Posts by Dennis Jaffe — Contributor
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WMATA picks a new General Manager from outside the transit world
The WMATA Board has chosen a candidate for General Manager. His name is Neal Cohen and he comes from the airline and aerospace industry, mostly on the finance side. Is he what WMATA needs? We don’t know a whole lot yet. He hasn’t even gotten the job; the board is currently negotiating with him over his compensation package. If he takes the job, he’ll be stepping… Keep reading…
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Metro riders are organizing to change WMATA. Their success depends on what they do next.
Fed up with delays, tragedies, and platitudes from WMATA, Metro riders have formed an organization called the WMATA Riders’ Union, and has recruited more than 1,500 members since it started in September. Can it turn riders’ exasperation and energy into a constructive and influential force for change? Keep reading…
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What does “Smart Growth 2.0” mean for Arlington?
In discussing the state of the county, Arlington County Board chair Mary Hynes recently called on residents to help “chart a new course” to plan for the future. Hynes says we need a “2nd generation of Smart Growth,” and ArlNow called Hynes’ vision Smart Growth 2.0. What do you think Arlington’s priorities should be? Keep reading…
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Put the democratic back in DC’s Democratic Party
Top DC Democrats have taken drastic measures to prevent voters from disrupting their control of the party. Ironically, as a result, they have sown the seeds for a successful voter revolt to open up the party and turn it into a powerful agent for change. The party leadership was so worried about facing voters next April, they canceled the election in which 340,000 voters get to choose… Keep reading…
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The Transit Ombudsman: Get the next bus by text message
You may have used the NextBus Web interface or the phone system at 202-637-7000, but there’s another way to get NextBus arrival times: text message. Here’s what you do: Find your bus route, stop location, direction and stop number here or here and bookmark the page. Start composing a text message to 41411. In the message area, enter your request in this… Keep reading…
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Integrate WMATA customer service in departments
WMATA should integrate customer service staff within its Office of Information Technology, Bus Operations and MetroAccess, just like it did with Rail Operations in 2005. Keep reading…
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Let’s shovel bus stops Sunday
Give a hand. Save a hip. Bus stops all over the region are not safely accessible because of snow mountains, slush and ice. Taxpayer-funded Metro can’t shovel out 12,000 bus stops. Let’s make George Washington proud and go shovel. Keep reading…
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The Transit Ombudsman: Reform the form
Readers of The Transit Ombudsman want Metro to provide easier, more effective ways for us to report issues that need attention. Better service equals happier riders. And happier riders will more readily push federal, state and local governments to increase their funding of Metro. Reader Adam F proposed that riders be able to contact Customer Service from the mobile site. The… Keep reading…
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Limited Metrobus and Circulator service resume
WMATA has restored service on 47 Metrobus routes: Keep reading…
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The Transit Ombudsman: Watch the language
A few weeks ago, The Transit Ombudsman put the spotlight on Metro’s online trip planner. Readers identified many good issues and provided excellent suggestions on the trip planner and other topics. WMATA staff followed up with us promptly and is working to correct many of the issues. The goal of the Transit Ombudsman is to identify issues that bother riders and then contact… Keep reading…