Minnesota Avenue metro station

[Russell Klein]

Excellent, Ms. Rhett.  Right on point.  Thank you.

Russell Klein

President

Parkside Civic Association, Ward 7

At Large Member

Parkside Homeowners Association

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From: Candace Rhett <candac...@gmail.com>
To: mc...@dccouncil.us; jev...@dccouncil.us; "Alexander, Yvette (COUNCIL)" <yalex...@dccouncil.us>; e...@dc.gov; vor...@dccouncil.us; abo...@dccouncil.us; "dgr...@dccouncil.us" <dgr...@dccouncil.us>; esilv...@dccouncil.us; achi...@wmata.com
Cc: Russell Klein <cor...@yahoo.com>; "pollin-me...@googlegroups.com" <pollin-me...@googlegroups.com>; Parkside Civic Association <Parksid...@googlegroups.com>; "wisela...@gmail.com" <wisela...@gmail.com>; "eastlan...@yahoogroups.com" <Eastlan...@yahoogroups.com>; Hubby <jrhet...@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: [Parkside-et-al Civic Assn] Re: [EastlandGardens] Minnesota Avenue metro station; update

Good Afternoon,

I read with great interest the issues raised by several neighbors on the state of Minnesota Avenue metro station, and I want to add my voice to this growing list of taxpayers because we deserve better services from WMATA.  Along with the myriad of issues raised by my neighbors, I'd like to include the following insights:

My 10-year-old daughter and I began commuting to work and school by metro 1 and 1/12 years ago -- and I can't say I ever remember seeing the platform tiles in place; it's always been plywood.  I do remember that the platform message board (in the direction of Vienna), which tells riders when the next train arrives, stopped working September 2014.  It was finally fixed last month--July 2015,  I don't know what the issue was, but it should not have taken almost 1 year to resolve it.  Deplorable.  

I frequent several stations in WMATA's system including Judiciary Square, Eastern Market, Metro Center, and Brookland.  None of these stations are in/have remained in any longterm deplorable state of disrepair similar to what I have witnessed at Minnesota Avenue station.  When a problem has occurred, it is immediately resolved.  

As documented in Justin Lini's photo journal, you can see that the station's problem's are beyond the platform itself.  The station's escalators seemingly operate on a hit-or-miss schedule.  And now that the one and only street level elevator is not in service -- due to updates -- the consistent operation of the street level escalators have become extremely critical to commuters, particularly for our seniors and disabled citizens.  I personally had to assist a sight-impaired rider up the escalator because it was not working and he could not use of the elevator. 

Fare card machines that are inconsistently operational; entry/exit gates that often simply do not work; leaking skylights forming small stalagmite-type drip figures (don't ask, come see it...); these are all issues contributing to the overall disrepair of the station.  Deplorable. 

I have the option of driving; however, I am thankful for our public transportation system and enjoy bypassing the mind-bending traffic jams that we see on 295 daily.  HOWEVER, Minnesota Avenue station should be maintained/operated at the same level, or better, as other stations in WMATA's system.  Telling our community that we must wait until 2016 before the station is re-tiled is ridiculous and an insult to everyone citizen that uses this station.  I urge our elected leaders to come and see for yourselves the conditions that we face everyday at Minnesota Avenue station.  Fix Minnesota Avenue station now--PLEASE!

Candace M. Rhett

Eastland Gardens Resident

Daily metro rider

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." - Albert Einstein

On Tue, Aug 4, 2015 at 12:31 AM, Russell Klein <cor...@yahoo.com> wrote:

What's wrong with the Minnesota Avenue metro?

• For over a year, we've been walking on rotting planks at the platform edge.  Remedy?  Sometime in 2016.
  
• For many years, whenever it snows, NO ONE AGENCY takes responsibility for cleaning the pedestrian bridge, which then falls to teacher-volunteers to shovel -- from Cesar Chavez high school -- for the sake of the students (let alone commuters)
  
• This same bridge has blind corners, switchbacks and subterranean areas leading to a walk-of-fear-cum-cage all making it VERY, very easy to be assaulted i) out of sight) ii) under very bad lighting and iii) underneath unreliable and/or unmonitored cameras.
  
