WMATA needs escalator permits; a staff member is "sensitive" about photos
You would think WMATA, which has 593 escalators, would know how to get the necessary permits when it needs to fix them. Apparently not, though: these "STOP WORK" signs at the F Street entrance to the Judiciary Square Station seem to indicate that Metro did not obtain the necessary permit to rehab the escalator. The escalator has sat partially disassembled, but without any workers, for days now. I took these photos this morning as people trudged up the stairs on the other, stopped escalator.
As I snapped a few photos at the top of the escalator, a middle-aged woman in a suit and with a Metro ID on a lanyard stopped to talk to me. Apparently she was on her way to work at Metro headquarters, which is near this station exit. "Excuse me, sir, why are you taking pictures?" I explained that I am a blogger who writes about transit and I was wondering why the escalator was out of service. We're rehabbing it, she said. Yes, I said, but what is this "STOP WORK" sign about? You understand that we're sensitive about people taking pictures of our work, she said. "No, I don't understand that," I said. "I can take pictures of whatever I want." Yes, you can, she said. But we're sensitive about people taking pictures of our work. With that she walked off, and I continued taking photos.
Also: Metro is considering random bag searches aboard transit vehicles. If a cop ever demands that he search my bag, I'd be dumb to refuse. But if they ask if they can search (as is often the case with these sorts of searches) I will refuse.
Post Author:
massysett | 9:21 AM |
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jeez! I used to work there and when that escalator is closed, it's such a pain to stand in line with 200 people waiting to go up and one incredibly obese DOL worker working her way down.
The photo question was posed to Dick White in one of the WMATA chats this spring. You can see the thread by going to http://new.forums-wmata.com/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=21&MessageID=844
Q: Is it against Metro rules/regulations to take photographs using a still camera while on the train or in the station? If so, where is this particular rule displayed? I have been asked not take pictures.
A: Metro has regulations regarding photography, but the regs don't cover the type of photography you described. It is unlawful to take photos on Pentagon property and Pentagon Police do enforce that regulation at our station. Post-9/11 law enforcement officers nationwide do contact people who are taking photos to determine if this is a suspicious activity. Bottom line is that visitors/tourists who want to take some snapshots in our system are welcome to do so.
So there it is. Straight from the horse's mouth. Picture taking is absolutely allowed in the Metro system.
