Finally, a system to model escalator repair on. Who knew it would be in Russia. Oh well. WMATA needs to send a team to Moscow, pronto, to learn how this is done and figure out how to emulate it here. Come back and begin badgering the politicians and management endlessly until the right changes are made. A factory to make its own spare parts! Jesus, wouldn't that be a boost to the local skilled labor economy.

by Josh S on Dec 15, 2010 9:44 am  

RE: Moscow

Comparisons to Moscow aren't the best correlation... labor costs are exceeding low, enabling them to staff each escalator with a babushka who just sits around all day -- at best yelling at kids sliding down between the escalators -- and to keep a staff of mechanics handy. Things are also "simplified" when there are no ADA laws or obligations to maintain access to *anyone*; nor is informational/directional signing often posted to guide people to other routes... and in Moscow, finding other routes on the surface is rarely as intuitive as they tend to be in the US.

I watched a couple resurfacing projects in Moscow and St. Petersburg, all of which had a staff of about ten times what an American country would mobilise, and it was amusing to note that there were no (or exceedingly few) inspectors; every single person had their hands directly involved with the project. Pedestrians and motorists all got the shove despite one project being at one of the Neva bridges & directly in front of the Hermitage (photos 1, 2, 3); another project being on the city's main street: ADA ramps gone; the ped path everyone was using took them straight through the torn up pavement and alternating within breathing distance of either the front or rear of the paving machines. But if there's one thing to say: they were certainly quick; but you also end up with sidewalks looking like this.

by Bossi on Dec 15, 2010 10:01 am  

@Bossi; I'd agree labor costs are lower.

From what I remember, the babushka are there more for traffic control than maintenance. However, that was back in Soviet era. And the other thing you mention: Signage, ADA, etc have nothing to do with keeping the escalators running

What I see different is a clear realization of how important escalators are -- which WAMTA leadership doesn't get -- and the level or resources and/or competence. Rapid reaction repair teams probably don't go well with union rules...

by charlie on Dec 15, 2010 10:13 am  

Bossi,

You raise a great point in that we have limited budgets and should carefully consider how they are invested. Over time we have built a LOT of infrastructure so over time our maintenance costs have increased. Those increased maintenance costs reduce the amount available for capital improvements. This has tended to be mitigated by a growing economy. But, the "long tail" of maintenance tends to be discounted (or ignored altogether) when building new projects. Not just in the public sector either. I've seen a lot of computer systems where O&M (operations and maintenance) were not included in the "cost" of the system.

ADA compliance and other regulatory costs are all great and good but they also reduce the money available for O&M and expansion. I'm not saying we shouldn't have them, I think they're great. But, if we did "ignore" them, we could build more and quicker.

by EZ on Dec 15, 2010 10:13 am  

I must say that I'm shocked at the support for the transit subsidy on this site! Although I wholeheartedly agree that if there is one, it must be the same as parking, but what about those that bike or walk to work? They should then get a $230/month or $2,760/year raise. In fact, why not give all workers a raise and eliminate meddling in how people get to work. Subsidizing commuting encourages sprawl even if the workers arrive via transit.

by Pat on Dec 15, 2010 10:13 am  

+1 Pat.

DC should seriously look into the parking cash-out option for employers that lease parking spots, but provide them for free to the employee. Let the employee have the choice to forfeit the leased spot and take a taxable voucher/transit subsidy instead. The employer will just redirect the funds directly to the employee instead; I can't imagine why the employer would oppose this.

The City of Santa Monica (CA) actually requires this for all employers with 50+ employees:

http://www01.smgov.net/planning/transportation/abouttransmanagementtmo.html

by Daniel on Dec 15, 2010 10:19 am  

EO 13150. Another cursed legacy of the Bush years....

by charlie on Dec 15, 2010 10:26 am  

@Pat, you mean this:

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/5859/is-the-federal-transit-benefit-actually-bad/

by Michael Perkins on Dec 15, 2010 10:29 am  

@Michael Perkins
Thank you, Michael!! I was a bit disappointed at the different tone in some comments the last few weeks.

by Pat on Dec 15, 2010 10:58 am  

"For starters, we would suggest a greater emphasis on the responsibilities of cyclists, both to prevent tragedies like the recent death of an elderly man hit by a biker and to prevent the kind of backlash against cycling that has occurred in other cities. Police should enforce the traffic laws, which apply to bicycles as well as cars."

Yep. Well said. However, the rules of the road should be enforced for cars too. Double-parking, speeding, blocking the box, illegal u-turns, etc.

by Claude Henry Smoote on Dec 15, 2010 11:05 am  

"For starters, we would suggest a greater emphasis on the responsibilities of cyclists, both to prevent tragedies like the recent death of an elderly man hit by a biker and to prevent the kind of backlash against cycling that has occurred in other cities. Police should enforce the traffic laws, which apply to bicycles as well as cars."

Encouraging multi-mode transportation is obviously critical. But first we need to get those scofflaw skateboarders under control.

by oboe on Dec 15, 2010 11:10 am  

@Claude Henry Smoote; I think WashCycle made a good point that it is MPD, not DDOT, that is responsible for enforcing the law.

However, I would love to see DDOT put up signs downtown on problem sidewalks saying (No sidewalk riding) and increase the fine for sidewalk riding and salmons.

by charlie on Dec 15, 2010 11:11 am  

Virginia's Congressional Democrats say that if Governor McDonnell proceeds to borrow billions for transportation improvements, he should at least spend it on BRAC accessibility.

Ah, so here we have a Congressional Delegation asking its DOT to pay for infrastructure that will be mostly used by people who are not paying taxes in the state Commonwealth... How different from the DC attitude that non-residents can go to hell (remember that a lot of military personnel keeps residency in their "home" state). Funny that the republican governor of VA is now in agreement with those Washingtonians.

@ Moskow Metro: So here we have the capital of a crumbling world power understanding that to maintain its diminishing world power, it needs to keep its escalators running, while in here in the richest nation of the world, we can't afford it. Pathetic.

@ Bossi: labor costs are exceeding low

It's been argued many a time here that certain labor contracts should be voided in light of proper reason, so you're not entirely incorrect. It's still not an argument why the freaking escalators aren't working.

but you also end up with sidewalks looking like this.

And how is this worse than ye average side walk in Georgetown? Or the absent side-walks on the east side of town?

@ John S: WMATA needs to send a team to Moscow

+1

by Jasper on Dec 15, 2010 12:28 pm  

@charlie, "Bush years"? You do realize that EO 13150 was signed by President Clinton in April of 2000, right?

by Moose on Dec 15, 2010 2:31 pm  

I can't quite explain it, but images of Kang and Kodos just popped into my head.

by Bossi on Dec 15, 2010 4:23 pm  

This is not just Klein's work. This is also the work of the staff under Klein and previous directors of the Department of Transportation. They work hard and get none of the credit. Let's remember that.

by Edward on Dec 16, 2010 10:14 am