Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 18, 2004

Metro to temporarily close station restrooms in effort to bolster station security

Metro managers today announced new procedures that will allow for the temporary closing of Metrorail station restrooms for a period of up to 30 days under certain specific security-related situations. Metrorail station restrooms will be temporarily closed to the public only when the national alert level is elevated or Orange or above; when a specific threat to rail systems is shared with Metro by the FBI, Federal Transit Administration, the Department of Homeland Security or other federal agency; or when domestic or worldwide terrorism or other related events warrant increased security vigilance. Public access to station restrooms will return when those threat levels and concerns are lowered. At the same time, Metro officials announced that due to the recent bombings of trains in Madrid, station restrooms will be temporarily closed to the public for the next 30 days for the safety of its customers. " In carefully assessing the bombings in Madrid, it is obvious that closing our restrooms is a smart and logical step to further protect our customers and employees from possible terrorist acts," said Metro Police Chief Polly Hanson. " We hope they will understand the importance of our needing to temporarily close access to the restrooms. Safety first. Their safety."

News release issued on March 18, 2004.