Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 18, 2003

This week at Metro (Monday July 21, 2003)

Up and away: Thursday’s Metrorail ridership tops 700,000 for third time this week

Yesterday’s Metrorail ridership of 716,227 was the 6th highest ridership in Metrorail history, marking the fifth day this month that ridership has made the top 26 highest ridership days list and the fourth day this month that ridership has topped 700,000. It is also the third day this week that ridership surpassed the 700,000 mark.

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.

Upcoming Events Accessible by Metro ∙ Now through August 7, Noon to 2 p.m., " Farragut Sounds in the Square," the Golden Triangle BID’s Fifth Annual Summer Concert Series for FREE in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service, at the Farragut Square Park, corner of Connecticut Avenue and K Street, N.W.; attendees can get to the concerts by Metrobus and Metrorail, receive giveaways and prizes as well as hear entertaining music and enjoy picnic lunches.

∙ Now through August 7, 6:30 to 8 p.m., ’sunset Serenades" FREE concerts, at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo; concerts will be on Lion/Tiger Hill each Thursday and featured music will include jazz, folk, blues, and rock and roll; attendees are encouraged to take Metrobus to the zoo or Metrorail to the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metrorail station.

∙ Now through September 6, 2003, 1 to 6 p.m., " Live on Penn" FREE concerts, every Saturday on Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., between 3rd and 6th streets, near the National Gallery of Art; featured music will include rock, hip hop, jam, and reggae. Metro will sponsor a booth each Saturday for customers to obtain information on the system and purchase Metro merchandise and SmarTrip cards; attendees are encouraged to take Metrobus or Metrorail to these concerts.

∙ July 19, 2003, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fannie Mae Foundation’s Home-Buying Fair at the New D.C. Convention, Exhibit Hall C; admission is FREE and some lucky attendees may receive a FREE credit report; take Metrorail or Metrobus to the fair by logging onto the RideGuide at www.metroopensdoors.com to obtain a trip itinerary. ∙ July 21, 2003, 8:30 p.m., ’screen on the Green" Summer Classic Film Festival on the National Mall between 3rd and 4th streets, N.W.; organizers expect 5,000 attendees per show; Federal Center, Union Station, Smithsonian Metrorail stations anticipate larger than usual crowds. The next shows will take place at the same time and location on July 28, August 4, and August 11.

∙ September 7, 2003, Noon to 6 p.m., The Kennedy Center Open House Arts Festival " Celebrating the Blues," featuring more than 30 FREE performances and activities for the whole family; ride Metro to Foggy Bottom-GWU, then take a FREE shuttle bus running every 15 minutes beginning at 11 a.m.

Board Committee Meetings Scheduled On July 24, the Operations Committee will convene at 9 a.m. followed by the Safety Committee meeting, both 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 July 18, 2003.