Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 5, 2007

More than 200 million ride Metrorail for the second consecutive year

For the second time in its 31-year history, more than 200 million people rode the Metrorail system during a fiscal year and for the 11th consecutive year ridership increased on the rail system.

During fiscal year 2007 (July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007), 207,907,332 customers went through the faregates, a 1.1 percent increase, or two million more customers than in fiscal year 2006, when 205,604,151 rode Metrorail. The average weekday ridership in fiscal year 2007 was 702,171, the first time the average weekday ridership topped 700,000.

Not only did Metrorail break a record for one fiscal year, but more people took trips on Metrorail during June than during any other month in Metrorail’s history. Ridership for the month was 19,085,358, and averaged 772,826 riders per weekday. The previous all-time high for monthly ridership was June 2006 when 18,745,046 trips were made and averaged 747,329 riders per weekday an increase of 25,000 riders per weekday.

In June 2007, ridership exceed 770,000 on 13 weekdays and Metro achieved seven top 10 ridership days in June, with the highest being 805,153 on Friday, June 22.

“The ridership totals for last fiscal year and the month of June were phenomonal,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe. “We are glad to see more and more people choosing Metro. Typically, we see a spike in June as the region sees an influx of visitors riding along with our regular customers. However, the beautiful weather, the Washington Nationals and high gas prices all contributed to bring record ridership to Metrorail.”

Metrobus ridership numbers for fiscal year 2007 will be available later this month.

News release issued at 12:00 am, July 5, 2007.