For a number of reasons I am a big supporter of Metro and other modes of public transportation. Yet I am a bigger supporter of open and honest government, which is being compromised by the city’s misleading “Back 2 Blue” campaign, announced in its Oct. 17 press release. Essentially the city, due to its inability to control Metro’s notorious and persistently poor quality of service, is promoting the proverbial shiny object in one hand (unexceptional blue line improvements made this summer), while counting on the gullibility of the riding public to look away from the drastic cuts also made this summer to the yellow line service.
Prior to these cuts, the yellow line and its now defunct “Rush-Plus” supplement ran every 3 to 5 minutes during rush-hour, directly into the heart of the District. Now yellow line riders face longer waits (8 minutes) and fewer seats on each commute. What is most infuriating is that for this reduced service Metro had the audacity to concurrently raise its fares.
The blue line’s new eight minute intervals is nothing to celebrate. Just a few years back, such service times would have been subject to scorn, not celebration. If the city wants to celebrate Metro’s “Back 2 Good,” perhaps it should use Metro’s old standards as the starting point.
Matt Harris, Esq.
Alexandria