Latest news from Washington State Department of Transport is that the successful “Late Boy” program, first introduced in the United Kingdom as a means to reduce passenger frustrations with late-running rail services managed by Railtrack, has now been introduced as a trial in the USA.
In a modification of the original concept, the American implementation will be applied to freeway congestion in the first instance. Drivers are expected to give vent to their feelings at stationary freeway on-ramps and exits. Booths are being installed during the summer and late fall, for a pilot program beginning in October 2008. Training is underway at time of writing and priority is being given to workers displaced from other parts of the Transportation agency.
Washington “Late Boy” booth beside freeway on-ramp. Shown during testing:
