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Riders Take Note Of Metro Escalator Problems

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A review of Metro's escalator and elevator maintenance shows that the transit agency has repeatedly failed to keep up with safety standards.

Metro's interim general manager says ongoing escalator issues have been treated as a maintenance issue instead of a safety problem.

As a result, the agency did not respond to a draft report that warned about escalator brake problems before the recent escalator incident at L'Enfant Plaza that hurt six people.

Metro rider Mike Tarkin says he tries to avoid taking Metro, but this morning he's catching the train at Tenleytown, and has to walk down the escalator stairs since it's not operating.

"Its certainly more of a safety issue than a maintenance issue. I used to live around Woodley Park, and the escalators there they would say they would repair them by a certain date and they would move pretty frequently later on so that was pretty frustrating."

Right now, Metro is inspecting the brakes on its more than 500 escalators.

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