“We have prioritized advancements in automatic door capabilities to provide immediate benefits to our customers and the pain points they have expressed,” said Metro Senior Vice President and Regulator. He spoke to Metro board members on Thursday about the ATO’s efforts.
One of Metro’s most high-profile changes this year is its plan to move from manual operation back to ATO, which would eliminate most train functions from human drivers. This rail system was designed for his ATO and operated as such from its opening in 1976 until his fatal accident in 2009. The system never returned, even though multiple investigations determined it was not involved in the crash that killed and injured nine people. 80 in Northeast Washington;
Transportation leaders say restoring the system would reduce delays, provide smoother rides, save energy and improve safety by reducing human error. Metro officials also say it will modernize rail service and attract new customers after the pandemic wiped out nearly half of its daily ridership. Due to this delay, the rollout of his system-wide ATO will be delayed from later this year to the first quarter of next year.
The changes will also save the agency up to $10 million annually. It’s a small but welcome savings for Metro, which has a $750 million difference in its operating budget for next year.
Transportation leaders set a goal earlier this year to have the ATO’s Red Line operational this fall, with the remaining lines in service by December. Trials for the conversion were disrupted, with some trials resulting in trains not passing through the stops.
Last month, officials with the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, the agency that regulates safety, reported concerns about how Metro was returning to automation. European Commission officials said Metro was not on track to meet its own ATO safety standards or receive Commission approval. For a change.
Safety officials also noted that Metro is working to coordinate plans in consultation with the commission. Last week, Metro and the commission held a joint meeting that transportation officials said helped chart a path toward obtaining the necessary safety certifications for operations.
“We are certainly very involved in the details,” said safety commission spokesman Max Smith. “Metrorail told us in the summer that automatic doors would be reverted to their first consideration, and the adjustments they were making were part of regular communication.”
Metro said in an article: memo “Accelerating” automatic door operation before switching to full ATO allows technicians to document how the door system is operating and better prepare. Instruct the operator how to use the door controls. The driver, who remains in the cab after ATO switching, manually closes the door after confirming that passengers are in the vehicle and there are no obstructions.
Transportation officials said they plan to automate the opening and closing of Red Line doors next month, if approved by the safety board. Full automation of the line could become a reality later this year. According to Metro’s plans, the rest of the system will follow similar steps, with automatic doors being introduced early next year and full adoption of his ATO in the first quarter of 2024. document.
Metro General Manager Randy Clark said he sees the gradual process as a necessary step in a complex transformation, not a delay.
“We’re moving forward with something that hasn’t moved in over 13 years,” he said Thursday. “[ATO] There is no doubt that this is the safest way to run your system.It’s cost effective and much better For our customers. We wanted to do this right. ”
During Thursday’s meeting, board members also reviewed changes being tested. They want a clearer way to guide travelers through the system, at stations, on government websites, on mobile apps and on trains and buses. Changes include adding directional signs to Metrorail signs, adding station entrance information, and adding real-time updates on train and bus arrivals.
Board members also emphasized that Metro wants to keep most of its current information and make the changes easier for passengers who speak languages other than English to travel. Among other technology upgrades, board members said they would like to someday transition Metro’s tap-in and tap-out rail fare system to a one-tap system that can be accessed by credit card.
“Wanting to be a world-class agency means we need to search the entire world to find best practices,” said director Tracy Hadden-Law. “This is the best presentation I’ve ever seen.” [Metro] In terms of doing that. ”