• For Way Too Long, we have been promised a new, straight, replacement bridge leading into the heart of Parkside.  However, we learned last year that due to the length of time WMATA and DDoT have been in delays with over-extended CSX negotiations... Council is ready to pull the money completely.
  

We have one of the WORST, least maintained metro stations in the network.  

(Seen the string of  'safety' lamps strung like Christmas ornaments along the wall lately?  Thanks, Metro!)

It's time this station received the attention it deserves.

If you're reading this, pick one of the emails or twitter addresses below, and let the mayor, WMATA and city council know this is NOT okay.

Councilwoman Cheh has oversight of the Transportation committee: mc...@dccouncil.us  @marycheh

As of Jan 2014, Councilman Jack Evans is on the WMATA (metro) board: jev...@dccouncil.us @JackEvansWard2

Your city council member is Yvette Alexander: yalex...@dccouncil.us @CMYMA

Mayor Muriel Bowser:   e...@dc.gov  @MayorBowser

As at-large members (over city-wide interests):

Vincent Orange: vor...@dccouncil.us @VOrangeDC

Anita Bonds: abo...@dccouncil.us @AnitaBondsDC

David Grosso: dgr...@dccouncil.us @cmdgrosso

Elissa Silverman: esilv...@dccouncil.us  @tweetelissa

WMATA: AChi...@wmata.com @wmata

Neighbors: You want things done, stop waiting for your others to make problems go away.  Sometimes, city leaders need to hear from you, too, to strengthen our voice.  Add yours by email or telephone (or tweet) and tell members of WMATA, City Council, or the mayor's office about what you think about the state of our metro station.

Russell Klein

President

Parkside Civic Association, Ward 7

At Large Member

Parkside Homeowners Association

References:

• http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/25235/cheh-keeps-oversight-of-transportation-grosso-gets-education-bonds-housing-in-next-years-dc-council/
  
• http://dccouncil.us/council
  
• http://dcinno.streetwise.co/2012/03/06/dcs-five-most-dangerous-and-most-safe-metro-stations/
  
• Here Are Metro's Most Dangerous Stations

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[Russell Klein]

Dear Councilmember Cheh, Thank you for recognizing our need and stepping forward to facilitate. We recognize that the council does not control WMATA, however we thought it important that as the Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, you should know what has been a major impediment to the safe use of public transportation for our community. I am sure there will be more testimonials from our neighbors to come until changes arrive as this under-serviced facility continues to hold back quality of life for the many hundreds of households it is intended to serve. Again, we recognize and thank you for your attention and support!

Russell Klein President Parkside Civic Association, Ward 7

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From: Cheh, Mary (COUNCIL) <MC...@DCCOUNCIL.US>;
To: Russell Klein <cor...@yahoo.com>; Cassillo, Anthony (Council) <ACas...@DCCOUNCIL.US>; Willingham, Jonathan (Council) <jwill...@DCCOUNCIL.US>;
Cc: Candace Rhett <candac...@gmail.com>; Evans, Jack (COUNCIL) <JACK...@DCCOUNCIL.US>; Alexander, Yvette (COUNCIL) <YAlex...@DCCOUNCIL.US>; e...@dc.gov <e...@dc.gov>; Orange, Vincent B. (Council) <VOr...@DCCOUNCIL.US>; Bonds, Anita (Council) <ABo...@DCCOUNCIL.US>; Grosso, David (Council) <dgr...@DCCOUNCIL.US>; Silverman, Elissa (Council) <ESilv...@DCCOUNCIL.US>; achi...@wmata.com <achi...@wmata.com>; pollin-me...@googlegroups.com <pollin-me...@googlegroups.com>; Parkside Civic Association <Parksid...@googlegroups.com>; wisela...@gmail.com <wisela...@gmail.com>; eastlan...@yahoogroups.com <Eastlan...@yahoogroups.com>; Hubby <jrhet...@aol.com>;
Subject: Re: Minnesota Avenue metro station
Sent: Thu, Aug 6, 2015 2:26:29 AM

The Council does not control Metro tho we have a representative on the board, Jack Evans. Nevertheless I'm asking Anthony Cassillo in my office to be in touch with Metro officials to ask that they take some action. And quick.  Mary  Mary M. Cheh Councilmember, Ward 3 Sent from my iPad

[Russell Klein]

Looking good, folks.  I saw emails from Dina Felton, Justin Lini and Candace Rhett.

