Metro is lowering its standards for how it measures success, dropping the thresholds for how it measures if its trains and buses are on time or whether its escalators work. Even so, Metro is calling the new standards “stretch targets” that may not be attainable even at the lower rates.

The news met some skepticism from board members Thursday, who questioned how riders would see the change. But General Manager Richard Sarles already has decided to redo the measuring sticks and defended them Thursday as a good strategy.