Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 24, 2006

MetroAccess service continues to make weekday improvements

MetroAccess on-time performance for, Monday, Jan. 23, was the best it has been on a weekday since the new contractor took over service on Jan. 15. Yesterday’s on-time performance of the curb-to-curb paratransit service was 88.3 percent, based on preliminary trip information, which may change after official reconciliation of the data. The on-time performance goal for the service, which is measured at the time of pick-up, is 93 percent and above.

This past weekend’s on-time performance was higher -- 90.7 percent on Saturday (Jan. 21) and 93.9 percent on Sunday (Jan. 22) -- as weekend service is typically better than weekday service because travel on the area’s roads on weekends is much easier due to decreased traffic. Weekday service is a better indication of the paratransit on-time performance levels.

Service is improving as rider data continues to be updated and corrected, and as pickup locations are better identified by drivers, who are new to the service. Also, telephone calls are having no trouble getting through since new telephone lines were brought on line last Friday (Jan. 20), and late trips are significantly down from last week.

The new MetroAccess service provider, MV Transportation, began operating the service on Jan. 15, and ran into problems with outdated data for customers and new drivers who were getting accustomed to their routes. Logisticare, the previous MetroAccess provider, passed along its customer database to MV.

Since last week, MV and Metro have made the following improvements:

A new on-line service has been established that allows MetroAccess customers to log on and check their personal and trip data to ensure accuracy. Patrons can enter their data themselves with the new easy-to-use data screen at http://www.wmata.com/metroaccess/paratransit_update_form.cfm. This process of updating customer information is seeing immediate improvements in service for those riders who are providing updated data.

Metro and MV Transportation officials are working to establish an automated telephone calling "alert" service that will place an automated call to a rider to let that individual know when the MetroAccess vehicle is approaching the pick-up location.

News release issued on January 24, 2006.