Metro News Release

For immediate release: November 20, 2003

Metro Board approves new special events reimbursement Policy

A new policy now provides Metro officials with the ability to receive advance payment from commercial special events organizers whose events necessitate enhanced Metro service during normal hours of operation or extended hours of operation. The Metro Board today adopted a policy to enable Metro administrators to respond to requests for additional service to accommodate commercial special events, and in doing so, request the organizers of those events to pay the full cost of the special service in advance. Under the terms of this new policy, no special service will be provided without the advance deposit. After the event for which an early opening or late closing service has been provided, Metro will reimburse the event organizer for any passenger revenues that are collected during the additional hours of operation up to, but not exceeding, the amount of the advance payment. Metro officials currently charge event organizers $18,000 per hour to open the Metrorail system early or to keep it open late, although that fee may change from time-to-time to reflect operating costs. The cost for enhanced service such as providing rush-hour service during non-peak hours will depend on the operating costs during the specific hours requested for such service.

News release issued on November 20, 2003.