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Metro in Manual Mode After Door Malfunction

Another prime example of why ‘throw money at it’ is an unacceptable solution to the problems affecting the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA, Metro). These geniuses bought a 192 new train cars for 383 million dollars and didn’t bother to make sure they worked (or seek to have them repaired/rebuilt when they didn’t). Way to put passenger safety at risk, guys!

Since Metro took delivery of the cars, they have had countless problems. Cars wouldn’t accelerate, air conditioners didn’t work, doors didn’t close. Four of the cars have derailed (probably due to design flaws), one woman was dragged when her arm got caught in the door and the safety circuitry failed, and one burst into flames because of bad wiring. Now, another one of these high-tech new cars took off from a station (the system is largely automated) with one of its doors still open!

Excellent work, Metro. Top-notch service from the transit system that is the most expensive to ride in the United States.

Scott Bradford has been putting his opinions on his website since 1995—before most people knew what a website was. He has been a professional web developer in the public- and private-sector for over twenty years. He is an independent constitutional conservative who believes in human rights and limited government, and a Catholic Christian whose beliefs are summarized in the Nicene Creed. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He loves Pink Floyd and can play the bass guitar . . . sort-of. He’s a husband, pet lover, amateur radio operator, and classic AMC/Jeep enthusiast.