As if watching the herds of commuters cram into trains at rush hour isn’t exciting enough, Metro officials are now proposing bringing musical acts, theater presentations and possibly circus performers into stations.
Metro, the second-busiest subway system in the country, has banned entertainment performances in stations since the system’s inception in the 1970s. Officials said the goal of allowing them is to “enliven and humanize” the system — and possibly draw some nonriders who otherwise might not take public transit.
The proposal is a hybrid of successful entertainment programs in Paris, New York and Chicago in which well-established groups can promote shows, smaller groups can audition for spots and local arts groups can sponsor paid entertainment, officials said. Metro officials are expected to present their proposal to the transit agency’s board of directors on Thursday.
The move is the latest in a series of proposals from interim General Manager Dan Tangherlini seeking to improve the “customer experience.” Metro recently approved a pilot program to allow retail kiosks inside stations to sell items inside stations and is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve lighting on station platforms.
“With stations getting a little more crowded, I think having entertainment will bring a little more civility to the experience,” Tangherlini said. “We are trying to do anything we can to make the ride more enjoyable.”
Metro board member Robert Smith said he feels this will be a positive step toward bringing some culture to the relatively bland system.
“I think performers improve the ambiance of the system as a whole,” said Smith, who said he was impressed with performances in the Montreal and Paris subway systems. “My gut reaction is this is a positive move.”
Board member Jim Graham said the idea has been debated for years but said Tangherlini’s “innovative” new approach could sway previously hesitant board members.
Metro partners
» Groups such as Ringling Bros, Shakespeare Theatre and Washington Performing Arts Society, which already partner with Metro, would be allowed to present specific performances to promote their events.
» Several board members said they do not think Metro is in the position to “underwrite the arts” and would not support the plan if the agency paid for entertainment.
