German Lessons for Metro

Metro's recent proposal to raise fares is unnecessary [Metro, Sept. 14], because better resource management could alleviate the budget shortfall.

I am a regular Metro rider and I have noticed several possibilities for savings. Recently I spent six months in Hamburg, Germany, and often used the subway while I was there. The Hamburg subway offers a model for improving Washington's Metrorail, and I think that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority should consider the following changes:

¿ More advertising in stations and on trains. In Hamburg, advertisements are placed in nearly every available space. They occupy the walls of the stations, the walls of the trains and even the area above the train windows. Compared to Hamburg, Metro stations and trains have almost no advertising. This inefficient use of available advertising space represents millions of dollars in lost revenue.

¿ Streamlined station operations. Washington Metro stations waste a tremendous amount of electricity.

-- Escalators. The escalators in Hamburg stations automatically shut down when not in use. A motion-detecting switch activates the escalator, and as long as passengers trigger the switch the escalator continues to operate. In contrast, Metro escalators run constantly, whether passengers use them or not. Having escalators operate only when needed would lead to significant energy savings.

-- Advertisements. Most advertisements in Hamburg are printed paper signs. Many advertisements in Metro stations are backlit electrified signs. These backlit advertisements cost more than paper signs because of the expense of printing on transparent plastic and of illuminating the signs. Replacing electrified signs with printed advertisements would result in significant savings.

-- Fare machines. In Hamburg there are no turnstiles to enforce payment of fares. Before boarding a train, passengers simply purchase fares from a computer kiosk or they purchase a yearly pass that they carry with them whenever they use the train. Passengers have unobstructed access to the trains, which reduces lines and eases station entry and exit, especially at rush hour.

Although this seemingly allows passengers to board the train without paying a fare, undercover police officers randomly ask passengers to present their passes. Failure to present a ticket results in a substantial fine. Undoubtedly, some passengers do ride for free, but the threat of paying a large fine for taking advantage of the system encourages most people to pay.

Without the turnstiles, the costs associated with printing tickets could be reduced by making tickets smaller and removing the magnetic strip. Hamburg subway tickets are half the size of Metro tickets and have no magnetic strip. Finally, enforcing substantial fines for failing to pay the fare will make up for lost revenue of violators and for the costs of employing undercover enforcement officers.

These ideas could reduce costs and increase revenue. By using the savings wisely, WMATA could improve service and increase customer satisfaction.

Metro is one of the best ways to travel in the region, and maintenance of the system benefits everyone. However, before raising fares, WMATA should reduce the budget shortfall by seeking more advertising revenue and by cutting costs.

-- Joshua Dietz

Arlington