Metro cars need a makeover, and you get to be the designer.
The transit agency wants your opinion on plans for its new series of railcars. Starting in January, Metro will begin taking input from its customers on options such as floor covering material, signs and their locations, lighting and even where the handlebars inside the railcars end up.
Metro plans to take opinions for 18 months while designing its next generation of railcars, the 7000 series. Eventually, the new models will replace the vintage 1000 series, which the National Transportation Safety Board recommended.
The agency also wants input from its employees. Train operators will get a say in design elements for the operator’s cab. Mechanical staff can weigh in on maintainability issues.
And to manage all of the anticipated opinions, Metro is hiring an industrial transportation designer. Train car maker Kawasaki will manufacture these new rail cars.
Fan, Follow and Text: Get the latest from NBCWashington.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our e-mail newsletters and get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text DCBREAKING to 622339 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
