Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 20, 2007

Metro supports 2007 "Dump the Pump Day"

Metro is joining more than 90 public transportation systems throughout the country on the second annual National Dump the Pump Day, Thursday, June 21. Washington-area residents are encouraged to use public transit and leave their vehicles at home.

Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association, National Dump the Pump Day is a day to encourage people to ride public transit and remind them how taking the bus or train improves the environment and conserve gasoline.

“Public transit is the best way to beat the high gasoline prices and traffic congestion, and it helps the environment, particularly our air quality,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe, who estimates that he uses Metrobus and Metrorail 97 percent of the time he travels in the region.

So far this June, Metrorail has had four weekdays crack the top-10 high ridership list. Combined with Metrobus ridership, Metro provides more than 1.2 million trips on an average weekday.

News release issued at 12:00 am, June 20, 2007.