Archive for July, 2013

New Blue Line Connections

July 12th, 2013 14 comments

Adding new Blue Line connections seeks to restore train frequencies  to every six minutes during the peak period between Pentagon and Rosslyn stations, resulting in less waiting time and crowding for Blue Line riders in Northern Virginia. Once the Silver Line opens, the Blue Line service will operate every 12-14 minutes as opposed to the previous six minutes. The feasibility analysis is currently underway and has identified two potential alternatives to create new connections:

  • Alternative 1: Add rail track that would create a new connection between the Blue and Orange/Silver Lines, or
  • Alternative 2: A second Rosslyn Station for a new Blue Line with an underground passageway to the existing Rosslyn station, which would connect to the Orange/Silver Lines with a pedestrian tunnel.

Graphic for Rosslyn Interline ConnectionGraphic for Second Rosslyn Station

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Board Member Mary Hynes Discusses Momentum on Comcast Newsmakers

July 11th, 2013 Comments off

Mary Hynes — Board Member with Arlington County and WMATA Board of Directors Member — was recently featured by Comcast Newsmakers, discussing sustainability efforts as well as Metro’s strategic plan, Momentum.

Ms. Hynes describes Metro’s “Big Ideas” for 2025, including: the need for “all 8-car trains” during rush hour; additional crossovers and pocket tracks to provide more flexibility during peak period operations, emergencies and trackwork; and priority for Metrobus on city streets and highways.

Check out the video below and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

 

Categories: In The News, Momentum Tags: , ,

Goal 2: Meet or Exceed Customer Expectations by Consistently Delivering Quality Service

July 11th, 2013 2 comments

Metro will provide reliable, Farecard machine tourists 071807 022accessible, clean and customer-focused transit service.

Metro strives to be the region’s preferred ride. That means that Metro will provide on-time service that gets customers where they want to go, when they want to get there.  From the moment customers arrive in a station or board a bus or Access vehicle, Metro will strive to make travel safe, reliable, clean, comfortable and affordable. Trip information will be easy to hear and simple to obtain with support from the latest user-friendly technology and responsive staff.

Over the last two years, Metro has improved on-time performance and customer service so today:

  • Metrorail continues to make improvements to exceed ninety percent on-time reliability, and MetroBus continues to improve service despite increasing traffic congestion; and
  • Over eighty percent of both bus and rail customers surveyed are ‘highly satisfied’ with service.

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Improving Customer Service

July 10th, 2013 1 comment

Since 2011, Metro has made great Sta-Manger-Bell-and-riders-061411-57strides to improve customer service through the Customer Service Action Plan. As a starting point, to determine customer priorities, Metro conducted customer and employee research to define good customer service and to identify customer priorities. With the information gathered from its customers and frontline employees, Metro identified the areas needing improvement in the respective departments and then put together individual corrective work plans. Through the Customer Service Action Plan, Metro has accomplished the following:

  • Developed new customer service training programs and trained over 2,000 employees;
  • Replaced and/or rehabilitated 28 escalators in 2012;
  • Introduced new and improved bus maps;
  • Assigned over 30 more police officers to improve bus security;
  • Developed and launched a trip planning and information site designed for mobile devices;
  • Installed digital flat screens in all stations to improve customer information;
  • Deployed MetroAlerts so customers have access to real-time detour and disruption information;
  • Installed over 2,600 static stop signs to enhance service information at bus stops;
  • Enhanced MetroAccess’ on-time performance standards in response to customer survey feedback;
  • Installed SmarTrip dispensers in all stations; and
  • Implemented the Better Bus program to improve service.

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Transit-Oriented Development around Metrorail Generates Local Tax Revenues

July 9th, 2013 1 comment

Proximity to transit, especially high-quality, frequent, high-capacity rail, increases property values, attracts development and provides mobility choices. Property values are higher near Metro’s high-quality, high-frequency, high-capacity services, and deliver an incremental increase in total tax revenue to the Compact jurisdictions.

  • Property taxes on land around Metrorail stations generate $3.1 billion annually in revenues to the jurisdictions.
  • Of these revenues, $224 million is extra value that would not exist without Metro. This amount is equivalent to providing the following public services.

