Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 20, 2004

Metro announces service plans for the 31st annual March for Life and rally on Thursday, January 22

Metrorail will be offering enhanced service on Thursday, January 22, for the large crowds expected to attend the 31st Annual March For Life And Rally. In addition, there will be detours to Metrobus routes because the march and rally will go from the White House Ellipse and proceed east on Constitution Avenue to the U.S. Capitol, and the U.S. Supreme Court. The rally is scheduled to begin at noon.

To provide adequate service for Metro’s weekday customers, here’s what Metro is doing to prepare for the large crowds expected for on Thursday:

METRORAIL

  • Metro will operate six-car trains on the Red, Orange, and Blue Lines all day through the afternoon rush period which concludes at 7 p.m.
  • If necessary, Metro will have additional trains ready to enter service, depending on the size of the crowds traveling to, and from the event.
  • Metro expects the following stations to have higher than normal passenger volume in the morning: Stadium Armory; Smithsonian; Brookland-CUA; Federal Triangle; Metro Center; Farragut North; and Farragut West.
  • Metro expects the following stations to have higher than normal passenger volume during the afternoon: Stadium-Armory; Brookland-CUA; Union Station; and Capitol South.
Metro will have additional station managers assigned to these during the appropriate time periods.

Metro is advising all customers traveling in the Metrorail system on Thursday to follow these travel tips:

  • Buy round-trip fare when first entering the system.
  • Buy multiple farecards faster and easier by using the Passes/Farecards machine at Metrorail stations.
  • Keep farecards clean and dry so they will work on the return trip.
Customers should allow extra time for travel due to the larger than usual numbers of people using Metrorail.
  • Listen to station and train announcements.
  • Check the final destination displayed on the side of the train to be sure you" re boarding the right train.
METROBUS The march through downtown Washington, D.C., will also have an impact on Metrobus service in the afternoon. The following streets will be closed during the afternoon:
  • Constitution Avenue, between 17th Street, N.W. and 1st Street, N.E. (from 1-2:30 p.m.).
  • 1st Street, N.E., between Constitution Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue (from 1-4 p.m.).
  • Other streets along the march route will close and re-open as the march proceeds.
As a result of these street closures, the following Metrobus routes will be re-routed:
  • 13A-13B (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Pentagon-DC Line)
  • 30, 32, 34, 36 (Pennsylvania Avenue Line)
  • 52, 54 (14th Street Line)
  • 66, 68 (Petworth-11th Street Line)
  • 70 (Brightwood-Petworth, Georgia Avenue, 7th Street Line)
  • 96 (East Capitol Street - Cardozo Line)
  • P2, P6 (Anacostia-Eckington Line)
  • S2, S4 (16th Street - Potomac Park Line)
For more information on riding Metrorail or Metrobus, call (202) 637-7000, TTY at (202) 638-3780, or visit Metro’s website at www.metroopensdoors.com.

News release issued on January 20, 2004.