Metro News Release
For immediate release: November 24, 2008
Metro runs Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day Opens at 4 a.m. on Black Friday
Customers can get a head start on shopping as Metro opens at 4 a.m. on Friday
Metro will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, from 7 a.m. to midnight, and will open one hour early at 4 a.m., on Friday, November 28 in anticipation of Black Friday, traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the holiday season.
On Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov.27), all Metrorail trains will operate with four cars. Thanksgiving Day ridership is traditionally extremely light, as last year about 103,000 people rode the Metrorail system (the highest Thanksgiving ridership in history), compared to an average weekday ridership of 750,000. Metro will also save more than $100,000 in electricity costs by operating four-car trains all day. On Thanksgiving night, the Washington Wizards will play at the Verizon Center at 8 p.m. After the game, Metro will run six-car trains if crowds warrant.
The day after Thanksgiving (Friday, Nov. 28), is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year and as a result, the Metrorail system will open at 4 a.m. Metro Board member Jim Graham championed the early opening for shoppers and employers of the stores that are opening early.
Metro will provide its normal weekday service with six-and eight-car trains during the peak hours on Friday for holiday shoppers.
Metro stations are conveniently located near some of the best shopping areas in the Washington Metropolitan region. Here are just a few examples:
Green Line
- Columbia Heights Metrorail station is located next to the DC USA shopping complex.
Red Line
- Friendship Heights Metrorail station is near the Chevy Chase Pavillion and Mazza Gallerie.
- White Flint Metrorail station is within walking distance to the White Flint Shopping Center.
- Wheaton Metrorail station is a short walk to the Wheaton Plaza Mall.
- Union Station is one of the premier shopping areas in the District of Columbia.
Blue and Yellow Lines
- Pentagon City Metrorail station is the home of the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.
- Crystal City Metrorail station is the underground home to over 200 shops, restaurants and cafes.
- Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station and the Springfield Mall can be accessed via Metro and a short bus ride to a major shopping center in Farifax, VA.
- From the King Street Metrorail station, Alexandria city offers free shuttle bus to Old Towne Alexandria shops.
Blue and Orange Lines
- From the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station, customers can ride the Metrobus 30 line to the Shops at Georgetown.
Orange Line
- Ballston-MU Metrorail station is a short walk to the Ballston Common Mall.
- From the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station, customers can ride the 28A, B, and the 3T to the Tysons Corner Shopping Center.
- From the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metrorail station, customers can ride the 2T to the Tysons Corner Shopping Center.
Shoppers taking Metro on Friday are likely to find another bonus. With many workers taking the day off after Thanksgiving, more parking will likely be available at Metrorail stations. Shoppers can park their cars at Metrorail stations and forget the hassle of trying to negotiate crowded city streets or looking for a parking space at the shopping mall. A SmarTrip card is needed to pay for parking at Metrorail stations.
Metro reminds everyone that Friday, November 28, is a regular weekday and peak fares and parking fees will be charged.
News release issued at 1:27 pm, November 24, 2008.