Metro's 2017 Plan is a Matchbox 20 Song

WASHINGTON, DC — There hasn't been much to laugh about in recent months with regards to Metro's performance and frightening safety problems, but riders got their chance to have some fun at WMATA's expense this week after General Manager Paul Wiedefeld introduced a 2017 plan for the system called "Back2Good," which is exactly the same name -- even down to the numeral in the name -- as a hit song by Matchbox 20 that was released in 1998.

Wiedefeld gave a speech Wednesday at the National Press Club in D.C. to mark one year since taking over the position of general manager of the troubled Metro system, which has been beset by budget woes and a burdensome SafeTrack plan that continues to give riders headaches. He unveiled the new "Back2Good" plan during the speech, which would involve a number of initiatives in 2017 ranging from improving signing and lighting in stations to cutting 1,000 positions.

The Washingtonian reported that the name wasn't an intentional nod to the Matchbox 20 song, which peaked at No. 24 on the charts in 1998, but rather a reflection of what Metro customers were telling them they wanted.

But Wiedefeld may have accidentally invited some uncomfortable parallels to the song "Back 2 Good," which lead singer Rob Thomas described as being about "screwing up so often that you become used to it."

Commenters at Greater Greater Washington were quick to draw other, less flattering parallels. One joked that the name makes sense, as "Matchbox 20 was also very popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, with far less popularity and demand today. Just like Metro."

Yet another said they would have preferred if Metro had gone with Matchbox 20's big hit, "3 AM," as in "It's 3 AM and we're still running."

Or maybe Wiedefeld is just a big 1990s fan, another commenter said, adding: "Wiedefeld is 2 Legit 2 Quit, amirite?"

Image via Wikimedia user Martini