On Saturday, Metro began testing bus transfer signals by placing strobing lights at bus stops outside Metrorail stations. This is to alert bus operators when a train is approaching so that they can delay departure to give customers enough time to get to the bus, according to a press release.
The lights will be active everyday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to midnight. Bus stops with lower-frequency routes will be targeted, because headways longer than 30 minutes can result in lengthy delays for customers who narrowly miss their rides.
The light will flash when the system detects a train is nearing the station close to the bus’ departure time. This will signal to bus operators to delay their departure by up to five minutes to give people time to make it from the platform to the bus stop.
Giving customers time to reach the bus stop is especially important for the safety of late-night commuters, because it would reduce the time they spend outside.
More information can be found here.
#ICYMI: We're testing bus transfer signal lights 🚨 at some Metrobus stops outside Metrorail stations for more convenient Metrorail to Metrobus transfers.
Learn more: https://t.co/kumex7MxwR #wmata pic.twitter.com/0q0s1ws3zF
— Metro Forward (@wmata) July 15, 2023
Feature photo courtesy of WMATA.
