Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 6, 2003

This week at Metro (Monday, June 9, 2003)

Reminder: Metro to Open at 6 a.m. on June 7, For the Komen National Race for the Cure

To accommodate runners, walkers, volunteers, and spectators at Komen’s National Race for the Cure on Saturday, June 7, 2003, Metrorail will open two hours early at 6 a.m. The race, held in downtown Washington, D.C., begins at 8:30 a.m. with several pre-events prior to the start of the race. More than 75,000 participants and supporters are expected to attend the event, which is designed to raise money for breast cancer research, education, and screening treatment programs. This is the seventh consecutive year that Metrorail is opening early to accommodate participants’ transit needs.

"We think that the smartest thing to do is to take Metro to the Race, and we’ll be open at 6 a.m. to encourage people to do just that," said Metro CEO Richard A. White. "The Race for the Cure was the first organization to take advantage of our early opening-policy that we implemented seven years ago. In accordance with that policy, the organization requesting the early opening pre-pays Metro to open early, and if passenger revenues meet or exceed the deposit, the money is returned to the requestor."

As in past years, it is anticipated that the revenue from the morning ridership will more than cover the deposit.

Last year, Metrorail carried 340,475 passenger trips from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. the next morning. Of that number, 71,414 riders were attributed to the race. (One passenger trip is made by a person going to and from his or her destination.) Metro encourages participants to purchase their round-trip farecards in advance of the race or when they first enter the system. The Smithsonian and Federal Triangle Metrorail stations are expected to be among the busiest stations on rice day, so participants are encouraged to exit at other nearby less crowded stations such as Metro Center, Farragut West, or Archives-Navy Memorial.

In addition to providing transportation for race participants that day, Metro will field a team consisting of more than 900 employees. More than 1,400 employees have made contributions to the research for discovering a breast cancer cure.

"Team Met," the team name for Metro’s participating employees, will sport a bright red T-shirt with a picture of the first female and African-American Metro General Manager, Carmen Turner, on the back. Mrs. Turner served as Metro’s General Manager from 1983 to 1990. She contracted breast cancer, and shortly after leaving Metro, died from the effects of this disease. The names of 13 Metro employees who are breast cancer survivors are listed on the T-shirt beneath Mrs. Turner’s picture as well, along with the name of one employee who is also deceased because of this disease. For race information, individuals can visit www.nationalraceforthecure.org. For more information on riding Metro, customers can visit www.metroopensdoors.com, or call 202-637-7000 (TTY 202-638-3780) to obtain more information on riding Metro.

Upcoming Events Accessible by Metro.
· June 7, 2003, the 14th Annual Komen National Race for the Cure, with Metro entering a team and providing safe and reliable transportation for race volunteers, participants, and spectators.

· June 7, 2003, Eighth annual Hoop Dreams 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, G Street, N.W., between 4th and 6th streets; 15,000 attendees expected; traffic flow by Metrobuses in this vicinity could be impacted; Judiciary Square and Gallery Place-Chinatown Metrorail stations expected to be busier than usual.

June 8, 2003, 4 p.m., Washington Freedom vs. Boston Breakers Women’s Soccer Game, 12,000 attendees expected, Stadium-Armory Metrorail station to be more crowded than usual for the game.

· June 13-15, the 22nd Annual Alexandria Waterfront Festival, with free shuttle service from the Eisenhower Avenue and King Street Metrorail stations every 20 minutes; if attendees show a Metro farecard or SmarTrip card, they will each receive $1 off the price of admission at the gates.

· June 22, 2003, 4 p.m., Washington Freedom vs. San Jose CyberRays Women’s Soccer Game, 12,000 attendees expected, Stadium-Armory Metrorail station to be more crowded than usual for the game.

· June 21-22, 2003, the 11th Annual National Capital/Safeway Barbecue Battle, on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., between 9th and 13th streets; organizers expect 10,000 participants over the two days; Metro expects Archives-Navy Memorial, Federal Triangle, Metro Center, and Smithsonian Metrorail stations to be crowded. Metrobuses in the vicinity to be impacted as well.

· July 4, 2003, Fourth of July Celebration on the National Mall and throughout the region; Metro is prepared to provide safe, reliable service that day.

· July 8-12, 2003, the 32nd Annual Conference of Minority Transportation Officials’ National Meeting and Training Conference in Washington, D.C.; the conference will feature workshops, technical tours, and a youth symposium. Conference planners expect 1,000 attendees at the conference sponsored by Metro and the COMTO Washington, D.C., chapter and co-hosted by the Maryland COMTO chapter. D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams is the Honorary conference Chair.

Board Committee Meeting Scheduled On Thursday, June 12, 2003, the Budget Committee will convene at 9 a.m. in the Meeting Room, adjacent to the lobby at Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, N.W. To hear a recording about upcoming meetings, date and time changes for meetings, or the results of the last meeting, call 202-962-1055. To hear quotes by Metro experts, call MetroVoices at 202-962-2007.

News release issued on June 6, 2003.