Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 18, 2008

Metro to stay open until 1 a.m. on Thursday, March 20

Metro will stay open until 1 a.m. to accommodate the crowds expected to attend the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament at the Verizon Center on Thursday, March 20.

In anticipation of large crowds at the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metrorail station (Red, Yellow and Green lines) on Thursday, March 20, and Saturday, March 22, Metro will have additional trains available to place into service after the first, third and fourth games on Thursday, March 20, and both games on Saturday, March 22. Additional station managers and personnel will be at the station’s 7th and F Street entrance to assist customers.

The NCAA Basketball Tournament schedule is:
Thursday, March 20
• Game 1 at 12:20 p.m.; Game 2 starts 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game #1
• Game 3 at 7:10 p.m.; Game 4 starts 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game #3

Saturday, March 22
• Game 1 at 2:10 p.m.; Game 2 starts 30 minutes after the conclusion Game #1

On Thursday, Metro encourages regular commuters who work near the Verizon Center to use the other Gallery Place-Chinatown Metrorail stations entrances at 9th and G Street, N.W., and 7th and H Street, N.W., or to use the Judiciary Square station at 5th and F Street, N.W., to avoid the crowds.

Customers are reminded to purchase round-trip farecards or to make sure their SmarTrip cards have the appropriate value when they first enter the Metrorail system to avoid long lines at the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metrorail station.

On weekdays, riders must have a SmarTrip card to pay for parking at Metrorail parking facilities. Parking is free on the weekends.

For more information on traveling Metrobus and Metrorail, please call (202) 637-7000 or visit Metro’s website at www.metroopensdoors.com.

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News release issued at 1:54 pm, March 18, 2008.