Cuts or Improvements? Red Line Service Change Proposal

[WMATAGMOAGH]

At today's board meeting, the WMATA Board will consider changing service on the Red Line to save costs and improve service.  Dr. Gridlock outlines the proposal very well in his blog at http://voices.washingtonpost.com/getthere/2010/01/red_line_realities_shred_sched.html. 

Here is the summary of the proposal (click the above link for Dr. Gridlock's analysis of the proposal):

Revised schedule
The Metro staff proposes adding four minutes to the scheduled running time at peak periods, for a total Red Line run of 65 minutes. That's basically two minutes to account for the stop at New York Avenue Station, which opened in 2004, and two minutes to account for longer stops at all stations during rush hour. The off-peak schedule would be adjusted to add two minutes, for a 63-minute run time.
Other steps
Besides acknowledging realities, Metro plans to take some steps that managers think will smooth service and save money. Among them:
-- Increase the scheduled time between rush hour trains from the current five minutes, to six minutes.
-- Eliminate the peak-period train turnbacks at Grosvenor. (The turnbacks at Silver Spring would not be affected under this plan.)
Metro's analysis
This will save $90,000 in the current fiscal year, ending June 30, but that's a sliver of the $4 million in total service cuts and the $40 million grand total shortfall in the budget. The transit authority staff is pitching a variety of benefits, some of which I can see and others I don't get, at least not yet. The staff says the results would include:
-- Smooth peak-period operation on the Red Line.
--  Minimum or no disruption for riders.
-- "Actual service will be in line with scheduled service."
-- Platform crowding would be reduced downtown.
-- More than 15,000 riders at rush hour would enjoy better service between Shady Grove and Grosvenor.
-- Cost savings could go beyond the current fiscal year if the program is implemented, because Metro would need one less train than it uses in the current schedule. The operation would save 318,000 rail car miles annually, as well as train operator hours.

My opinion is that this is a good change.  Over 6 years ago at this point, a blue ribbon panel encouraged Metro to run fewer, longer trains systemwide to improve reliability and reduce bunching and the resulting crowding.  The 2.5 minute headway on the Red Line has never really worked out in my opinion, trains have been bunched even more so, and the lead train in a bunch can be quite crowded.  Eliminating turnbacks might distribute the passenger loads on the western end of the Red Line, half the trains are quite crowded by the time they reach Van Ness or Woodley Park, while the other half have plenty of room for additional passengers.  The idea of a service "increase" may have sounded good on paper in 2004 when it came online, even if the reduction in headway was 30 seconds in the core and 60 seconds beyond Silver Spring and Grosvenor, but in practice, it simply hasn't worked in my opinion.

Cast a vote in favor of this proposal from me.

Other people's thoughts?

[Sand Box John]

If WMATA really wanted to reduce costs, they should turn off devices that consuming power when the system is closed:

Turn off the power to the faregate and vendors after closing.

Reduce station lighting to 25% when stations are closed.

Ways to reduce power consumption 24 hours a day:

Have the lighting in the all of wallways, restrooms and service room in the ancillary areas of the stations controlled by motion detectors.

All lighting in tunnels, vent shafts and emergency exits should be reduced to 25% at all times. The only time these areas would have 100% of the lights on is when track walkers are present or when maintenance is being done.

In the event of an emergency OCC would turn them on and or configure the third rail emergency trip station to turn the lights on when third rail power is cut.

[Tritransit Area]

This proposal is nice, and would make the line less confusing and would provide additional convenience for me people.   It would be best to have full 8 car trains to provide speedier boarding and less crowding.

WMATA worked so hard and took so long to start this program, and with ridership at a high, they are shortening trains...