There is mounting evidence on a daily basis that makes clear to me that WMATA MetroAccess is dysfunctional and in desperate need of reform and reboot. Asking questions is just one way to begin the process to bring about meaningful change.
There are so many questions that need to be answered that are ignored or are simply not answered by WMATA. Metro Choosing not to answer them will not make them disappear.
Following are just 10 of them:
- How did WMATA end up with a contract that pays stretch limousine prices for transporting disabled people with cargo van service? If you just include the contract cost and not the WMATA overhead cost for MetroAccess, the price tag is $120 per trip to transport each MetroAccess passenger not including their companion(s).
- Why do disabled WMATA customers pay twice the fare to use paratransit even though a substantial number of disabled people live on fixed incomes? The answer from Metro is frequently that federal law allows them to do it. Well, it is also true that the law says that you can charge $10 for riding MetroBus or MetroRail, but WMATA has never done it and will never do it.
- Why were low flat fares included in the menu of options in the FY2023 budget for MetroRail riders but fare relief in the form of flat fares for disabled people who pay more were not?
- Is it more important to keep ADA paratransit contractors busy rather than to have disabled people provided with free rides by Metro in the Abilities ride program? The answer from Metro based on their policy appears to be a resounding yes.
- Why does it cost $6.50 in Washington DC to take a paratransit ride and $2.75, 58%more, to do the same in New York City, especially when the cost of living in DC is 19% lower than New York?
- Do any of the top brass at Metro pay 2% of their monthly income daily to travel or commute anywhere? Well, why do they charge disabled people on fixed incomes 2% of their income just to go from Maryland to DC round trip? Just to make the point, 2% of Mr. Wiedefeld’s reported monthly salary equates to $870.00. Is the GM paying anything close to that for his daily commute? I think not.
- Did anyone at Metro or on the Accessibility Advisory Committee bother to ask one disabled person on fixed income if paying 2% of their income for one round trip on MetroAccess was sustainable?
- Why isn’t there a line item in the budget for the Abilities ride program given its success and popularity among disabled riders? Do we have another WMATA transparency and accountability problem here?
- WMATA openly admits that they have been overcharging disabled paratransit customers for the past 10 years, why haven’t they conducted an independent audit to determine the financial damages that they have inflicted on customers? Are we not entitled to refunds?
- How did the WMATA Accessibility Advisory Committee, the advocates for the disabled at Metro decide that they would champion twice the current bus fare as a new flat fare for the disabled? How can you be my advocate if you are working hard to get me to pay twice the fare of the other guy? Am I missing something here? I don’t remember anyone asking me or anyone of my disabled friends to provide their input on that.
What is so profound about these questions is that even if you do not get the answers to them, it is damming that they even have to be asked.
The disabled are defenseless at WMATA, and our interest are being beaten to a pulp. We need change.
It is time for reform and reboot.