Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 20, 2008

Metrorail records eighth highest weekday ridership day

819,979 riders 'Dumped the Pump' and used Metrorail on Thursday, June 19

Hundreds of thousands of people helped Metro set the transit agency’s eighth highest ridership day in the history of the 32-year-old rail system on Thursday, June 19. Riders took 819,979 trips, which were 33,519 more trips than the same comparable day last year.

Yesterday was the third annual National Dump the Pump Day, and Metro held an online contest for participants to guess what Metrorail ridership would be for the day. More than 3,500 people entered the contest. Bob Wolownik of Warrenton, Va., won the contest and a SmarTrip® card loaded with $100 value. Wolownik's guess of 819,969 was just 10 riders off from the actual figure.

Since April of this year, Metrorail weekday ridership has cracked the top 11 highest ridership days in Metrorail history on eight separate occasions. Combined with Metrobus ridership, Metro provides more than 1.2 million trips on an average weekday.

Metrorail’s Top 11 Weekday Ridership Days
       Date             Ridership  Event
1     06-09-04     850,636      Reagan State Funeral
2     04-03-07     831,508      Cherry Blossoms/Baseball
3     04-24-08     828,973      Baseball/Basketball
4     04-17-08     828,418      Pope Visit/Soccer
5     04-11-08     828,132      Hockey/Baseball/Cherry Blossoms
6     06-18-08     823,516      No event
7     04-10-06     821,283      Immigrant Rights Rally
8     06-19-08     819,979      No event
9     06-05-08     819,687      Baseball
10   06-03-08     812,812      Baseball
11   06-17-08     812,686      No event

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News release issued at 11:59 am, June 20, 2008.