METRO thinking about that CREAM

With my brother in town visiting for the next couple of weeks because our mom just received a long-awaited (12 years!) kidney transplant, we've been all over the place. Between visiting our mom at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and showing him around, we've made many trips all over Washington, DC, many just on the fly. And whenever you're traveling as such, sometimes you forget to grab a few dollars for the unexpected.

When I first moved here that meant knowing which METRO stations were near ATM machines. But now, though the service fee is still one of the most greediest ideas ever thought up, having the ATMs in the METRO rail stations has been a huge convenience.

Apparently I'm not the only one who has been using the new service. METRO has been generating a few extra dollars themselves off the ATMs and are now looking at testing out more retail at some of the stations.

I'm completely for the concept, but I will hold onto my endorsement until after I see what ideas they have with the test pilot program. Metro Station and Gallery Place/Chinatown are two stations I (and thousands of others) frequent regularly that may get some test retail. I'm hoping we're not talking about mini flea market setups. Since it's going in the free areas, I'm envisioning a bunch of tables set up like vendors at a trade show, hawking goods at me rushing to the hospital.

I can hear the Cingular and SprintNextel salespeople harassing riders the way they do at the mall. Or someone offering to give me a free quick facial, or a table full of imposter sunglasses and knockoff sports caps.

At least one thing they got right already: no foods and drinks.