Metro News Release
For immediate release: January 14, 2011
Metro provides customers with better online escalator and elevator status information
Maintenance program explained though easy to access information
Metro riders looking for information on escalators and elevators can now access summaries about availability, the basic causes of outages, safety tips and learn more about Metro’s vertical transportation maintenance program at an enhanced Web site page at http://www.wmata.com/rail/elevators_escalators/.
“The new escalator and elevator Web page allows us to provide real-time information to our riders on service status, estimate when units will be back in operations, and how to safely use our escalators and elevators,” said Dave Kubicek, Metro’s Acting Deputy General Manager for Operations. “We believe this information will be beneficial to our riders who rely on these critical units on a daily basis.”
The new escalator and elevator Web page is divided into three sections. The first section provides riders with information on how they can plan their trip by knowing which escalators and elevators are available. This service tool provides escalator and elevator availability for each unit by station and a system-wide summary. Additional information is updated throughout the day by station managers and maintenance technicians. The second section provides general safety tips when using Metro’s vertical transportation units.
The third section provides information on how Metro maintains its 588 escalators and 237 elevators, why escalators or elevators might not be in service, a monthly performance scorecard, and an easy-to-read map to see the location of all vertical transportation units.
“As we work to bring our escalators back to a state of good repair, these improvements to the website will make our maintenance efforts more accessible and transparent to our customers and stakeholders,” said Metro General Manager Richard Sarles.
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News release issued at 9:42 am, January 14, 2011.