Metro is watching out for its shorter passengers with its new overhead handles, which it is testing in railcars this month.
Ten sets of Metrorail cars are being outfitted with different types of nylon handles for riders to test over the next 30 days. After testing, the transit agency will choose one design for permanent use, taking into account the durability, tastefulness and comfort of the choices.
“It a matter of accommodating all the passengers — not all of them are 6-foot-6,” said Metro Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman.
Metro already has installed heavy-duty, spring-loaded, stainless steel handgrips on 40 of its newest cars, the 6000 series, and plans to outfit the rest of that fleet by the end of the year. The steel handles last for the car’s lifetime.
However, they cannot be installed in older cars because those trains have a grab bar running down their centers and taller passengers could hit their heads on a rigid handle, said Jeff Pringle, senior program manager with Metro.
The straps come in black, gray and “high-visibility yellow” nylon. They hang down 10 to 12 inches, last an estimated two years and cost between $15 and $30 each.
Outfitting each car with handles would cost about $500, with minimal labor costs. Metro officials hope to install the handles on 25 percent of its fleet, or about 300 railcars, by the end of the year.
As Metro updates and expands its fleet, it is making changes to accommodate passengers and cut costs — it is testing vinyl flooring instead of carpet, planning new seats without cushions and bringing in the overhead handles.
