Siding work is underway at three stations—Lakeline, Howard and Crestview—to add a second set of tracks that will allow trains to pass in opposite directions. This has caused recent delays to trips over the past several days, sometimes up to an hour.
This is getting pretty ridiculous. Been riding for four years and these delays are the worst ever. The service is more unreliable by the day. Or hour in this case.
— Larry Bills (@larrywbills) March 5, 2018
On his first day on the job, the transit agency’s new President and CEO Randy Clarke responded to those concerns and frustrations. In a tweet sent at 4:51 p.m. March 7, he reported what Capital Metro plans to do about the service disruptions.
#MetroRail customers: I've heard your concerns about recent service disruptions. Here's what we're doing about it: pic.twitter.com/KhwCo0MkpJ
— Randy Clarke (@CapMetroCEO) March 7, 2018
The tweet elicited some positive response from riders, as well as continued frustration:
I appreciate you acting quickly as you begin the new job. #MetroRail has made my commute Downtown much less stressful for 4 years. The improvements will pay off, no doubt, but for now, communication and creative solutions critical.
— Larry Bills (@larrywbills) March 8, 2018
and here we are again, waiting on the train to eventually move to the next station.
— Esteban Gutierrez ??? (@esteban) March 7, 2018
Clarke will meet with riders March 8 at the downtown station from 4:30-6 p.m. to discuss the MetroRail service and share information about upcoming projects, including the siding work and new downtown station.
Capital Metro recommends riders use the Next Departure tool on its Trip Planner that is available online as well as on its CapMetro App.
Extended MetroRail service is already underway for the South by Southwest Conference & Festivals. In Clarke’s message, he said rail construction will pause over the next two days.
“This is the busiest time of the year in Austin, and I will work hard with the entire staff to minimize service impacts,” he wrote. “Excellent customer service is my number one priority.”
