Metro News Release

For immediate release: September 2, 2003

This week at Metro (Monday, Sept. 3, 2003)

Bus employees provide Back-to-School supplies for children in Southeast Washington, D.C.

Just in time for children returning to school in the District of Columbia, Metrobus employees at the Southeastern Bus Division provided back-to-school supplies for Southeast neighborhood children at a giveaway event on August 29 at the Anacostia Metrorail station. The Southeastern Bus Division targeted the school supply giveaway for approximately 500 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 5 from various schools in that neighborhood. The operators displayed a large banner at the Anacostia Metrorail station for one week prior to the event to announce the upcoming giveaway to the community.The employees provided the free supplies through funds they each donated. The list of supplies included pencils, paper, markers, book covers, dividers, folders, rulers, composition books, scissors, glue, color blocks, and crayons." We believe in giving back to the community that has supported us by riding Metrobus. Some of us are now carrying the children of parents who once rode our buses as children. This school supply event was a way to show our appreciation for that continuing support," stated Herbert Stroman, a Metrobus operator at the Southeastern Bus Division. Deborah Blue, Brenda Wooten, and Mr. Stroman were among the originators of this event 13 years ago. (This year, the event was held in honor of Ms. Wooten who died three years ago of a brain tumor at the age of 39.) Throughout the year, this bus division sponsors a variety of community-related events for students and senior citizens. For the past several years, they have sponsored the Halloween treat for neighborhood kids called the " Boo Bus" at the Anacostia station. Around the holidays, they cook and serve meals for seniors at a nearby senior citizen center, providing the entertainment and gifts for the seniors. This school year, the bus operators, office clerks, and mechanics at the division plan to adopt a school in their neighborhood to provide mentoring opportunities for girls and boys throughout the year. " In this way, we hope to provide guidance to children who may not have two parents in the home. We see boys at a particular need for this kind of interaction, especially from strong male role models to help boys who may not have a father in the home," said Mr. Stroman. 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.∙ September 7, 2003, Metrobus Service Changes Implemented; to improve service for customers, Metrobus service changes are taking place in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia; English and Spanish brochures are available with details of these changes in Take One racks on Metrobuses and in Metrorail stations; bus window signs are displayed in English and Spanish as well. Customers may obtain more information about these changes by going on line to www.metroopensdoors.com or by calling 202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780.∙ 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.∙ September 20, 2003, Giant Food BikeDC 2003; organizers are planning for 10,000 bicyclists and the 30-mile bike events begins and ends at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.; the 12-mile family bike event begins and ends at 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Metrobus customers should expect rolling delays and plan to add more time to their trips on buses traveling near the bike event: Pennsylvania Avenue, the Anacostia Waterfront, and Whitehurst Freeway, and other scenic routes in the Washington metropolitan region. Metrobus bike racks hold two bicycles per bus. Board Committee Meetings ScheduledThe Planning and Development Committee will convene on Thursday, September 4, 2003, at 9 a.m., followed by the Real Estate 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 September 2, 2003.