AM Peak of the Peak Starts August 29, Smartrip Cost Reduction Delayed

[Scrabbleship]

I can agree that people should keep track of their Smartrip balances.  IMO, it is understandable that WMATA would not want to have/continue allowing balanaces to go into the negative.  However, WMATA seems to be on a roll with doing things to put a bad taste in the rider's mouth.

Just saw a segment on Channel 7 news about the AM peak of the peak fares.  One riders said: Whatever it takes while another rider said exactly what I've been saying which is: When you're paying $5.00 for one ride, it's already too much.  I'm really interested in how this was pan out over the next few months, especially when WMATA starts to seek another fare increase.  Also, WMATA usually has a representative at our benefits fair.  If they show up this year, I plan to present them with my commuting scenario as ask them how is using Metrorail more beneficial to me than driving to/from work. 

As I mentioned in another thread, doing another fare increase on the rail side at this point is playing with fire with one hand and pointing a gun at your foot with another. In the eyes of the average rush-hour rider they've had FOUR fare increases in a 6-month span (2/28, 6/27, 8/2, 8/30) and even off-peak riders have had two increases. Find me one other city, outside a case of insane hyper-inflation, that has had to resort to all that.

Any future increases should be of Metrobus and possibly off-peak rail. Of course, Metro never listens to their customers, takes outside input and suggestions, and doesn't respond to any criticism. If Metro at least talked to their customers, it'd go a long way.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Of course, Metro never listens to their customers, takes outside input   and suggestions, and doesn't respond to any criticism. If Metro at least   talked to their customers, it'd go a long way.

Jason,

They held public hearings and followed the wishes of those who participated in that process in many ways.  Did you participate in that process?  So far, only one person from this board has shared the letter he wrote as part of the hearing process, and that person was not you.  And if you did write, your opinions may have not been shared by many other riders.  They can't please everyone.  I don't think Metro has been anywhere close to flawless as of late, but some of the criticism directed at WMATA is simply unreasonable.

[Scrabbleship]

Of course, Metro never listens to their customers, takes outside input   and suggestions, and doesn't respond to any criticism. If Metro at least   talked to their customers, it'd go a long way.

Jason,

They held public hearings and followed the wishes of those who participated in that process in many ways.  Did you participate in that process?  So far, only one person from this board has shared the letter he wrote as part of the hearing process, and that person was not you.  And if you did write, your opinions may have not been shared by many other riders.  They can't please everyone.  I don't think Metro has been anywhere close to flawless as of late, but some of the criticism directed at WMATA is simply unreasonable.

I meant more having people who respond to blog posts, tweets, and any sort of criticism about the agency. Other agencies respond to such inquiries, there's no reason that WMATA can hire a team of people that are non-union at relatively low wages to fill this position or even outsource it to someone else.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Of course, Metro never listens to their customers, takes outside input   and suggestions, and doesn't respond to any criticism. If Metro at least   talked to their customers, it'd go a long way.

Jason,

They held public hearings and followed the wishes of those who participated in that process in many ways.  Did you participate in that process?  So far, only one person from this board has shared the letter he wrote as part of the hearing process, and that person was not you.  And if you did write, your opinions may have not been shared by many other riders.  They can't please everyone.  I don't think Metro has been anywhere close to flawless as of late, but some of the criticism directed at WMATA is simply unreasonable.

I meant more having people who respond to blog posts, tweets, and any sort of criticism about the agency. Other agencies respond to such inquiries, there's no reason that WMATA can hire a team of people that are non-union at relatively low wages to fill this position or even outsource it to someone else.

What agency does that?  Why should WMATA outsource it to someone else, can't they speak for themselves (if they are going to speak for themselves at all)? 

There are people at WMATA who are pushing for the agency to try its own "blogging" ventures for a variety of purposes, but there are others who have differing opinions...

[Scrabbleship]

Of course, Metro never listens to their customers, takes outside input   and suggestions, and doesn't respond to any criticism. If Metro at least   talked to their customers, it'd go a long way.

Jason,

They held public hearings and followed the wishes of those who participated in that process in many ways.  Did you participate in that process?  So far, only one person from this board has shared the letter he wrote as part of the hearing process, and that person was not you.  And if you did write, your opinions may have not been shared by many other riders.  They can't please everyone.  I don't think Metro has been anywhere close to flawless as of late, but some of the criticism directed at WMATA is simply unreasonable.

I meant more having people who respond to blog posts, tweets, and any sort of criticism about the agency. Other agencies respond to such inquiries, there's no reason that WMATA can hire a team of people that are non-union at relatively low wages to fill this position or even outsource it to someone else.

What agency does that?  Why should WMATA outsource it to someone else, can't they speak for themselves (if they are going to speak for themselves at all)?

To name two agencies that are active on their Twitter account (responding to tweets and such): Port Authority in Pittsburgh and PATH. Both agencies also know how to be succinct in service advisories unlike WMATA with its vague language and often prefacing tweets with "The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority..." which eats up 1/3 of a message.

In terms of having an official blog, locally I know ART has one. Out of the area, I know CDTA has one as well.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

TCAT has one too, but none of these are "blogs" in the "traditional" sense.  The same person at WMATA who told me that there are people in the agency who advocate for the creation of a blog as a PR tool also took a shot at the bloggers who you adore by saying "no matter what field you are working in, there are people who think they can do your job better."  I am convinced the overwhelming majority of people who write/read/comment on these things would run WMATA into the ground.