Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 13, 2004

This Week at Metro (Monday, Jan. 12, 2004)

Metro to sponsor Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration program

On January 13, at 10 a.m., Metro will sponsor its annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration program. Employees will gather at Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, N.W., to hear a message from guest speaker Anthony Maclin, Pastor of the Glendale Baptist Church. He will speak on the program theme, "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On . . . Not A Day Off." Metro Board member Robert Smith will act as the MC and welcome the attendees and guests. Lem Proctor, Chief Operating Officer of Rail, will give the closing remarks.

Metro’s CEO to participate in a series of Metro Matters briefing sessions

Metro CEO and General Manager Richard A. White will participate in a series of briefing sessions on Metro Matters, the campaign that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority recently launched to increase awareness of Metro’s funding challenges and to seek advocacy support in addressing these challenges. He will meet with the following leaders and planners in the region on the following dates and times:

· January 16 with Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson, at the County Executive’s office, 10:30 a.m.

· January 16 with FTA Administrator Jenna Dorn at FTA, 2 p.m.

· January 26 at a D.C. Council Committee on Public Service hearing, City Council Chambers, 10 a.m.

· January 27 briefing with Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan at the County Executive’s office, 10 a.m.

Upcoming Events Accessible by Metro

· January 16-18, 2004, World of Wheels conference, Washington Convention Center; organizers expect 6,000 attendees over three days; the Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street-Convention Center Metrorial station to have heavier than usual crowds.

· January 17, 2004, 7 p.m., Washington Wizards vs. the Seattle Supersonics, MCI Center, 10,000 attendees expected; Gallery Place-Chinatown, Judiciary Square, Metro Center, and Archives-Navy Memorial Metrorail stations to have heavier than usual crowds.

· January 17-18, 2004, NBC4 Your Health and Fitness Expo, Washington Convention Center; organizers expect 10,000 attendees over two days; Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street-Convention Center Metrorial station to have heavier than usual crowds.

· January 19, 2004, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, with Metrobus on Saturday and supplemental service; Metrorail on a modified Saturday service operating from 5:30 a.m. to midnight; and MetroAccess, the service for people with disabilities who are certified to use this curb-to-curb service, operating from 5:30 a.m to midnight.

· January 28, 2004, 9 a.m., External Customer and Regional Partner Briefing Session, Metro headquarters, on Metro’s weather emergency operations and communications outreach; various Metro department leaders will provide information to external customer participants on when Metro may suspend above-ground Metrorail service, the impact of weather on Metro’s equipment and infrastructure, and how Metro communicates with its various publics.

· February 1-29, 2004, National Black History Month during which time Metro will sponsor a program in honor of the contributions of African Americans to the success of WMATA and the nation.

· February 2, 2004, Metro’s Participation in National Groundhog Job Shadow Day when youngsters shadow Metro employees to learn more about career opportunities in transportation.

· February 4, 2004, 7:30 a.m., Department of System Safety and Risk Protection’s Emergency Management Outreach, Rosslyn Metrorail station, with Metro Transit Police and the Department of Communications providing information on handling emergencies to customers and answering questions..

· February 11, 2004, 10 a.m., FTA Quarterly Review Meeting, Metro headquarters, 10 a.m.

Board Committee Meeting Scheduled

The Budget Committee will convene on January 15, 2004, 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 the date and time of upcoming meetings, or the results of the last meeting, call 202/962-1055.

News release issued on January 13, 2004.