Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 15, 2003

Metrorail achieves another ridership record during fiscal year 2003

Metrorail ridership soars to highest level in 27 years. Metrobus reaches second highest total ever

WMATA Chief Executive Officer Richard A. White announced today that during fiscal year 2003 (July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003), Metrorail achieved its highest ridership total in its 27-year history, carrying 184,364,325 customer trips, a 2.1 percent increase, or nearly four million more customers than in fiscal year 2002. This marks the seventh consecutive year of increased ridership for Metrorail.

Meanwhile, Metrobus experienced its second-highest annual ridership in its 30-year history, as it carried 147,835,000 customer trips during fiscal year 2003, an increase of nearly a half-percent over fiscal year 2002 when Metrobus carried 147,771,000. (The all-time high for Metrobus ridership occurred in 1980 when the system carried 149,224,000 customers, a time when Metrorail was still limited and had not begun to absorb bus riders in higher numbers).

Compared to budgeted projections for the year, Metrorail ridership was off by 1.7 percent and Metrobus ridership was off 4.3 percent.

Overall Metro transit ridership in fiscal year 2003 was 332,199,000 customers trips, an increase of 1.1 percent over the previous fiscal year.

"Despite a continued sluggish economy, I am pleased to report that we achieved record ridership levels for Metrorail and Metrobus," said Mr. White. "Our rail ridership continues to climb, as we are seeing an increase at a two percent level. On the bus side, we achieved our second highest ridership by carrying nearly 148 million customer trips, and this was accomplished with the harsh winter when it was difficult to run service or get to a bus stop on many days."

WMATA was created by an interstate compact in 1967 to plan, develop, build, finance, and operate a balanced regional transportation system in the national capital area. The Authority began building its rail system in 1969, acquired four regional bus systems in 1973, and began operating the first phase of Metrorail in 1976.

News release issued on July 15, 2003.