Metro News Release
For immediate release: December 1, 2005
Metro to add more signs, announcements to improve movement of passengers
Metro wants to point riders in the right direction: away from train doors, toward the center of railcars and to the right on its station escalators.
The transit authority plans to test new signs, announcements and other strategies over the next few months to improve the flow of passengers and speed up rail service.
"Trains ideally should be waiting in the station no longer than 20 seconds, but it’s sometimes double that time right now in the downtown area because of crowding," said Jim Hughes, Acting Assistant General Manager of Operations.
Last month, Metro launched an ad campaign on trains discouraging riders from blocking, leaning on and crowding near the train doors. More frequent station and train announcements began last month asking riders to not block the doors, move to the center of the train, prepare to exit and to allow passengers onboard to exit quickly so those on the platform can board more easily. Metro officials also plan to change the "doors closing" announcement and sequence of the chime beginning early next year.
"We repeatedly observe passengers treating the announcement and chime like a yellow light on a traffic signal. We don’t want people running for the doors when they hear it," said Hughes. "We hope the changes will get people’s attention and hopefully change their behavior, which will mean a smoother, faster trip for everyone."
By February, Metro plans to install directional signs on platform floors and train doors to determine if that will improve the flow of passengers exiting and entering the trains and reduce crowding along platforms. The markings will be tested at Union Station, Gallery Place-Chinatown and Metro Center stations.
Last month, Metro began looking at how passengers travel on the escalators to see if the direction needed to be changed to reduce crowding on the platforms. The direction of some the escalators has been changed at the L’Enfant Plaza rail station.
"It’s reduced the passenger queues at the bottom of the platform. People were lining up at the escalators and that blocked passengers from exiting the trains," Hughes said.
Tests are under way at the Gallery Place-Chinatown station escalators, and Metro officials will evaluate the direction of escalators at Metro Center next month.
Standing to the right on escalators and leaving the left side open for walkers has been an unwritten rule for regular riders, but it’s not common knowledge for tourists and other infrequent Metrorail passengers. So Metro officials plan to place "Please Stand-to-the Right" stickers on the escalators and make station announcements, beginning early next year.
As part of Metro’s efforts to improve the movement of passengers and reduce crowding, the transit authority also has stationed extra personnel on busy platforms during rush hours and is studying the removal of seats and reconfiguration of handrails to allow for more standing room on its railcars. The new designs also encourage passengers to step into the center of the cars and away from the doors. About two dozen of the redesigned cars will be tested this spring.
News release issued on December 1, 2005.