Metro News Release
For immediate release: August 11, 2003
This week at Metro (Monday, Aug. 11, 2003)
Metro receives Certificate of Achievement in Excellence for financial reporting
The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for Metro’s fiscal 2002 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. The attainment of the certificate represents a significant accomplishment by an agency and its management.
This is the first year that WMATA has prepared its comprehensive annual financial report under the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) new reporting model. GASB Chairman Tom L. Allen called the new model " the most significant change in the history of governmental accounting." Metro’s comprehensive annual financial report was judged by an impartial panel as meeting the high standards of the Government Finance Officers Association, including demonstrating a constructive ’spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate an agency’s financial story and to motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.
WMATA has submitted its comprehensive annual financial report, prepared by the Office of Accounting, for review 16 times and has received the certificate as many times. The Government Finance Officers Association, with offices in Chicago, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 14,000 government finance professionals
Upcoming Events Accessible by Metro
· Now through September 6, 2003, from 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.
· August 11, 2003, 8 p.m., U.S. Navy Band Free Concerts at the U.S. Capitol West Front; with 2,000 attendees expected, Union Station, Federal Center SW, and Capitol South Metrorail stations may be more crowded than usual; free concerts will take place on the 18th and 25th of the month as well.
· August 11, 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 SW, Union Station, Smithsonian Metrorail stations anticipate larger than usual crowds.
· August 12, 2003, 8 p.m., U.S. Air Force Band Free Concerts at the U.S. Capitol West Front; with 2,000 attendees expected, Union Station, Federal Center SW, and Capitol South Metrorail stations may be more crowded than usual; free concerts will take place on the 19th and 26th of the month as well.
· August 12, 2003, 8 p.m., U.S. Air Army Band Free Concerts at the Sylvan Theater on the National Mall; with 3,000 attendees expected, the Smithsonian Metrorail station may be more crowded than usual; free concerts will take place on the 19th and 26th of the month as well.
· August 13, 2003, Noon to 2 p.m., Metro and WJZW Free Smooth Jazz Lunch-Time Concerts, at the Crystal City Waterpark via the Cyrstal City Metrorail station. The next free concerts will be held on August 20 at Dupont Circle Park near the Dupont Circle Metrorail station; and on August 27 at Rockville Town Center near the Rockville Metrorail station.
For more information about the concert series, customers can visit Metro’s Web site at www.metroopendsdoors.com or call 202-637-7000 (TTY 202-638-3780). Nearest Metrorail stations may be crowded.
· August 13, 2003, 7:30 p.m., Major League Soccer Game, D.C. United vs. Colorado Rapids, with organizers expecting 18,000 attendees, the RFK Stadium Metrorail stations may be more crowded than usual.
· August 15, 2003, 4 p.m., Concert and 1 Mix Tape Tour and Expo, on F Street, N.W., in front of the MCI Center, 10,000 attendees expected; Gallery Place-Chinatown, Judiciary Square, Metro Center, and Archives-Navy Memorial Metrorail stations could be impacted with crowds.
· August 16, 2003, WOL/Radio One Annual Stone Soul Picnic, noon to 8 p.m.; 60,000 attendees expected; RFK Stadium Metrorail station to be more crowded than usual.
· August 16, 2003, Indian Independence Day Celebration, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., on the National Mall; 10,000 attendees expected; Smithsonian, L" Enfant Plaza, Union Station, Archives-Navy Memorial, and Federal Center SW Metrorail stations may be crowded.
· August 17, 2003, 8 p.m., U.S. Marine Band Free Concerts at the Sylvan Theater on the National Mall; with 3,000 attendees expected, the Smithsonian Metrorail station may be more crowded than usual; free concerts will take place on the 19th and 26th of the month as well.
· 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 Meeting Scheduled
The Fare Policy Committee meeting will convene at 9 a.m. followed by the full Metro Board of Directors meeting at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2003, in the Meeting Room and Board Room, respectively. Both rooms are 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.
Metro’s Web Site Now Includes Emergency Preparedness Page
Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com now includes an emergency preparedness page with links to Metro safety and security brochures and news releases on this topic. This site also links to external Web sites and emergency preparedness information at the Office of Personnel Management, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the American Red Cross, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the governments of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Montgomery County Extends Free Rides for Children Montgomery County has extended its " Kids Ride Free" program -- which offers free bus rides to school-aged children -- until the end of the year. From 2 to 7 p.m., students can board Ride On and most Metrobuses within the county by showing their school ID card or pass. Elementary school-aged children do not need IDs.
Metro Track Work Set from August 22 through 24 on the Blue and Orange Lines
Metrorail personnel will perform track work on the rail system beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, August 22, to midnight on Sunday, August 24. The work involves installing restraining rails on the Blue and Orange Lines between McPherson Square and Smithsonian Metrorail stations. Single tracking (when trains in opposite directions take turns traveling on one track) between these two stations will take place at that time. Customers should expect to add approximately five to ten minutes to their commute during the work.
News release issued on August 11, 2003.