Metro Turning Into a Pumpkin at Midnight Again?

In this morning's Washington Post we learn that to try and save some money, Metro's GM is considering doing away with its Night Owl Metrorail service from midnight to 3:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights (Saturday and Sunday mornings actually) and replacing it with bus service (Night Owls May Need A New Way Home, August 5, 2007; Lena Sun & Jonathan Mummolo). Are they freaking crazy? We like the fact that new Metro GM John Catoe is looking at ways to cut costs, however this is one idea that needs to be headed off at the pass.

The days when Metrorail was primarily just a commuter service are long gone. The system is now a primary part of many people's lives. Since I've moved close to a Metro station, I certainly use the weekend service regularly. How can we encourage people to live, work and play without using a car if they have to drive on the weekends? Do they want people driving after a night out? Do they really think that people will take the bus after taking the rail in? If anything our region should be trying to figure out ways to expand transit service not cut it back.

Here's a link to Metro's Board of Directors so you can tell them what you think. Let's hope that this is one idea that doesn't leave the station.

---

Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a biking/Metro commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria

Comments

[TheGreenMiles]

In principle, we should always be talking about MORE public transit (and more funding for it), not less. ButI'm torn on this one -- if they promised to run buses every 5 minutes instead of the 20 minutes it takes to get a late-night train, I might support the idea.

[Dharm Guruswamy]

Much of the system in New York is three or four tracks so yes when they do work they can more easily provide service. The issue here is that because maintenance can't be done at night almost every weekend there is trackwork during the day.

[Jim]

How do transit systems in cities like New York run 24 hours a day with no maintenance window at all? Do they shift trains between the local and express tracks?

I don't claim to understand the intricacies of rail maintenance. All I know is that Metro would become almost useless to me without the late night service on weekends. I supposed the people who would gain most from discontinuing this service would be cab companies, and perhaps the lawyers who represent DUI defendants.

[Dharm Guruswamy]

Why is such a bad idea? I'd rather have night buses and FEWER weekend disrputions. Remember, in the early days of the system the system opened at 8AM on Saturdays and 10AM on Sundays. Now we have service ending at 3AM on Saturday and Sunday mornings and restarting at 7AM. Let the good folks at Metro have their maintenance window.

[Carly]

Who wants to stand outside in the late hours (or cold or rain for that matter) waiting for a bus because metro isn't an option anymore after midnight? Rather than making it easier for people to use transit this possible measure carries the potential to discourage future riders as well inconvience those already loyal patrons.

[nashpaul]

I have to wonder if one reason the late night ridership went do is all the incessant track work over the weekend.