WMATA is and was totally wrong in it's original purchase of these substandard esculators. The sad part is that they didn't save money and since the installation the repair costs have been more than the cost of putting them in. This is just corruption which is being swept under the rug. There really has to be some oversite on this operation. No one knows where all the billions of dollars are going but the users know they are being over charged for the services they receive. If an esculator is down where you enter or exit, WMATA shouldn't be allowed to charge since they failed to provide part of the service.
The one at Medical Center seems to always be out...and that is a hell of a climb when you walk. As I've said before, it'll take the right person/official to be on the metro system when this goes down. Why, the need to experience it FIRST hand. Also, don't airport escalators get more use that those at the subway....and those are never down!
Bucks