The Price of Safety

Unfortunately, it's delays on the Red Line for now.

METRO RIDERS are understandably galled by delays and poor service on the Red Line, by far the system's busiest, stemming from safety measures and a federal investigation after the fatal accident near Fort Totten on June 22. In a letter published in The Post last Sunday, one of them, Jerry A. McCoy of Silver Spring, reported that a trip from Silver Spring to Gallery Place, which under ordinary circumstances Metro estimates at 17 minutes, took him nearly an hour one recent morning. Mr. McCoy suggested that Metro charge a reduced fare "until trains can actually travel from point A to B in the time Metro states."

That's a reasonable sentiment. That Metro continues to charge full fare while it inconveniences its riders may seem unjustifiable to many passengers. What's more, the transit agency is planning a $177 million overhaul of the Red Line beginning early next year, the effect of which will be still more delays -- and they may go on for many months. Is a transit agency so different from, say, a restaurant, where shoddy service -- wine spilled on a diner's lap, a hair found in the salad -- may prompt management to compensate the customer?

For better or worse, it is different. There is no connection between speed and fares on most urban transit systems, Metro included. And Metro, already a mendicant when it comes to revenue sources, would hardly be in a position to offer better service if fares were cut in response to delays and other problems. In fact, just the opposite is more likely.

The current delays on the Red Line, which have been well publicized by the transit agency, are painful and indefinite. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are combing the 1.9-mile stretch of track between the Fort Totten and Takoma stations and give no indication when their work will be complete. And, for the time being, Metro is running just one train at a time at reduced speed between the two stops, which has the effect of slowing down the whole line. Metro general manager John B. Catoe Jr. said that until he is confident that automated train operation systems are functioning properly, trains could be running more slowly, and operated by manual rather than automated service, for "a month, a year or two years."

To accommodate passengers, Metro has put more eight-car trains into service on the Red Line (most are still six cars) and should add even more if electric power supplies allow for it. It should continue to warn passengers to factor in delays of 30 minutes or more on the line. Until Metro gets out the kinks, passengers will either have to wait or find alternative means of transport. That, unfortunately, is the price of prudence.