I can fix 610 Mine Road.....on Mon 12 Sep

610 Mine Road Sluggers & Drivers,

OK, I've seen lots of threads to fix our system - I've even seen threads (and heard 2 drivers personally) that are threatening to quit stopping at the Mine Road lot unless we "get our act together". OK, so that's a little harsh, but I think we can significantly improve the efficiency for both drivers and sluggers - I'll volunteer to step up and help lead the change. I see 2 basic changes needed:

1. Need to have 2 seperate lines: Pentagon, and All Others. The Pentagon line (which will probably be the longest) will remain in the same place. The All Others Line will be on the other side of the median - cars will still approach from the same direction; however, we might need to adust the exact location of this line on the median based on the buses (?)

2. Need to switch line direction so cars approach from rear of line, instead of approaching from the front. Said another way, we need to turn the line around and face the other direction(i.e. cars still come from the same direction they always have).

I need honest, constructive feedback on these ideas - what do you think?

If I get positive (or little) feedback, here's what I propose to do. Starting this Tuesday 6 Sept, I will be at the Mine Road Slug Lot 5:40 a.m. to about 6:30 a.m. and I'll start talking this idea up and getting ideas/input. If the response is positive, I will print up a cheat sheet with a sketch of the parking lot showing the new system, and pass out copies Thurs/Fri (8-9 Sept). We'll rely also on word of mouth (slugs telling drivers & friends) as well as this Message Board.

On Monday 12 Sep I'll be the first one there to get the new system going - I'll make temporary signs helping drivers, and will pass out more cheat sheets for anyone who didn't get the word. It will probably be a little rough the first few days, but I don't think it will take long.

That's my proposal - I'd sure like your constructive feedback...

Thanks!

Wade

First off, thank you for taking on the task. I'm up for the change, as long as it is organized the right way. LOTS of well-marked signs are a MUST! Another suggestion would be that when you say "two lines, Pentagon and then all others" You need to include Rosslyn and Crystal City in the Pentagon line and then have all the 'in-city destinations (i.e. 14th; 18th; Navy Annex, etc.)' in the other line, that way you have Northern VA all in one line and you have all Downtown DC in the other. You can not have ONLY a Pentagon line that would be TOO confusing. My two cents, I hope the changes work...

First off, Thanks for the coordinated effort.

Why is it that the VA line makes a direction change and the DC line gets displaced???

Just a question because I believe there are some folks that will take issue with that one.

I think changing the direction of the line is enough. It will eleviate the bunching up that occurs in the am.

Make this complicated for one group or the other and the cars will leave anyway. If they don't the slugs will and the cars will follow.

Just some thoughts.

okay now I'm confused! So you will have two lines on the same side of the median, one starting at one end and the other one starting at the other end of that long median and you have the ends of both lines meeting somewhere in the middle? In talking to some fellow downtown slugs yesterday and drivers, seems everyone else feels that having just one line (two lines might be too confusing) and reversing it might be the better solution because sometimes some 'downtowners' like the option of going to Rossyln or Crystal City or even the Pentagon if rides for downtown are slow. They will not have that option if the lines are split.

I also commend you on the effort. There are two issues that are being addressed.
First, changing the direction of the rider line. This will not have any effect on the rider, but may help the driver on days when cars are backed up. For this reason, this change will not hurt and may improve the overall system and should be supported.

Second, breaking up the lines, is basically going from one Queue to two Queues. This will have a negative effect on both the rider and the driver. Currently, with one Queue, there are possible mixes of riders and drivers that encompass all possible destinations. Many times both riders and drivers modify their destinations in order to make the best use of their time (moving is better than not moving). By eliminating possible mixes of riders and drivers, you will be increasing the wait time for all within the system. This is basic Queuing and Inventory Management Theory.

Inventory (the amount of riders in line or Queue) = Throughput (Arrival rate of riders) X Cycle time (Time riders wait for a service, or wait for a car)

By moving to two Queuing lines, you are increasing the Variability between the rider mix and the driver mix. Increased Variability will increase the Cycle Time of the entire system. Thereby, increasing the overall amount of time riders waiting for a ride, or increasing the overall wait time within the system.

Recommendation: Change the direction of the Riders Line.
Do not break up the line, Retain one Queue.