Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 23, 2003

This week at Metro (Monday, Dec. 22, 2003)

Metro’s Accounting/Payroll Office holds annual auction for charity

Today, Metro’s Accounting/Payroll office held its annual Holiday Auctionfor Charity. This year, the Whitman-Walker Clinic received the proceeds fromthe auction which featured one-of-a-kind handmade quilts, afghans,tablecloths, furniture, art work, trips, a weekend at a mountain retreat, a weekanywhere in the world at a share-time resort, an airplane ride, baked goods,holiday ornaments, and more. By the time the auction, both silent and live, endedafter nearly four hours, nearly $9,000 had been collected for the clinic. TheWhitman-Walker clinic will receive the proceeds in approximately a week after the officeshave included additional donations expected over the next week.

Metro installs new, improved signage for station elevators and trainsto alert customers to priority use for people with disabilities andseniors

In its continuing effort to provide improved information for itscustomers, Metro has begun installing large, distinctive signs on Metrorail stationelevators. These signs are easier to see and clearly indicate that people withdisabilities have priority in boarding. The message on the signs states, "Pleaselet persons with disabilities and seniors board first * Thank you." Thedisability community expressed a desire to have signs included in elevators whichclearly state that the people with disabilities have priority in boarding ahead ofpeople with luggage and strollers.

In addition to clarifying who has priority in boarding an elevator, thenew signs display the elevator information phone number, 202-962-1212, and thenumber to call, 202-962-1825, if a shuttle bus is needed at a station where thereis an elevator outage. Each new sign replaces four former signs, representinga significant cost savings. The new signs, unlike the former ones, have moreessential information for this segment of the riding population. All 200 elevatorsare expected to have the new signs installed by the end of this year.

At the same time, Metrorail has installed larger, easier-to-see signsover the priority seats in the Breda modernized rail cars. The signs, situatedwell above the heads of passengers when seated, unequivocally indicate who haspriority for sitting via the following message: "Priority Seating for SeniorCitizens and People with Disabilities."

Metrorail sales offices will be closed on Christmas and New Year’sDay

All Metro sales offices will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’sDay. Only the Metro Center and Pentagon Sales offices will close at 4 p.m.,two-and-a-half hours earlier than normal, on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. All othersales offices will operate normal hours on Christmas and New Year’s Eves. Formore information on riding Metro, customers may call 202-637-7000 (TTY202-638-3780).

Upcoming events accessible by Metro

• January 7, 2004, 7:30 a.m., Department of System Safety and RiskProtection’s Emergency Management Outreach with Metro Transit Police and theDepartment of Communications, Metro Center Metrorail station.
• January 26, 2004, 10 a.m., "Metro Matters" Hearing, D.C.Council Committee on Public Service, City Council Chambers.
• February 1-29, 2004, Black History Month, when Metro recognizes thecontributions of African Americans to the nation and the transit authority.

News release issued on December 23, 2003.