Washington Metro needs to stop all their non-essential escalators immediately.
The beleaguered transit system must take action on the independent audit conducted by Vertical Transportation Excellence that explains why the escalators are breaking down so often, putting thousands of passengers in danger. The full 308-page VTX report can be found here.
Meanwhile, I believe riders would understand the need to shut down the escalators if it means Metro is finally taking seriously how dangerous their escalator system has become due to many years of poor maintenance practices and general neglect. Plus, it might do some riders good to get more exercise by walking up and down the steps.
This would of course not apply to the deep underground stations such as Rosslyn and Dupont Circle where working escalators are essential. Metro has the most escalators (588) of any transit system in the nation and it would be logistically impossible to halt every single one.
But something drastic must be done ASAP. Otherwise, I fear another incident such as the horrific malfunction that caused this chaotic scene caught by a surveillance camera at the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Station the day of the John Stewart and Stephen Colbert rally in October.
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