Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 3, 2007

Metro to Reduce Bus Fares on Select Routes in Conjunction With Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge Closure

Metro is temporarily reducing the bus fare on the A9 route starting Friday, July 6, from $1.25 to 75 cents, and the express bus fare on the P17, P19 and W13 routes from $3 to $1.25, during the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge construction project this summer. In addition, these bus routes will terminate at Metrorail stations on the Green Line to help buses and commuters avoid traffic detoured by the bridge closing.

Through August, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) is conducting a major construction project on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge resulting in closure of the bridge. All traffic will be detoured to the 11th Street Bridge.

“Our goal is to keep commuters moving smoothly and safely as we undertake these much-needed improvements to the Douglass Bridge,” said Metro Board Member Emeka Moneme, who is also Director of DDOT. “Our great partnership with Metro will help ease some of the burden of the July-August Douglass bridge closure. We encourage motorists who use the bridge every day to strongly consider using public transportation during the closure.”

A “Bridge Bucks” program has been established to help offset the costs to motorists affected by the closure. For more information visit www.ddot.dc.gov.

To maintain reliable service for bus riders, Metro will temporarily terminate the affected bus routes at Metrorail stations east of the Anacostia River to allow Metrobus passengers to transfer to the Green Line.

“For people who travel over the Frederick Douglass Bridge and have never used Metro, now is the perfect time to give us a try,” said Gerald Francis, Metro’s Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. “For people who wish to park at a Metrorail station, daily parking is available at the Anacostia Metrorail station during the week, and parking is free at all Metrorail stations on the weekend.”

The A9 (South Capitol Street Line) Metrobus route will end at the Anacostia Metrorail station, and the P17, P19 (Oxon Hill-Fort Washington Line) and W13 (Bock Road Line) bus routes will end at the Southern Avenue Metrorail station.

“In the peak periods, we carry almost 2,400 passengers on these bus routes, and this proposed service plan will maintain travel times and adjust fares to match the level of service,” said Jim Hughes, Metro’s Director of Operations Support. “Once the bridge is reopened to traffic, the Metrobus routes and fares will return to normal.”

This spring, Metro placed additional rail cars into service on the Green Line to increase capacity and accommodate the growing number of passengers.

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News release issued at 12:00 am, July 3, 2007.