MtroAccess sends out Customer Guides
Presumably, since both my husband and myself received them, MetroAccess has sent a mailshot to all MetroAccess riders containing the new Customer Guide booklet.
The accompanying letter is reproduced below - spelling errors are ours as a result of the scanning process.
April 18. 2008
To our valued MetroAccess customers:
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve service, beginning June 30, 2006, we will require all MetroAccess customers to show their valid MetroAccess ID card 100% of the time.
Post: Hired Riders to Assess Metro
Lena Sun of the Washington Post writes that the Metro Board has approved a plan to spend up to $1 million hiring "professional" mystery riders, who will go out and assess MetroRail and MetroBus services.
This isn't a new idea. As the Post notes, it's been done before, albeit using trained volunteers - and is something we at DC ParaTransit Info has mentioned before.
Done properly, it can produce relatively unbiased metrics about the service, as opposed to the idea of using customer feedback. Customer feedback tends to only concentrate on negatives - how many people actually take the time to call or write to WMATA to tell them they're doing a good job?
Metro During The Papal Visit
Updated 4-16-2008 @ 8:26am
WMATA is geared up for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to DC this week, with fixed-route service changes to cope with the expected crowds. This includes running rush-hour scheduling from 5am to 7pm on both Wednesday April 16th and Thursday April 17th.
Several fixed routes will be affected by rolling road closures over the course of the visit. The WMATA web site estimates that up to 16 fixed route bus services may be affected. MetroRail especially is likely to become very crowded, with large numbers of people from outside the area riding the system over the course of this once-in-a-lifetime event.
ERC v WMATA
In March 2004, a lawsuit was filed against WMATA, alleging that WMATA was failing to comply with federal laws with regards to the MetroAccess system.
Although the contractor providing MetroAccess service on behalf of WMATA changed (from LogistiCare to MV Transit) in 2006 the case continues to be in litigation.
Late last week, all MetroAccess subscribers received a "Notice of proposed class action settlement"
At the moment, the Judge hearing the suit will be holding a "Fairness Hearing" on May 22nd 2008. This may be the last chance people have to comment or object to any part of the proposed Settlement Agreement.
WMATA Board Budget Committee Hearing
WMATA's Board meeting on November 9th includes budget items for FY2007 relating to MetroAccess.
DC ParaTransit Info notes with great concern this item in the "blurb" produced for the board:
Revise MetroAccess eligibility process to mainstream riders to transit
We're back to the concept of tightening eligibility criteria once more to try to reduce the eligible ridership numbers. WMATA once more is making decisions based on their financial needs and not the community's transportation needs, disenfranchising users from MetroAccess use. Euphemistically referred to by WMATA as "Demand Management", this is a case of more management to artificially reduce demand.
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As an Aside ...
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