Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 25, 2003

Tuesday’s Metrorail ridership surpasses 700,000for third time this month

Yesterday’s Metrorail ridership of 714,907 was the fourth highest ridership in Metrorail history and the seventh day this month that has seen ridership in the top 30 in the 27 years since Metrorail began operation. Including Tuesday’s June 24, 2003, ridership, there have been three days this month when ridership has topped 700,000, none of them occurring on a day with a major special event in the region.

An average weekday usually sees Metrorail ridership in the 650,000 to 670,000 range. The majority of riders travel during the morning and afternoon commute times; however, during mid-day and evening hours, the Metrorail system has much more capacity to carry customers. Weekends also tend to see considerably fewer riders in the Metrorail system, with fewer than 300,000 customers, another time when there is plenty of room to ride on Metrorail.

Metrorail’s Highest Ridership Days

*Every trip a customer takes counts as one ride toward the total ridership count for a day.

News release issued on June 25, 2003.