Metro feeling dangerously indecisive

January 6, 8:43 PMDC Transportation ExaminerKatherine M. Hill

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Since November 4 Metro has waffled, flip flopped, hemmed, hawed and changed its mind for nearly everything. If I woke up tomorrow and Metro foolishly announced that it would close every line but one, limit hours from noon to 2 p.m. or ask locals to stay in and save the ride for tourists, I wouldn't be surprised. Okay fine, the only changes will be parking: so far parking has gone from free to $4 a car, and, among other resolutions, the parking has changed for buses and commuters.

Since posting this afternoon's inauguration post, Metro has changed its parking rules for January 20. The news isn't bad unless you're a commuter bus, because though Metro allows for 1,100 buses, only 35 have reserved spaces. 60,000 spaces are now available for motorists at Greenbelt, Morgan Boulevard and Van Dorn Street stations.

Metro will not be accepting new requests, so hopefully plans won't change again. Metro is also refusing buses with more than 15 passengers in its lot for drop off.

I'm disappointed that Metro hasn't received notices from other buses. Are the buses late? Are out of towners refusing public transit? Get There asks, "Is it because they're going instead for permits to park closer in at the sites set aside by the District?"

This isn't Metro's "fault," and I'm happy that Metro has opened the opportunity to motorists and with plenty of time to spare.

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