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Metro is launching a three-month pilot program aimed at reminding riders to offer priority seating to passengers who need it.
Non-slip decals will be installed in 20% of Metro’s 7000-series railcar fleet. The design draws on practices used by transit agencies around the world.
“Accessible transit is as much about infrastructure as it is about culture,” Metro Chief Customer Officer Sarah Meyer said. She noted that phones and noise-canceling headphones can distract riders from their surroundings and called the decals a reminder that everyone shares responsibility for making Metro accessible and welcoming.
Metro will assess the program using customer feedback and input from its Office of ADA Policy & Planning and Accessibility Advisory Committee. The agency will then decide whether to take further action.
Additional accessibility improvements are planned for Metro’s forthcoming 8000-series railcars, including a dedicated space for wheelchair users.
Metro operates six rail lines, 98 stations, 126 bus routes and door-to-door paratransit service across Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The system serves approximately four million people within a 2,054-square-mile area.