The Metro system, once a reliable point of pride for D.C.’s boosters, has had a rough few years: Safety problems, escalator outages, and rising prices have made the subway a regular subject of local griping. At times, it can be hard to keep up with the torrent of unflattering Metro-related scoops. As a public service, Washington City Paper is offering beleaguered riders this irregular round-up of recent media lowlights:
- WMATA holds a presentation discussing “considerations” for new payment plans.
- New station name changes are forthcoming. What will they be?
- DCist tells reports that a man masturbating on the bus rebelled by stabbing the bus driver who called him out.
- WMATA struggles to find efficient answers to the parking situation.
- Unsuck DC Metro investigates why those darn doors close so fast.
- A suicidal man threw Metro off kilter on Tuesday. The already-tight Orange Line was backed up for hours.
- Union Station was evacuated on Thursday after smoke arose due to a switch malfunction.
- “Surprise! Everyone is mad at Metro.” What a headline, from the Post‘s The Buzz blog.
- Greater Greater Washington ponders the question: “Where are all those ‘special’ trains headed?”
- After the Examiner reported how much WMATA was really spending on team lunches, the agency has changed its appetites.
- A plan to increase pension plans will cost WMATA an additional $36 million.
- The “Blue Line Split” is approved by the WMATA Board of Directors.