Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 6, 2009

Metrorail records high Saturday, Sunday ridership days

Cherry Blossom Festival, sporting events draw crowds

Hundreds of thousands of people helped Metro set the transit agency’s third highest Saturday and fourth highest Sunday ridership days in the history of the 33-year-old rail system during the weekend. Riders took 713,148 trips on Saturday, which were 248,858 more trips than the same comparable day last year. On Sunday, riders took 469,751 trips, which were 211,165 more trips than the same day last year.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington Nationals baseball game, Washington Wizards basketball game, DC United soccer game and Washington Capitals hockey game contributed to the high numbers.

Combined with Metrobus ridership, Metro provides more than 1.2 million trips on an average weekday.

Metrorail’s Top 5 Saturday Ridership Days
       Date            Ridership   Event
1     06-08-91     786,358     Desert Storm
2     10-04-97     725,909     Promise Keepers
3     04-04-09     713,148     Cherry Blossoms/baseball/basketball/soccer
4     01-20-01     601,839     G.W. Bush Inauguration
5     07-04-98     585,354     Fourth of July celebration

Metrorail’s Top 5 Sunday Ridership Days
       Date            Ridership   Event
1     01-18-09     616,324     Obama Inauguration activities
2     07-04-99     540,945     Fourth of July celebration
3     07-04-93     505,157     Fourth of July celebration
4     04-05-09     469,751     Cherry Blossoms/hockey
5     01-17-93     440,138     Reunion America

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News release issued at 12:14 pm, April 6, 2009.