New Arlington Transit (ART) Operations and Maintenance Contractor

ART buses are operated by a private sector company under contract to Arlington County .

Oversight of the contract, policy, administration and marketing responsibilities reside with Arlington County Transportation Transit staff. A new company was selected for this work: Forsythe Transportation (Forsythe Press Release). Forsythe’s first day running ART is today, July 1. Forsythe’s proposal to run ART was unanimously selected for several reasons including their seasoned management team, oversight and supervision strategies, maintenance experience, and best overall value to the citizens of Arlington County   We expect to see a higher level of service as a result. Let us know how we’re doing. And welcome to Forsythe!

Steve Yaffe is the ART Operations Manager for Arlington County Transportation in the Department of Environmental Services.

Comments

[Jennifer]

Who do we make comments/suggestions/complaints to at Forsythe?

[Steve Yaffe]

Complaints should be called into 703-228-RIDE (7433) or emailed to Questions@CommuterPage.com. Please include the 4-digit bus number, day, time, route, location and direction - whatever is applicable. The 228-RIDE folks will transfer the comment to an internal on-line system, specify the issue type (e.g.: Late Bus, Courtesy) and send the comment via e-mail to the responsible party with an automatic cc to me and the Forsythe General Manager. We use that system to track complaints as well as completeness and promptness of the response. Safety-related complaints get immediate attention.
Comments that aren't complaints also can be tracked through 228-RIDE or, if you think the issue is worth a discussion, placed on www.arlingtontransitblog.com.

Your concern about one of the ART 87 drivers has been transferred to the 228-RIDE system, and a response is due in 3 days or earlier to my office.

[Jerry P. Garner]

The south bound #87 - leaving the Pentagon at 5:23 PM, on 7/8/09, was 20 minutes late arriving at the station (or the 5:43 was the only one in service). The bus was overcrowded and left the station leaving at least 15 still standing on the platform - unable to get on.

There was not another bus in running in tandum.

Most of your riders are professionals and would appreciate/insist upon more rigerous management of staff, training, on time service and adequate capacity available for both North and South bound peak periods.

It would appear that the cart came before the horse in this case - that units were placed into service with drivers insufficiently trained with their vehicles, routes and time committments. Regretably, this does not speak well of management at this point, which I find disturbing when contrasted with what I view as superior management at the Arlington County and City Mgr. levels.

I would be happy to discuss this further, should you wish.

Jerry Garner
202/205-6488

[Melinda]

I tried to catch the 87A at 26th & Troy this morning, March 17th at 7:40 am, but it did not show up. I arrived at the bus stop at 7:39 am, there were other passengers waiting also. The 87 showed up at 7:49 am, it was scheduled to arrive at 7:44 am. I did not arrive at the Pentagon metro until 8:03 am. I ride the blue line to Franconia/Springfield where I have to catch a shuttle bus to my job. I did not arrive at work until 8:55 am. The level of service that we are receiving on the 87 route is unacceptable. This service is no comparison to what we received on the 22B. The 22B was on time and there was plenty of room for passengers to sit comfortably. When the 87 arrives at my stop, there usually isn't room for everyone to sit. The bus capacity is too small. Most of the time I don't get the opportunity to ride the 87A in the morning, the 87 will arrive at the stop first and it will pass by my stop leaving passengers to crowd onto the 87. If you count the passengers at the stop at 26th & Troy and the next stop around the corner on Army Navy drive, there will be at least 20 passengers, which will fill most of the seats on the ART bus. The poor service on this bus makes me late for work and my supervisor is asking why I can't get to work on time. I know that this poor service is also making other passengers late for work. We need the buses to be on time and have more capacity for passengers.

[Steve Yaffe]

You may have noticed a small ART bus assisting on the ART 87A in the mornings. The first trip starts at 26th & South Troy at 7:20 AM with the second trip at 7:50 and the last trip at 8:20 AM. This is the short-term solution. A new timetable is in the works to provide dependable and consistent service with the larger ART buses along the 87 and 87A - will keep you posted.