Metro News Release
For immediate release: May 30, 2006
Metro to improve lighting, asks for comments and pledges no trip, no charge
It’s going to get easier to read a newspaper or a book in Metro stations. The transit authority today announced plans to improve the lighting in stations. Agency leaders also announced efforts to invite suggestions from passengers and pledged riders wouldn’t have to pay for a trip they didn’t get to finish during major service disruptions.
“Customers have told me about our dimly lit stations and platforms. So we’re brightening them up and taking a new look at lighting,” said Interim General Manager Dan Tangherlini. Lighting is the top maintenance complaint for the authority, he added.
Mr. Tangherlini laid out the new initiatives at a news conference in the Columbia Heights Metrorail station. Employees have started replacing burned out light bulbs in stations within two weeks, instead of nearly three months. All lights are being cleaned, inspected, replaced and repaired every 10 months, instead of annually, and brighter light bulbs will be installed on top of pylons. In addition, Metro installed energy efficient LED bulbs on the platform edge of the Rosslyn station late last year, and is looking to expand their use systemwide.
Metro also plans to begin a six month study in July examining the type, location, direction and brightness of lighting at stations. Metro is aiming to double the output of light in 47 underground stations.
“We want to make stations brighter and use lights that will be more reliable, less expensive in the long run and more energy efficient,” said Tangherlini. “We think it’ll improve the atmosphere of the stations while still preserving the architectural aesthetics, deter crime and enhance the images captured on Metro’s camera system.”
Managers believe brighter stations also will allow eight-car train operators to see passengers entering and exiting railcars more clearly. Officials are separately planning to evaluate energy efficiency at Metro facilities in an effort to cut costs and be environmentally friendly.
It takes more than 268,000 bulbs, lamps and tubes and costs up to $11 million a year to light the Metro system, including stations, parking garages, bus garages and rail yards. Metro is currently focusing its stepped up lighting efforts on rail stations, which have more than 73,000 lights.
The Transit Authority also announced riders will not be charged a fare when they exit the same rail station they entered within a four-hour window due to an unscheduled major service disruption.
“If you exit from the same station, your record is clear,” said Metro Board member Jim Graham who represents the District of Columbia. “This makes sense. It says that our customers our important to us, and we’re listening to what they’re saying.”
Metro also recently launched comment cards and an ad campaign with the slogan, “We’re open to it,” which aim to solicit suggestions from riders. The cards are in rail stations and buses. Riders can also submit comments or questions online at www.metroopensdoors.com. So far, Metro has received more than 1,000 comments since the cards were launched last month, and Metro managers are taking them to heart. For example, they’re looking at a SmarTrip only express lane in stations and making Metro addresses easier to find on online maps.
“I urge our customers to take advantage of this opportunity to tell us what you want,” said Gladys Mack, Metro Board chairperson. “Whether you are a daily bus rider tired of seeing trash on your bus or a rail customer with a great new idea for improving the system, Metro wants to hear from you.”
News release issued on May 30, 2006.