Sunday, February 05, 2006

New "Doors Closing" Voice for DC Metro

The Washington Times reports:

Randi Miller of Woodbridge, Va., will soon have the most listened to voice in town.

After a monthlong talent search, Metro officials yesterday announced that Ms. Miller, 44, will be the new lady who warns riders when the trains' doors will be closing.

Officials said after a brief trial period, her voice will be played in all Metrorail cars and heard more than 33,000 times a day by riders.

...

People are so used to the old warnings that they no longer pay attention to them, said Candace Smith, a spokeswoman for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

Riders think of the old chime and pleasant voice that says "doors closing" as a "yellow light" that encourages them to hurry up and get in, Mrs. Smith said.

...

The contest was part of a larger effort by WMATA officials to increase flow and movement of commuters and reduce delayed trains.

In addition to the new voice, the message will be modified. It will now say, "For your safety, please step back. The doors are closing in 3, 2, 1."

So instead of just telling people the doors are closing, they're giving them a countdown to race against. I suggest electrifying the doors when the countdown gets to 1.

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2 comments:

April said...

And the same people will get electrified ever day...over and over.

Nick said...

Well, at least it would be entertaining.