DC ParaTransit Info

DC ParaTransit Info was present during the DC Council Budget meeting on February 22nd 2006, both to report and to offer testimony.

To be honest, there was nothing really came out that was earth shattering, although both Councilmembers Schwartz and Graham had many questions to ask the WMATA representatives, including the newly-appointed Interim General Manager Mr Dan Tangherlini, as well as the Board Chairman Mrs Gladys Mack.

At one stage a little piece of verbal misdirection, whether intentional or accidental, managed to derail a question by Councilmember Schwartz on the subject of complaint numbers.  This wasn’t followed up on because of a comment by Mrs Pamela Wilkins, Acting Assistant General Manager of Customer Contract Services who oversees the service, made, that “MetroAccess riders have the number memorized”.

Posted: 2 years, 7 months ago | No Comments
Categories: General , In The Media , WMATA | Tags: | By: miika.    Print This Post

In an article today entitled “Deadline for MetroAccess Improvement“, the Washington Post has shed some more light on the reasons behind the creation of the Critical Trip Management Team. It seems that the pressure on WMATA to fix things coming from Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has finally started to register on WMATA.

It shouldn’t need pressure from a member of Congress, or a DC Councilmember, before WMATA sits up and pays attention that there are problems. The sheer number of complaints by the riders did not create this Team - pressure from lawmakers did.

Posted: 2 years, 7 months ago | No Comments
Categories: In The Media , WMATA | Tags: | By: miika.    Print This Post

The Washington Post reported on Friday Metro Board Chairman Gladys W. Mack’s public apology to MetroAccess Riders.  The Post noted that the apology came shortly after the Board heard from one MetroAccess rider, whose driver had gotten lost getting to the Board meeting to begin with.

The story highlights once more that the system seems to be too reliant on the technology, with no initiative allowed by the drivers (or the riders) when it comes to trip planning and implementation.  We do note however with anticipation the Post’s reporting of comments made by the new Interim General Manager, Mr Dan Tangherlini:

Posted: 2 years, 7 months ago | No Comments
Categories: In The Media , WMATA | Tags: | By: miika.    Print This Post

The Washington Post continues to bring up MetroAccess, with a new story here entitled “Study Hits Metro on Service for Disabled“. We have to agree with most of the recommendations and observations of the study, in particular the lack of communication by MetroAccess.

We note with ironic amusement the end of the article:

In response to the huge number of complaints, Metro set up a weekly telephone conference to enable riders to speak directly with MetroAccess officials.

But Metro has not publicized the telephone number because managers are worried that the phone system would be overwhelmed, Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith said.

Posted: 2 years, 8 months ago | No Comments
Categories: In The Media , WMATA | Tags: | By: miika.    Print This Post

The Post has sallied forth on MetroAccess again today, at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/12/AR2006021201185.html. The article makes an interesting point, that there’s been over 2,400 complaints registered about MetroAccess so far since MV took over the contract.

Given the doubts we’ve raised about WMATA’s method of tabulating the number of complaints received recently, we wonder how reliable this figure is.

On the subject of which though, we have a question for the Washington Post itself. The article states:

But some riders said in interviews that they have been unable to log complaints and don’t trust MV’s statistics.

Posted: 2 years, 8 months ago | No Comments
Categories: In The Media , WMATA | Tags: | By: miika.    Print This Post

WMATA has announced that due to the snow, MetroAccess service has been suspended.  Candace Smith, a Public Affairs Officer for WMATA, said on Channel 9 WUSA TV this morning that this affects around 1,800 riders today.

This was confirmed on WMATA’s web site:

MetroAccess service has been suspended for Sunday due to hazardous road conditions, cold temperatures, and snow accumulation in excess of 8 inches. Our call center remains open for reservations and general questions. MetroAccess customers should call (301) 562-5360 for more information.

Posted: 2 years, 8 months ago | No Comments
Categories: In The Media , WMATA | Tags: | By: miika.    Print This Post

The editorial in the Post today at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/09/AR2006020901920.html is, as far as we know, the first media shot across the bows of MetroAccess.

The question still remains - why is any of this even necessary?

We have two professional transportation companies, who have many years of experience in moving people relatively seamlessly from point A to point B, who seem to be completely helpless to do so when it comes to a thousand people a day.

The editorial notes quite accurately that

Running this kind of program properly is neither easy nor inexpensive, but fixing phones, providing directions for drivers and improving pickup policies is elementary management.

Posted: 2 years, 8 months ago | No Comments
Categories: In The Media , WMATA | Tags: | By: miika.    Print This Post

At this rate MetroAccess is going to end up being a regular fixture in the Washington Post, with yet another story appearing today - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/05/AR2006020501111.html A MetroAccess Rider Is Left at the Curb (although such stories weren’t exactly that uncommon when Logisticare had the contract).

How long are WMATA and MV Transportation going to continue to claim that this is all the fault of Logisticare, the software, the drivers, and even the riders?  At what point are they going to go “Hey, we screwed up, how do we make this right?”

Posted: 2 years, 8 months ago | No Comments
Categories: In The Media , WMATA | Tags: | By: miika.    Print This Post