Residents and tourists gave their opinions about their preferred form of public transportation to replace the Metrorail during the city’s major repair period this summer.
The city Metro lines need three years of work but transportation officials are trying to squeeze it in one year. To complete the work, they’ve created what is known as the SafeTrack system. This is where they shut down certain lines of the Metro for days or weeks at a time to repair the systems.
“In a pinch I don’t want to rely on the Metro,” said Raymond McGhee, 59.
McGhee was just one of 10 people interviewed that reacted to the way the Metrorail was being repaired. Approximately eight out of 10 people interviewed were disappointed in the length of time it took the city to start repairs and the method of which the repairs are being made. But, with Metro facing repair, residents are finding different methods of transportation.
The Metrobus is a popular alternative to the Metrorail. The Metrobus and Metrorail offer the same form of payment by SmarTrip® card. The Metrobus has more stops and detours, but four out of 10 people said they prefer the Metrobus during the Metrorail repair season.
“I love the bus. I think it’s excellent,” said Jennie Ganz, 50. Ganz preferred the Metrobus, because of her fear of the Metrorail.
Scott Wheeler, 46, on vacation in the district was worried he’d miss the flight back home to Dallas.
“Maybe we should take Uber,” said Wheeler.
Matthew Fries, 24, has been avoiding the Metrorail for years now due to the need of repairs. Fries drives into the city, walks, and uses the Metrobus. Fries was angry at the way the city pushed the repairs off for so long. He boycotted the Metrorail.
“Sitting in a train you don’t have any control,” said Fries.
Elizabeth Moyer, 23, has continued using the Metrorail though the Metrorail’s delays and early closings force a call too a friend or a taxi when out during the SafeTrack system’s Safety Surges. Safety Surges cause complete shut downs of certain Metrorail lines, which are scheduled to happen after midnight during the weekends and during the day on weekdays.
“The Metro used to be a really reliable way to get home if you stayed out past midnight but now its not,” said Moyer.