Regional Benefits - Police Firefighters

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Stakeholder Outreach Response

July 8th, 2013 Comments off

Momentum employed a multi-pronged outreach IMG_1280and feedback gathering strategy, including both conventional and modern tools. Metro staff gathered input to inform a draft plan and subsequently, gathered feedback on the plan prior to finalizing it. Metro staff heard from almost 12,000 stakeholders during the outreach process through the following tools. The input has informed Metro’s understanding of the public’s short- and long-term needs. Read more…

Metrobus Priority Corridor Network (PCN)

July 5th, 2013 1 comment

Metrobus’ Priority Corridor Network (PCN) Plan will improve bus service, travel speeds, and reliability on 24 regional corridors, which serve half of Metrobus ridership. Improvements include:

  • Improved operational strategies such as transit signal priority and exclusive bus lanes
  • Increased frequency and span of service
  • Improved customer information
  • Added MetroExtra, Metro’s limited-stop bus service, routes and buses
  • Expanded fare payment options
  • Added safety, security and incident response measures
  • Enhanced bus stops and facilities

PCN Map Read more…

Goal 1: Build and Maintain a Premier Safety Culture and System

July 4th, 2013 Comments off

Metro will create a safer and more secureDupont-Circle-escalator-062812-144 transit experience for customers and employees.

Metro customers and employees deserve and expect a safe environment – on the job, in the buses, on the trains and in the stations and shelters. Our commitment: A Metro ride is a safe ride. In 2011, eighty employees were recognized as Champions of Safety for their efforts in safeguarding Metro employees, equipment and customers. More than eighty-five percent of both Metrobus and Metrorail riders are highly satisfied with security. Read more…

Summary of Metro’s Recent Cost Efficiencies and Savings

July 3rd, 2013 Comments off

Over the last five years, Metro has cut $200 million through efficiency-related reductions and achieved similar savings in costs avoided through management efficiency initiatives, restructurings, one-time savings and other actions, including:

MetroAccess: In FY11, by encouraging select paratransit riders to use fixed route transit, Metro saved more than $25 million in paratransit costs. Continuing to promote this travel training has lowered MetroAccess demand and has allowed Metro to avoid spending an additional $10 million in FY13 alone.

Energy Efficiencies: Metro’s bus fleet has improved its fuel economy by 27 percent over the last eight years, saving money on rising fuel costs.  Meanwhile, Metro’s facilities are saving money as well – the new Shepherd Parkway facility is LEED-Silver certified – and the new escalators and elevators are realizing significant energy savings.

Parking Facilities: Metro saves $3.1 million each year as a result of automating its parking facilities.

Employee Health and Wellness: As a result of a health insurance benefits program audit, Metro has cut $3 million per year, and plans to continue on the wellness track by incentivizing healthy behavior and habits to help its employees, increase productivity and further reduce health insurance costs.

Overtime: An organization-wide review of overtime procedures and pay is paying dividends. Since the end of 2012, overtime is $3 million lower than the same period for each of the two preceding years.

Transaction Costs: Metro is encouraging more SmarTrip Card usage, and as a result has reduced the use of paper fare media from 20% of payments to 12%, saving $1 million per year. Metro has its eyes set on more savings by targeting a 5 percent paper fare card usage rate.

Identifying More Efficiencies: An independent efficiency analysis is underway to assist in identifying further opportunities to save money in administrative areas. Read more…

Metrobus Route 80 Key Issues and Recommendations

July 2nd, 2013 7 comments

Photo-Metrobus-80-kennedy-centerMetrobus planning staff recently hosted the final public meeting on Metrobus Route 80, the “North Capitol Street Line.”  The purpose of this meeting was to share with the public a summary of the issues experienced by Route 80 riders and discuss possible recommendations for restructuring service, stops and route alignments to help alleviate crowding, reduce delay and increase service frequency.

The presentation boards are available for download.  (PDF, 15MB)  The key issues and a summary of preliminary recommendations are listed below. Read more…

Categories: Metrobus Studies Tags: ,