Personally, I find Ms. Miller's condenscending tone rather annoying. It's been twenty-plus years since I've been in elementary school and this brings back horrid memories of school lunch ladies ("Get back! You've got enough, move on!") and hall monitors ("Bell's ringing, move to your classrooms or be written up!").

Every time I hear it, I kick myself for not putting in my own audition tape. But then again, my Pittsburgh accent wouldn't necessarily translate well to D.C. metro riders.... ("Hey, yinz! Moveyerbutts to the center before I turn this dahntahn train arahnd!")

I recently vacationed in D.C.for the first time and whenever I rode the metro, I thought the voice " Step back doors closing" was soothing, not too strong,it was a good reminder to those of us who don,t happen to live in D.C.

I think that Randi Miller voice is very annoying because by time I get of the train I have a headache. Her voice sounds to strong. I think metro need to go back to the old voice every that rides that train knows what to do. If her voice isn't irritating and to demanding.

Bring back the old voice! She was polite and pleasant to hear.

I find Randi's voice very annoying; not at all pleasant. I am trying to ignore it as much as possible as I read the Express. After all of these months I am getting very good at tuning her out without missing my stop. The Metro car drivers are very easy to listen to.

Rude, rude, rude! Being snapped at first thing is no way to start the morning. Nor does it engender goodwill toward my fellow passengers, as subconciously I think that one of THEM must had misbehaved causing Randi to yell at ME. What with the crowding, delays, non-working escalators (c'mon Rockville, you said you'd be done by July) and other Metro nonsense, is barking at innocent passengers really the way to go?

This morning I read where one woman and her daughter thought the voice was intimidating. Then I read where people are annoyed by her voice. I find that most of these folks are just too sensitive and need to grow the F#** up, shut up and let the woman do her job! Her voice does not sound intimidating or rude! And yes, there's lots of Metro dummies and tourists here in DC! Tell me -- I'm from NYC and I really appreciate the warnings!

While I am sure that the purpose of hiring Randi Miller to do the voice of the Metro included the thinking that people were too accustomed to the pleasant slightly southern voice of "doors closing" a la propaganda films circa 1950, the abrasive and annoying refrain of demands for me to "STEP BACK!" makes me cringe inside with each stop. And let me add that unfortunately the geniuses who came up with the whole revamping didnt really take into account that the last thing people want to hear in the morning is someone yelling stupid obvious directions at you. Being that im not a morning person, often I am bordering on a serious nervous breakdown while being forced to listen to that horrible voice repeatedly before I get to drink my morning caffiene!

I'm up for complaining about almost anything, but Randi Miller's tone of voice is too trivial even for me. Judging by how people continue to behave on the Metro, if anything, she's not nearly rude enough.

Not only is Randi Miller's voice extemely abrasive, but so is the "ding dong" that preceeds her "Step Back" every single time. Taken together I just want to scream and get off at the next stop, instead of being forced to sit through each stop with that ringing in my ears. On a recent Sunday on the Yellow line for some reason, Metro has overlooked adding her to that train. What a nice and soothing ride that morning. The chimes and the pleasant voice was like a dream come true. And unlike some of the readers who seem to think that Randi's voice makes people pay attention, they are totally wrong! The people controlling the trains do a much better job and are more pleasant than she is. What bothers me more than those riders not moving from the doors are those who insist on crowding in when it is very evident that there is NO room. Just let that train go by and grab the next one, for God's sake! And if you must listen to those stupid ipods, please turn them down so the rest of us don't have to hear only the beat. You are as annoying as those who insist on talking loudly and on your cellphones, along with the screaming kids and their parents who seldom ever tell them to shut up.

I didn't even know that Randi Miller was a female, it's a very androgynous voice. The new ringtone that Metro is using only makes it that much more annoying.

Why can't they make an announcement that escalator riders should stand to the right and walk to the left..

The tourists are the only ones who seem to benefit from the announcements and the escalators are the biggest problem. That and the fact that they can't grasp the fact that the Smartrip card is the only way out of the parking garages. Even though it's posted EVERYWHERE.

I'm all for tourism in DC, but METRO could do more to make it better for commuters during the summer (tourism and Nats) season. Commuters are their bread and butter year round.

At least Randi Miller's voice is not so monotone that it puts you to sleep, or worst ignore. It is nice to put an actual face to a voice and not JUST a recording. Message centers are annoying when put on hold again, again, with the same dull sound, the is a real person. Give a girl a break.

Oh, for Goodness sake, STOP WHINING and "step away from the door"! There's nothing wrong with her voice or tone. Would you prefer a soft, smooth, ineffective voice that no one pays attention to? There are more important events happening and your nitpicking over Randi Miller' voice and tone is "annoying".

Seriously, I can't stand the "step back" part of the message. Every time she comes on, it sounds like she's yelling at me (and everyone else). And the volume used is out of control. My husband and I "affectionately" refer to her as the "Metro B**ch" because of her barking tone. I'm sure she's a nice person - and she does have a nice tone to her voice - so I'm very happy to hear she'll be recording a new announcement! And, hopefully metro will use the "bark" one quite a bit more sparingly.

Beauty is in the eye (and ear) of the beholder. However, there's a significant number of people that find the Randi Miller recording (and the Metro beeps) annoying or grating. Unpleasant sounds shouldn't be intentionally and repetitively introduced into public environments. I find it hard to believe that people will respond better to annoying commands than to non-annoying ones. Metro: please record a respectful and informative recording. The current one is laughably "filled with attitude" and wears thin quickly.