Dear Dr. Gridlock:
Tim Driscoll of Germantown mentioned some problems he has had with commuting via the Metro Red Line that led him to return to commuting to the District by car [Dr. Gridlock, Feb. 27].
He cited the lack of express trains on that line.
As noted by the Metro spokesperson, the Red Line, with only two tracks, is not built to allow express trains, as is the case in New York City, where the north-south line has four tracks.
However, there is another solution to Driscoll's problem. He can drive or perhaps even walk to the MARC station at Germantown (free parking). There he can wait in the station for one of the eight trains that go in to Union Station every morning.
He can present his monthly ticket, board the train and settle down for a quiet, stress-free commute into the District. At Union Station, he can take the Red Line to his office.
At the end of his workday, he can board one of the eight returning trains, starting as early as 1:44 p.m. He need not worry about traffic jams, and his wife need not worry about car accidents. His only worry need be about accidentally sleeping through his station stop.
Yes, the train trip takes 40 to 50 minutes, but how many hours has Mr. Driscoll spent on the interstate parking lot while his stomach burns? How many close calls has he had?
I started riding the train from Brunswick, Md., on June 24, 1971, before either MARC or Metro existed. Yes, my commute to Crystal City takes time. But it sure beats driving, and it is the only reason I did not retire years ago. And the Environmental Protection Agency gives me $105 (tax free) every month toward my fare.
Try MARC; it's loaded with nice people.
Bob Zendzian
Neersville
Thanks for the testimonial. To contact MARC, call 800-325-7245.
A No Vote for eAlerts
A while ago I asked readers what they think of Metro eAlerts, which are free notifications of interrupted service on Metrorail lines. The alerts can be sent to an e-mail address or to cell phones, among other conveyances. A person can sign up by logging on to www.metroopensdoors.com.
Dear Dr. Gridlock:
I subscribe to the eAlerts, but I find them to be largely useless.
True, if a delay of, say, more than 10 minutes is reported in an eAlert, I can adjust my schedule accordingly. But most of the time an alert is sent for a very minor delay, and then less than a minute later, a second e-mail is sent saying that the eAlert has been cleared.
That tells me that either the delay was so small that the eAlert wasn't needed in the first place, or the eAlert was not sent when the delay was first apparent.
A second problem is that eAlerts are largely nondescriptive. If the delay is caused because a person is sick on the train, I know the effect on my commute should be pretty pronounced. If the delay is caused by a jammed door, or something similarly minor, I know the effect will be minimal.
When Metro says there's a 10-minute delay, doesn't that mean that's how long it'll take them to clear up the problem? The delay time doesn't refer to the delays that are felt throughout the system as a result of the initial problem; even when it's cleared, delays will be in effect for a while longer.
