The Chair and Vice Chair of the King County Council’s Physical Environment Committee said March 9 that Metro Transit understands what needs to be in place so the transit agency can respond better to future winter storms, but that more needs to be done to ensure that bus riders aren’t left stranded in the cold.

“Today’s report by Metro shows us they are moving in the right direction, but they still have much to improve upon,” said committee chair Jane Hague. “Metro was not adequately prepared for snow events large and small. Better communication and increased reliability have to be top priorities going forward. Metro must continue to be creative about addressing these problems with the ongoing budget shortfall.”

“Metro must look at its storm response from the customer’s perspective,” said vice chair Larry Phillips. “Riding the bus and getting information about route changes needs to be convenient, accessible, and user-friendly. I’m encouraged by Metro’s work to improve its Web site and provide more information for riders via Twitter and blogging, but more work needs to be done finding ways to creatively inform people who don’t have access to the Internet.”

Metro’s existing snow response—designed for moderate snow events where the snow melts within 48 hours—proved to be inadequate, according to council members, for the series of storms that fell 13.9 inches of snow on King County during a two and a half week period in December 2008.

In his briefing to committee members today, Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond said in the wake of the December snowstorms and the surprise snowfall of Feb. 26, Metro has taken steps to improve communications to bus riders. The agency has made preliminary improvements to the Metro's Web site and started using the Twitter social network system and posting information on a blog on the county Web site informing riders about delays during adverse weather.

Desmond said Metro is also establishing a virtual Joint Information Center made up of communication staff across county departments who could be activated during major service disruptions, and exploring the possibility of using King County TV and Rider Alert subscriptions to reach out to bus riders when route disruptions occur.

Metro is also working to improve internal and interagency coordination during storm responses. Metro must establish a snow response for severe storm events requiring 30 to 50 percent service reductions to supplement the existing plan that accounts for 10 to 20 percent service reductions.

The agency says it will also improve staff cross-training and evaluate the stockpiling of storm supplies. During the December 2008 storm event, Metro ran out of sand and didn’t have an adequate supply of chains or snow removal equipment.

Council members said Metro must also improve interagency communication with King County cities, including joint development of emergency response plans and conducting a “snow drill” every October to test coordination plans.