Metro Adds Dash Signs to Expo and Blue Lines
August 16, 2012 3 Comments
As I reported a few weeks ago after the Transit Coalition meeting, Metro this week rolled out their new dash signs to help clear up confusion between Expo and Blue Line trains.
The signs are a cheap, easy way to make things a little clearer for passengers trying to get on the right train.
The new Blue Line dash sign in the front window of the train, in addition to the destination sign on top, helps passengers identify it as the train approaches.
They are, however, limited to help only passengers who see the front of the train as it approaches. They’re nice and clear when outside in the sun and should be great for the Pico stop, though they’re a bit harder to see on the dark platform at 7th Street / Metro Center. Also, trains are often already sitting at the platform at 7th Street, so you won’t see it approach before getting on.
In the end, it will provide some help and it’s definitely a good addition to the trains. Little steps to make things clearer are always great. Except of course when the driver forgets to switch the sign, like today when I boarded a train that said CULVER CITY with a BLUE LINE dash sign… then things get extra confusing.
The signs are placed in the dash of the trains by train operators.
The signs have Expo Line on one side and Blue Line on the other, allowing operators to flip them back and forth to reflect train’s current identity.
Here you can see an Expo Line card, with a colored circle, to help clearly identify an outbound train heading toward Culver City at Pico station.
While they’re great outside in the sun, the signs are a bit harder to see in the darker station at 7th Street / Metro Center, and the trains are often already sitting at the platform, so riders won’t see the sign as it approaches.
At 7th St / Metro Center they’re installing all sorts of new electronic signage. Last night I saw that the Red LED message boards were down and what looked like mounts for large LCD Monitors (like the ones for Red/Purple and Gold Lines) in their place. Also some really large boxes hanging from the ceiling on both platforms. Really curious as to what type of signage those will be.
This morning, some of the new monitors were up (double screens on the mezzanine levels) and running. They didn’t yet have any schedule or departure info on them, but they did have service announcements and featured info. I didn’t notice that the red message boards were gone.
Looking forward to everything being done. It’s clear Metro is doing more, especially at 7th Street to help riders catch the right train at the right time, with 4 lines now running through there.
Which is why I keep saying that one platform should be for the Expo Line, the other for the Blue Line. I don’t see how it wont work. I’ve made calculations and it would just make things better and easier for passengers to know where to go.