Metro Needs to Stop Ruining My Mornings

Over the last two week, Metro has completely ruined my mornings.

It generally starts out the same: I get up. I check my e-mail & facebook. I read a few headlines on WaPo. I shower, shave, and get dressed. I toss some leftovers in my satchel. I kiss my wife goodbye. I walk out the door to the bus stop on South Courthouse to wait for the ART Bus. I get on. It’s a pretty smooth ride. I see familiar faces and say hi to a few of my fellow riders I’ve gotten to know over the years. I enjoy the ride through my old neighborhood of Lyon Park & Clarendon. I get off the bus. I’m greeted by the Post Express and Examiner vendors. I grab an Express.

Then, my march down the escalator is met by a sight of a train sitting in the station. I remain optimistic. “It could just have arrived,” I tell myself.

I maintain my dignity and do not rush to grab it. There will surely be another one soon. I’m not some Hill staffer who thinks their life will end if they don’t sprint and knock people over to catch the next train.

My optimism is quashed as I pay my fare and descend down the next escalator to find the train still sitting there.

Sometimes it’s cramped, full of people, ugly & pretty just trying to get to their jobs. The expression on their faces say that they are not pleased. Today, there was an advisory message on the boards that said McPherson Square Station was closed.

I peered down the tunnel in both directions and other trains waiting. Today, I decide that it’s not even worth my time to attempt to board and wait it out.

At least they told us it was going to suck.

I caught another ART bus home and got my car. I sat for a short time in traffic and parked right across the street from my building. The days where I choose to ride it out have been much much worse. Other days, we’ve sat in the tunnel for up to 25 minutes. What makes it just peaches & cream are the jerky motions the train makes when the operator tries to move it forward. Ever since operators have been driving the train manually, the stops in the stations themselves are far less gradual. Eventually, it literally hurts to hang onto a bar or pole to make sure you don’t crush the person in front of you while standing. My left arm is starting to feel like it has some muscle and/or nerve damage and I will be visiting a doctor very soon as a result.

I doubt Metro will cover my $50 co-pay.

I’m not the first to complain about Metro, so I recognize the redundancy of this rant. But if you read Unsuck DC Metro every day like I do, then you’re fully aware that there needs to be something done about this agency. Every morning, I and all my co-workers who commute on the same trains are all angry and frustrated. We feel helpless. I haven’t had a smooth Metro ride in over 2 weeks. I’m not sure about the other lines, but I can’t imagine the Orange and Blue are alone in their recent problems.

So write your Metro Board Representative. Tell them to get this crap under control.

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