Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 24, 2003

This week at Metro(Monday, Oct. 27, 2003)

MTPD to provide extra security during A.N.S.W.E.R. anti-war rally

To provide increased safety and security for Metro customers, employees, and facilities, and to provide support to the D.C. Metropolitan and U.S. Park Police departments, on October 25, Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) officers will be deployed to stations which A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) protesters plan to use to travel to and from the rally staging areas and events: Smithsonian, Federal Triangle, Metro Center, Farragut West, and McPherson Square.

More officers than usual are being deployed to monitor these high-volume stations and to meter the crowds when needed for safety reasons. MTPD has deployed their K-9 units for routine sweeps, and their civil disturbance teams will be available to monitor situations above ground.

Metro’s " Boo Bus" Is Back! On Halloween at 3 p.m., Metro’s " Boo Bus" will return to entertain children in a safe and fun way for Halloween at the Anacostia Metrorail station, Shannon Place, S.E., between Martin Luther King, Jr., and Firth Sterling avenues. Costumed employees with the ’scary talking bus," decorated like a pumpkin on the interior, will provide safety information for children. The bus will be surrounded by Halloween music, and McGruff the Crime Dog will be on hand to remind children to " take a bite out of crime."

Each year, bus employees of the Southern Avenue and Southeastern Bus divisions sponsor this event with funds they themselves donate to defray the cost. This is an annual event these employees sponsor to give back to the community which supports Metrobus by riding. Metro Transit Police officers will be on hand to remind children and their parents about responsible, as well as safe, riding habits. Organizers of this event, now in its 13th year, will provide reflective Halloween gift bags for approximately 2,500 children. This event is one of several which these bus employees provide throughout the year.

Metro To Open Early for the 28th Annual U.S. Marine Corps Marathon All Runners, Volunteers, and Spectators Are Encouraged To Take Metro This Sunday, October 26, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) will open Metrorail at 6 a.m., one hour earlier than usual, to support the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon.

Due to the U.S. Marine Corps Marathon route, all Metrobuses that normally use the Pentagon Transit Center on Sunday morning will be relocated to the Crystal City Metrorail station until 9:30 a.m. Customers who normally travel to the Pentagon and transfer to a Metrobus will need to ride to Crystal City on the Blue and Yellow lines.

More than 33,000 runners, volunteers, and spectators are expected to use the Metrorail system to get to the race, which begins at 8:30 a.m. The Marathon will begin at Route 110 and Marshall Drive near the Pentagon, wind through Washington, D.C., around the monuments, and finish at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Metro expects the most heavily used stations will be the Rosslyn station on the Blue and Orange lines, Arlington Cemetery on the Blue Line, and the Pentagon station on the Blue and Yellow lines.

Upcoming Events Accessible by Metro ∙ Now through October 26, 2003, The 45th Washington International Horse Show, at the MCI Center; if attendees show their Metro farecard, SmarTrip card, or bus transfer, they can receive $5 off the price of any regular ticket; the nearest Metrorail station is Gallery Place-Chinatown on the Red, Green, or Yellow Lines; the nearest Metrobus routes are the 70, 80, and X2.

∙ October 24 to 26, Boo at the Zoo, an evening of not-too-scary fun featuring animal encounters, festive decorations, and haunted trails for enjoyment by families with children. All adults and children, ages 2 and older, must have tickets. Attendees are encouraged to take Metrobus or Metrorail to the Woodlet Par-Zoo/Adams Morgan station. To plan your trip, visit the RideGuide at www.metroopensdoors.com.

∙ October 29, 7:30 a.m., Pickpocket /Identity Theft Prevention Seminar, conducted by renowned pickpocket/identity theft prevention expert Det. Cedric Mitchell with the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD); the seminar will end at 3:30 p.m. and include information for police and investigators from Amtrak, the Smithsonian, the MCI Center, the World Bank, and MTPD. The seminar comes in time for officers and investigators to provide information to citizens on how to keep safe from pickpocket and identity theft crimes, especially during the holiday season, one of the periods when these kinds of criminals are especially busy.

∙ November 1-30, National Native American Month, when the nation recognizes and honors the contributions of Native Americans to the success of the nation. Metro will announce a program to honor Native Americans during the month.

∙ November 17 to 21, National COMTO Week, with the theme " Raising Awareness and Creating New Opportunities" ; sponsored by the National Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, National COMTO and local chapters are observing this week to renew its focus on organizational effectiveness and increasing membership.

Board Committee Meeting Scheduled The Operations Committee will convene on Thursday, October 30, 2003, at 9 a.m. 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 October 24, 2003.