Until I can come up with some clever name for a weekly compilation of readers’ thoughts and questions (“Mailbag Monday” or “Your Turn Tuesday” or “Write-in Wednesday”) I’ll just have to catch up as I can.
During the past few weeks I’ve received a number of interesting notes from our readers, including this one from Ihab who asks: “Is there any plans to extend the Metro line far beyond Fairfax? It seems that it can be easily extended to Centreville. The middle island in Route 66 west is wide enough to accommodate the Metro, and this will help reduce the traffic on Route 66 to Vienna Metro in the rush hours beside it can eliminate many metro bus lines that serves Vienna Metro station.”
This extension has long been discussed, although it’s been very much on the back burner as Virginia and Metro try to get the extension built out to Dulles. You would think it would be a no-brainer insofar as the land is already owned, but nothing’s easy.
And then Marlie wrote in with these nice thoughts: “It is a nice change to read in The Examiner, a positive story and thoughts of consideration for others. In our society, and worldwide, we need more thoughts and positive plans of action in how we could be considerate and thoughtful to each other and our neighbors. Kinkintherail.com is a great way of reaching out to our community. Someone has taken a great idea, in turning a negative problem, into an effective positive solution. Despite all the problems that our Metrorail system endures. I enjoy regularly, the experience in riding the WMATA Metrorail system. We all work together in making the system, a safe and enjoyable experience.”
I couldn’t agree more and that’s one of the reasons I was so happy to let you know about the Web site. This really is a way of working together toward a common goal.
Donald has some concerns about the new railcar design that’s being tested: “I rode on one of the reconfigured cars the other day, (one of the designs with bench seats on the side near the rear door). Oh, there was more room for standees, all right, but nothing for these folks to hang on to in front of the bench seats. Whoever designed this must not have ridden Metro much.
“Feather-light starts and stops are not a hallmark of the system. Metro will have some broken bones on its hands when passengers start falling down in front of those seats.”
Unfortunately, I agree, Donald. I think I described that area as having the potential to look more like a mosh pit at a Metallica concert. The problem is how to balance the open space needed for people to maneuver in front of the doors with the handles or poles to keep them safe. If there are handles or poles then people will stand there like sloths on a tree branch. We all need to rethink the ways that we get onto and off of Metrorail cars.