~ to raise this flag high enough we're going to need more neighbors to add their own testimonials. 

If you want this metro to finally be safe, next step, I'm thinking an editorial to the Post.  Anyone ready to flex their keyboard skills on that one? Let me know.

#KeepPushing

#MaxTheMinnMetro 

Russell

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Cheh, Mary (COUNCIL)" <MC...@DCCOUNCIL.US>
To: Russell Klein <cor...@yahoo.com>; "Cassillo, Anthony (Council)" <ACas...@DCCOUNCIL.US>
Sent: Thursday, August 6, 2015 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: Minnesota Avenue metro station

Anthony

   Please make this a priority for follow up.

Thanks

Mary

Mary M. Cheh

Councilmember, Ward 3

Sent from my iPad

[Russell Klein]

Dear Councilmember Bonds,

Our community appreciates your support and dedication, as well as that of Councilmember Evans, to addressing these concerns affecting community safety and overall Minnesota Avenue station maintenance.

Russell

Russell Klein

President

Parkside Civic Association, Ward 7

At Large Member

Parkside Homeowners Association

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From: "Bonds, Anita (Council)" <ABo...@DCCOUNCIL.US>
To: "cor...@yahoo.com" <cor...@yahoo.com>; "candac...@gmail.com" <candac...@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 2:20 AM
Subject: Fwd: Minnesota Avenue metro station

Please see response from CM Evans who committed to following up on your complaints. I will be back in the office tomorrow  and will check for progress. Thanks. Anita 

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note® 4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: "Evans, Jack (COUNCIL)" <JACK...@DCCOUNCIL.US>
Date: 08/06/2015 9:46 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: "Bonds, Anita (Council)" <ABo...@DCCOUNCIL.US>
Subject: RE: Minnesota Avenue metro station

Will look into it.

 

Thanks

 

 

From: Bonds, Anita (Council)
Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2015 10:25 PM
To: Evans, Jack (COUNCIL)
Subject: Fwd: Minnesota Avenue metro station

 

Dear Jack, 

Please read this email and see what can be done regarding this metro station. The description sounds awful. Can wmata check on the issues immediately and give you an update on the improvements?

Thanks in advance for any attention that can be given to the situation.

Anita

 

 

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note® 4, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

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[Lini, Justin A. (SMD 7D07)]

Councilmembers Bonds and Evans;

Good afternoon and thank you very much for your attention to this issue. We really do need your influence on the Metro Board to move forward on this issue.

We have not arrived at this point overnight, but rather after a nearly two year struggle with metro customer service. We have worked with our Ward 7 Councilmember, DPW, DDOT and MPD to tackle many of the problems around the site. They have been good partners and their work has made a difference. Unfortunately we have yet to experience the same consideration from WMATA.

Minnesota Avenue Metro is the first thing many people see when they come to our community. Unfortunately it does not provide a warm welcome. The photos linked at the end of this message illustrate what people see when they come to the station.

The current state of the metro station negatively impacts the economic development and public safety of our community. For example, potential homeowners and renters have passed our properties over when they've seen the metro station. It also deters many longtime residents from using what is otherwise an ideally located metro station.

Again I want to thank you for your response to our concerns and hope that there is some next step that we can take together to solve this problem. Until later, have a pleasant day.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1601383506778599.1073741831.1529589133958037&type=3

Justin A. Lini
Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Paradise and Parkside, (7D SMD 07)
Treasurer for Commission 7D
(202) 768-8019
www.justinlini.org
On Twitter at @NE_DC_11

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From: Russell Klein <cor...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 9:44 AM
To: Bonds, Anita (Council); candac...@gmail.com; Evans, Jack (COUNCIL)
Cc: Lini, Justin A. (SMD 7D07); Hasan, Siraaj M. (SMD 7D02); Cinque Culver; Javier Barker; Parkside Civic Association
Subject: Re: Fwd: Minnesota Avenue metro station