they’re interested) to post and discuss, and hopefully offer suggestions, regarding the ParaTransit services in the Metro DC area.
Finally, we hope to keep the riders up to date with information, gossip, and thoughts about the service and how it may affect us all through the news on the front page of the site. We also have launched an RSS newsfeed that will allow others to have the articles written here appear on other web sites.
We welcome comments and information from all with knowledge on the subject of MetroAccess, be they riders or drivers, dispatchers or reservationists. If WMATA or MV would like to submit their comments or thoughts, or information they feel is of use to their riders, they are also welcome to participate. This site isn’t designed to be a “bitch” site, it is intended as a way for everyone to work together, and for the riders to highlight those factors of the service that are of concern.
In that light, we would also like riders to submit positive reports as well as complaints. If this site is to be a useful resource in addressing our concerns, it needs to be able to offer balanced information, so that those problems that we know exist with the service still may be taken more seriously.
Please, spread the word about this site, so that we can get as much information as possible, and be able to use it to make the service work.
Currently, the News Posting system is operational, and allows readers to post comments direct to each article. The RSS newsfeed is also operational, and can be accessed through http://www.dcparatransit.info/rss.xml (it should automatically update). The Forums system for discussions will be operational shortly, RideTrack will come last once the database has been optimized for statistical tracking. More information on these sections will be posted as they become available.
~miika
