Here is a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by us and the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the Library’s Headlines blog, which you can also access via email subscription or RSS feed.
The view south from the San Gabriel Mountains above La Canada-Flintridge last Friday. Better than shopping! Photo by Steve Hymon.
Survey finds MTA workers have safety concerns (L.A. Times)
The safety report, commissioned by the Metro Board of Directors, finds that most workers gave the agency high marks for its safety culture. But some workers expressed concerns. The report is scheduled to be discussed at the Board’s meeting on Dec. 13.
Party train to Vegas could begin in 2013 (Washington Post)
It would be called the X Train and run on Union Pacific tracks between Fullertown and downtown Sin City thanks to a deal recently struck between the privately-run train and the freight railroad. The train would be adults only, have no shortage of beverages and be a way to extend the party for five hours in either direction of travel. What happens in Fullerton stays in Fullerton, right?
Touring Metro’s TAP lab (L.A. Streetsblog)
A nice look at the place where ticket machines and other TAP paraphenalia are taken apart and put together again. There’s also a photo of a potential prototype of a future ticket machine. David Sutton, Metro’s top TAP official, says changes are underway to the machines to make them easier to use.
Categories: Transportation Headlines
Read the LA Streetsblog on the TAP machines.
“Any time they make any change that costs money, including changes with the software, Sutton told me, they have to do a change notice to the contract with Cubic. Because of the change notice, the Metro Board needs to see it. So, Sutton has to present the set of changes he’s looking to make to the board before any steps can be taken. That applies to everything from major changes focusing the selection choices for new riders vs. returning riders, to highlighting the senior menu choice in blue (as it had been highlighted in the past), to changing the electronic messages rolling across the tops of the machines, to adding more validators in more intuitively logical places.”
Simply put:
More bureaucratic redtape eating up wasteful tax dollars and time. If Metro weren’t run by politicians, TAP would’ve been done right the first time and any changes and upgrade would’ve been implemented in less than a month.
I have to wonder whomever manufacturers these ticket machines actually gives some thought to the user experience. I mean, why do all these ticket machines spit out change, receipts, and cards way so bottom? It’s the most easiest place to overlook. There’s a reason why ATM cards spit out money and receipts near eye level. Why can’t it be done with ticket vending machines?