Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 14, 2003

July shatters several ridership records in Metrorail history

For the second time in its 27-year history, the Metrorail system shattered three separate ridership records! In the month of July 2003, Metrorail recorded the highest ever weekday average rail ridership - 692,864. This number represents 25,302 more trips per average weekday than in July 2002. Metrorail also provided a record number of trips in July 2003, as 17,751,667 customer trips were made, only the second time in 27 years that more than 17 million people entered the faregates in one month. The previous one-month high for Metrorail was recorded last July 2002, with customers taking 17,007,908 trips. And on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, Metro achieved its third highest weekday ridership in its 27-year history, carrying 745,627 customers, on a day with two special events occurring in the region. It was the 10th time in the month of July that Metrorail carried over 700,000 people on a weekday. Overall, nine days in July joined the top 25 high-rail ridership days, whereas June 2003 only had five such record-setting days. Metrobus also saw a ridership increase in July 2003. Average weekday ridership reached 522,000 customer trips, an increase of 3,000 more trips compared to July 2002. For the month, Metrobus carried 13,175,000 customer trips. "These numbers underscore how vital Metro is to the nation’s capital and the region," noted Metro CEO Richard A. White. "Our regular commuters and first-time visitors to Washington rely on Metro to get them to where they have to be. During the month of July, we moved over 30 million people on Metrorail and Metrobus in a safe and efficient manner. Also, our employees deserve a special thanks for continuing to do an exemplary job of moving people safely and conveniently to their destinations." The days in July with ridership exceeding 700,000 daily average trips and those joining the list of the top 25 are the following:

News release issued on August 14, 2003.