Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 14, 2003

Metro, Departments of Homeland Security and Transportation, American Red Cross partner to prepare for emergencies while commuting in a transit environment

Metro, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transportation Administration, the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area and the American Public Transportation Association are collaborating to help area residents prepare for emergencies regardless of where someone is when it occurs. The new partnership encourages people to plan for emergencies that are likely to affect their typical commute and know how to respond if the emergency occurs while commuting to/from home and work.

" It’s more important than ever to be prepared for emergencies," said Michael Brown, Undersecretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Department of Homeland Security. " There are simple steps people can take to minimize the impact a disaster might have on their lives and the crucial first step is planning ahead."

" During an emergency, people are going to have to be a little more flexible, and might have to take routes home that aren" t as direct as the route they are accustomed to taking," explained Jenna Dorn, Federal Transit Administrator. " People need to take time now to learn alternate routes and ways to get where they need to go. There are often multiple ways to reach a destination, and knowing different ways to get home or get to work is critical."

Metro can offer individuals plenty of advice on finding alternate routes to get from place to place, however the best time to figure out alternative routes is before there is an emergency.

" The American Red Cross of the National Capital Area, Metro, and the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security want people to be prepared for emergencies," said Linda Mathes, CEO of the National Capital Area’s Office of the American Red Cross.

Metro’s on-line and voice-activated Ride Guide make it easy for individuals to map out alternative ways to get to a specific place. In addition, people can stay informed via Metro’s web site with e-mail alerts, links to other transportation providers, Metrorail and Metrobus system maps, and train and bus timetables.

" Most people are used to getting to and from work and home the same way each day," said Metro CEO Richard A. White. " Preparedness can be achieved through smart communications, and our web site has several options for our customers to use at www.metroopensdoors.com."

Metro provides alternative route information via several modes of communicating with customers. They include: " The On-Line Ride Guide. Individuals with internet access can log onto Metro’s Ride Guide (www.metroopensdoors.com) to find out different ways to get from place to place. Options can include rail-only travel, rail and bus travel, or bus-only travel. " The Voice-Activated Ride Guide. This provides the identical service as listed above, but without the need for a computer. People can call 202-637-7000 to access the Ride Guide via telephone. This is also a good option should someone with a cell phone suddenly find himself on a street corner in need of finding out how to get home using public transit, although it will not reflect sudden detours. It’s great to use for advanced planning. " Detailed Maps. Metrorail maps identify locations where the MARC, VRE, and Amtrak stations are located at or near Metrorail stations. These other means of mass transit also are good options during an emergency situation. Metrobus regional maps show all of the routes that serve a jurisdiction and are a good idea to keep in a briefcase or pocketbook in case of an emergency. " Timetables. Metrorail and Metrobus timetables are also available on line at www.metroopensdoors.com. " E-mail Alerts. Sign up for e-mail alerts from Metro to your home, office, or e-mail pager, or PDA to save you time during an emergency. " Transportation Links. Metro’s web site will carry emergency transportation information, regardless of whether that information is Metro-related. Links to other transportation providers is also located on Metro’s web site.

" During an emergency, people are going to have to be a little more flexible, and might have to take routes home that aren" t as direct as the route they are accustomed to taking," explained Ms. Dorn. " People need to take time now to learn alternate routes and ways to get where they need to go. There are often multiple ways to reach a destination, and knowing different ways to get home or get to work is critical.

" The U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Transit Administration, and the American Public Transportation Association are all committed to expanding this critical collaborative effort with other transit agencies and Red Cross chapters throughout the region using this partnership as a model," she said.

News release issued on April 14, 2003.