Comments on: Public choice and D.C.’s ill-managed Metro

By: gitarcarver

gitarcarver — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 19:36:19 +0000

My father worked for a privatized bus company that was taken over by the city and then the state.

I remember he loved his job in the private sector because he could focus on the riders and customer service. Once the government took over, people were running the company that had no clue to the management of a transportation company. The people had a job and it was darn near impossible to get rid of them, and that attitude flowed downhill.

Service went to pot and the only solutions that people came up with was to “throw more money at it.”

People were never held accountable for anything which in some ways is a problem in all government endeavors.

By: No Name Guy

No Name Guy — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 18:21:14 +0000

John, Bob: Yes (restructure and yes that things work better w. clear accountability). At least in private institutions, there is a clear incentive (profit) to do be accountable. Fail the customer and they go elsewhere. Can’t do that with a monopoly. Also – Government boards are NOT chosen / structured for efficiency in delivery of service, they’re chosen / structured to serve the political interests of those that oversee them.

By: Boblipton

Boblipton — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 13:10:14 +0000

“…transit operations work better when governance is arranged so as to provide clear lines of responsibility and accountability.”

Isn’t this true of every organization?

Bob

By: John N.

John N. — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 11:51:59 +0000

So what should we do? Restructure the WMATA board? Privatize it?

By: MattS

MattS — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 08:26:20 +0000

“@jasonkeisling (“If it had been Uber, the gov would ban their service. But no need to address any problems with metro.”)”

Of course there is no need to address any problems with metro, no one important got hurt.