Why Do D.C. Metro’s Escalators Break So Often?

[marmar]

from Infrastructurist:



Why Do D.C. Metro’s Escalators Break So Often?
Posted on Monday December 13th by Eric Jaffe





The Washington D.C. Metro system has 588 escalators — “more than any other transit system in North America,” its site boasts. But that seems a rather spurious distinction — something like having the most bank accounts in the world, with most of them frozen — since dozens of Metro’s moving stairways are out of service at any given time. The Washington Post reports that Metro’s escalator reliability has dipped from 93.7 percent in 2007 to 90.5 percent in 2009. That’s a very generous scorecard, if personal experience is any judge. And the problem recently escalated, you might say, when the brakes malfunctioned on a conveyance at L’Enfant station, injuring six people.

Last June Metro addressed the situation by hiring a consultant group, Vertical Transportation Excellence, to audit the elevators and escalators at a few select stations: DuPont Circle, Woodley Park, Foggy Bottom, and Bethesda. The initial results of the audit, released this November (part one of four, pdf), found that while Metro has made “significant investments” in training and recruiting skilled mechanics, several fundamental escalator problems plague the system.

For one thing, water seeping into escalator-elevator control rooms apparently poses a significant “life/safety hazard” for workers and often prevents necessary maintenance. Even without such an obstacle, escalator maintenance would remain a Sisyphean battle because, according to the report, the basic technology of Metro’s escalators “has been obsolete for over 20 years.” .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.infrastructurist.com/2010/12/13/why-do-dc-metros-escalators-break-so-often/

[xchrom]

1. another example from americas age of incompetence. nt

[Scruffy1]

2. Knowing elevators and escalators

These units are still operating on electro-mechanical controls and are do for a major update in the operating controls.
The water issue is another problem that needs to addressed to insure safety and reliability. The mechanical parts are rather easy to keep maintained although its a somewhat dirty job.

[justiceischeap]

3. I ride the Metro daily

And the system sucks. I can't remember the last time all escalators at Gallery Place/Chinatown worked. I'm pretty sure every station I hit (3 in total) always have at least 1 non-functioning escalator. Dont' get me started on the trains that sometimes blow heat in the summer months and A/C in the winter months. Me thinks they need better management and instead of raising the rates on daily riders (which I'm not totally against) they should also raise the tourist rates.

[Brickbat]

4. When I was living in St. Petersburg (Russia), I was very impressed with how I never experienced any

trouble with the Metro escalators. Which is a good thing, because they could be up to 460 feet long and sometimes went 220 feet down.

[marmar]

5. "460 feet long and sometimes went 220 feet down"

Yikes !!!! Vertigo city.

[Brickbat]

6. It wasn't too bad, although I do know some people were disoriented by the length. On the other hand,

it was great for people-watching, and you could read a chapter in a book while you rode, and it was possible to meet someone, fall in love, have a fight, and break up between getting on and getting off the escalator.

[MattSh]

11. Same in Kiev.

The Soviet era elevators are still working. The deepest Metro station in the world is right down the block from me, and they always have two working, one up and one down.

If they can keep 50 year old escalators working here, what's the problem with DC?

OK, I know. That's a loaded question...

edit.. escalators, not elevators.

[Brickbat]

12. Once in a great while they would stop, but never for longer than a minute.

That kept one on one's toes, however. Whee!

[brendan120678]

7. And it really sucks when...

the escalators at Rosslyn or Wheaton Station break down.

That's a lot of climbing to do in those instances!

[KamaAina]

14. Tack Dupont onto that list

:scared:

[NightWatcher]

8. Escalators do not break, they only become stairs. Thank you for the convenience

Boy I miss Mitch Hedberg

[jberryhill]

9. I was trapped on a stopped escalator for three hours once

What happens is that the basement gets full of stairs, and they have to empty it out every now and then.

[Obamanaut]

10. It's part of a "Get Fit America' plot by making people walk up/down stairs. nt

[Javaman]

13. Because too many fat cats ride them?

Thank you thank you! I'll be here all week! don't forget to tip the waitstaff and remember! Try the veal.

[KamaAina]

15. Their elevators suck, too

which is a BIG problem for people who use wheelchairs.

They're constantly having to run shuttle buses to and from whatever station(s) have no working elevator. :eyes: