To make it clear when an approaching train will have eight cars rather than six, Metro has started displaying the number “8” in green on station display boards. The idea, presumably, is to space passengers more evenly along the platform. Will it work?

A PID with green 8s next to eight-car trains. Photo by the author.

Because Metro operates both six and eight-car trains, not every train services the entire length of the platform. When an eight-car train does arrive, there is often extra space in the last two cars because relatively few passengers move to the end of the train. Noting these longer trains in a different color on the Passenger Information Displays (PIDs) may encourage more people to move down the platform.

Will this help or confuse riders?

This will only serve its purpose if passengers know what the green 8s mean. While the green color does stand out against the orange and red text (for most— it might not be so easy to tell the difference if you’re color blind), it is not initially clear that the change in color is intentional. When I first saw the green color, I just assumed the board was broken.

The green color could also lead to confusion for some riders. Since Metro names the different lines by color, seeing a green eight could make some think a Green Line train is arriving.

One thing to know is that the PIDS are capable of displaying only three colors (red, orange, and green), and with red and orange already used for the other information, green is the only remaining available color.

One in a series of changes

The green 8s represent one of a number initiatives that Metro has recently undertaken. A few months ago, it began testing floor decals that mark where six-car trains end on the platform. Metro is also rolling out new information screens that do a better job of prioritizing multiple streams of information.

Going back a few years, Metro even changed the programming on the PIDS so that the text is easier to read at a distance.

These additions, along with new mezzanine lighting and station manager kiosk screens, offer passengers tangible improvements in their daily commutes. No doubt the Metro system faces enormous challenges when it comes to maintenance, but it’s nice to see other, smaller changes not falling by the wayside.

Travis Maiers spent most of his life in South Florida before moving to the Washington region in 2009. He has a degree in International Studies from American University and works at a DC non-profit focused on international economic policy. He currently resides in the Forest Hills neighborhood of DC and enjoys learning about all things related to transportation and urban planning.