I recently sent this note to Metro about the faregate traffic pattern at Dupont Circle:
QuoteFor about a month now, the faregates at Dupont Circle have been set to where, when facing the kiosk, all traffic goes through the faregates to the right of the kiosk. This is compared to how it was for years prior, where about half the faregates on each side of the kiosk were set for each direction.
This new configuration at Dupont leaves somewhat to be desired, and I would hope that Metro returns to the previous configuration sooner rather than later, with entering and exiting allowed on both sides of the kiosk. This new configuration becomes especially unnerving when boarding at Dupont Circle, as I normally enter through the south entrance for a Glenmont-bound train. Having to go to the far side of the kiosk to tap in and then going back across the mezzanine to reach the Glenmont platform with the new all-on-one-side pattern has caused me to miss trains that I would otherwise be able to reach with the previous both-sides-have-enter-and-exit-gates pattern.
Does Metro have any plans to return to the older pattern at Dupont, where there are faregates set to both exit and enter on both sides of the kiosk?
If you can imagine, a rider entering Dupont Circle from the south entrance and going to a Glenmont train currently has to enter to the right of the kiosk (Shady Grove side), and then cross the mezzanine to reach the escalator for the Glenmont platform. Ditto on the Q Street side with Shady Grove trains.
To me, it looks like Metro's intentions are good, testing a new traffic pattern where the enter and exit traffic is segregated from each other, but it seems that the station is not designed for this, and makes for missed trains.
What do you all think?
You definitely have a valid point. I think the solution would be this, at least on the Q Street side (which I'm more familiar with):
On the "Shady Grove side" of the mezzanine, I'd have the gate on the far end or maybe the two gates at the far end be for entry. On the "Glenmont" side of the mezzanine, I'd set the gate or two gates (depending on the time of day) next to the handicapped gate be for exiting. That way, most of the gates will be on the right where people expect them to be, but there are still a few gates available for "reverse" traffic.
This pattern sounds good, but it doesn't work at side platform stations for the reasons mentioned.
A place where it would work well would be Rosslyn with all the people "crossing over" at the faregates (right-of-the-kiosk going down and left-of-the-kiosk going up) though it might be easier to change the escalators to Down-Up-Down-Up from the current Down-Down-Up-Up.
Leave the escalators at Rosslyn as they are. People's intuition is that they should stay right on public conveyances, why mess with that in a situation that easily lends itself to that setup?
Quote from: Scrabbleship on September 02, 2010, 09:47:34 AMA place where it would work well would be Rosslyn with all the people "crossing over" at the faregates (right-of-the-kiosk going down and left-of-the-kiosk going up) though it might be easier to change the escalators to Down-Up-Down-Up from the current Down-Down-Up-Up.
I don't think it would work as well at Rosslyn. The faregates are angled at Rosslyn, and it's designed that way because people are coming from multiple directions on the street. The unpaid area loops around the paid area, so I see that configuration at Rosslyn as being a bit much.
This configuration seems like it might work on a station like Vienna or Shady Grove, where the gates go straight across and all platform access is in one direction (i.e. not like Glenmont, where one can access the platform by going left or right from the gates) some distance from the gates.
And now (wait for it), the form letter response:
QuoteDear Mr. Schumin:
Thank you for contacting Metro regarding the faregates at Dupont Circle station. We apologize for any inconvenience you experience while using Metrorail. We value your opinion and thank you for taking the time to make comments and suggestions regarding improving Metro services. Your comments have been registered. While it is not always possible to implement every suggestion, we do consider each one carefully.
Each station has a "faregate plan" outlining in which direction faregates should be operating. The goal of the plan is to ensure the needs of our customers are being met in a safe and efficient manner. Because the plans also provide the station manager flexibility to make decisions on faregate flow depending on the circumstances, configurations are modified as needed. We assure you that Metro will continue to monitor this situation.
To speak to a Rail Transportation Customer Service Representative for Comments, Complaints or Suggestions, please call 301-562-4605 weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. You can leave a message at all other times or complete the comment form located on our website at www.wmata.com.
If you ever need to speak with a Customer Information Agent for assistance with general questions, please call 202-637-7000; 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Web site is also a valuable resource for customers to find out more details about trip planning, bus and rail fares, service disruptions and other information.
Sincerely,
Jeannie Greene-Barr
Rail Customer Service
Case # 579231
"Safety is our number one priority"
How do you argue with a form letter? Well... you don't.
Looks like the letter I got when I wrote about my 40 minute wait for a train. If all they are going to is generate form letters, they could write back sooner, couldn't they?
Could always be worse. This one actually came within the week I sent it. They were taking weeks to reply for a while.
They need an overhaul of the email customer service system. The last two paragraphs were completely unnecessary (if you wanted to call, you would have called!). What empty fluff.
Since the station manager has the "flexibility" to control the gates, then you might as well have gone "straight to him". Wasn't there a campaign where Metro posted contact information for each line manager?