One of the most valuable things to get people to ride the bus is information about when the bus will arrive (another is a frequent arrival schedule). That's why it was such a blow when the NextBus system of arrival time displays for buses went dark. Yes, there were problems with the accuracy of the information but it didn't happen all the time and it wasn't that different from standing there not knowing anything about when the next bus would should up. The whole thing has been a mystery that still doesn't make any sense: why couldn't the system work here when it works so well in other cities?; what are the technical and software issues that take a year and a half (believe it when you see it) to fix?; is there a problem with the contract that no one has admitted to?; is this somehow related to Homeland Security issues because of where some of these buses travel and the desire to keep that information secure in a cyber sense?; is this foul up the same as the one involving the contract with the company that produces the SmartTrip cards?
John is one of those readers who are not happy with the whole state of NextBus affairs. He writes:
"But these asserted concerns are mere smokescreen. I firmly believe WMATA is deliberately lying about the real reason -- probably budgets and contracts. It's completely mendacious to hold up the sanctity of their complaint-handling process as a reason for anything. As if the problems of individual, inconvenienced riders have EVER had the 'full and complete' attention of that organization!
"As for the 18-month estimate, it's not 'fairly accurate' until we see the official launch. Here's a countdown clock to August 1, 2009. Shall we place bets on the actual go-live date?"
Here is the full statement from General Manager Catoe:
"There has been a lot of talk lately about NextBus, which is a good thing because we expect NextBus to be back up and running this July.
"The return of NextBus is highly anticipated by many bus riders, and by many who were able to gain access to an internal test site over the last few months. We have restricted access to that test site, which has disappointed a number of people. Those people who were using the system have reported in blogs that the system was working well for them, and I'm pleased to hear that.
"However, I have to take a much wider view of NextBus and the accuracy of its predictions. Launching a 'beta' version may make sense for software developers, it doesn't make sense for Metro. Before NextBus is fielded again, I have to be sure that it will work well for all of our bus riders. If we allow access to a test site, then we are in effect launching that site and service. That means we need to be ready to give anyone and everyone using that site our full attention if they have problems and complaints. All the disclaimers in the world won’t make any practical difference. If we were to allow access to the site, then, potentially, there would be hundreds of thousands trying to use something that just isn’t ready for prime time, yet. That means a flood of complaints, and we take every complaint seriously. If we allow the system to be used before we're confident that it's ready, then, although, it may be convenient for some, it just won't work for everyone the way we envision it should. I would also take more resources, both financially and in terms of manpower that we aren't ready to commit yet.
"When the system went off-line on October 31, 2007, we estimated that it would take up to 18 months to bring it back. That estimate was fairly accurate. Just be patient a few more months, and the service will be back up. There's a saying 'measure twice and cut once.' That's what we are doing with NextBus to make sure we have everything in place to meet our goal of 95% accuracy on bus arrival times. This will be a significant improvement, and worth the wait."
+++++++++++++
By now we've all heard that Metro is getting a couple hundred million dollars from the fed's economic stimulus package. Staff is running around like six-year-olds on Christmas morning trying to put together lists and checking contracts and actually buying stuff. 45 new hybrid buses should be in Metro garages by the end of next month. Now that is moving quickly. This is so much better than the five-pound blocks of cheese that the government used to hand out.
Even though Metro is getting about $20-million less than it had expected as some of the funds went to other transit agencies it has added three projects -- heavy-duty track equipment; the replacement of the Southeastern bus garage, which was located next to the Nationals Ballpark, and the purchase of new financial system integration software which would improve financial operations and reporting.
Heavy-duty track equipment sounds really vague but it also sounds really important. The second item is the replacement of the Southeastern bus garage which is something that has been hanging around Metro's collective necks for years. It was sold and then it wasn't and it has just been a mess of planning and missed opportunities. Not sure how a bus garage fits into the federal plan for economic stimulation. Speaking of which, I'd love to see the rationale for using federal funds to pay for "new financial system integration software." Metro's beancounters have had a tough time over the years trying to track debts and revenues but this just doesn't seem like something that's very stimulating in an economic sense.
Metro officials state: "The Metro projects are focused on stimulating the local and national economy by creating jobs and building a stronger regional transit system. All of the projects are linked to Metro's strategic goals of delivering quality service, improving reliability, using resources wisely and ensuring safety." Creating jobs? I thought the idea was to reduce 800+ jobs in order to reduce the red ink in the budget.
Here is the rest of the list of projects Metro will spend the fed's (taxpayer's) money on:
- Replacing Metro's oldest diesel buses with new hybrid-electric buses
- Replacing crumbling platforms
- Installing SmarTrip purchase capabilities at more Metro fare vending machines
- Enhancing bus garage security
- Installing technologies to improve bus route and schedule information
- Rehabilitating the oldest stretch of track in the rail system
- Updating train arrival signs on platforms and mezzanines
- Replacing the Metro Center Customer Sales Facility
- Expanding and replacing vehicles for paratransit service
Steve Eldridge is a long-time reporter, observer and commentator on the Washington region's transportation issues. You can contact him directly by writing to: Steve@SprawlandCrawl.com. Unless otherwise requested, letters or portions of letters can be used within future columns. Letter writers will be identified by their first name and city/neighborhood.
A very caring observer
Steve,
I would like to take this opportunity to involve commuters and everyone else in the effort to save save save energy. One of the ways everyone can help is to look behind us each time we board a bus, take an elevator, or open or close a door that takes energy to do so, if an extra moment is spent sometimes one will save an additional trip, use of energy to open a door, an extra ride on the elevator a bus missed and so much more because I have noticed so many times people press a button to use an elevator, get in or out of a space, or take a bus and there is someone behind them running to take that trip, or go thru that door and just misses it by a split moment, too late is is shut and off its way. Now there is one person who will take the next ride, use more energy to open the door and so on. This applies to so many places it is impossible to put it all in a short post but I am sure everyone will get an idea if this were to be written up real meaningfully and precise as a bullet message and flashed everywhere it will improve the habits of people and will ultimately make a difference in a very big way I assure you all.
Posted by: A very caring observer | April 03, 2009 at 07:37 AM
I'm a former Washingtonian who now lives in San Francisco. I love NextBus - it works and it's actually changed my life. I can only imagine that the bureaucrats at DASH and Arlington are covering up for their own problems. As someone who actually works in transportation - I do know that a system like Nextbus won't work unless the drivers log-in when they start their route. If management can't or won't manage to get them to log-in the system won't know which bus it is and can't tell people when it's coming.
I hope anyone reading this blog will try using Nextbus next time they visit San Francisco - you won't need to rent a car.
Posted by: Transitnut | April 01, 2009 at 12:22 PM
As the Director of Engineering of NextBus I'm rather disturbed that they stated that they had prediction problems at the Pentagon. Any way you can fax the flyer to me at (510) 995-3207 or e-mail a copy to msmith@nextbus.com ? It would be greatly appreciated.
Michael Smith
Posted by: Michael Smith | April 01, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Riding on a DASH bus recently, I noticed a flyer on the bus stating they recently dumped NextBus. They stated that they also had issues with inaccurate predictions, particularly around the Pentagon. The problem seemed to be bad enough to have them roll their own system. Arlington also seemed to have had a sour experience ( http://www.commuterpage.com/cnews/column.cfm?ID=4369 )on it when they originally installed the system on the Metrobus 38B line (which is why stops on that line had special displays). Curiously, you have to wonder why the system is having so many accuracy issues here, given they run the system in so many other cities.
Posted by: Wes | April 01, 2009 at 03:30 AM