Metro News Release
For immediate release: May 28, 2004
Metro unveils initial plans for July 4th, 2004, service
Smithsonian station, for security reasons, will be closed all day
Today, in a meeting before the Metro Board of Director’s Operations and Safety Committee, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority unveiled its initial plans for providing service to customers using the system to get around the region on Sunday, July 4th, 2004.
Metrorail will be open for service at its usual time from 7 a.m. to midnight and the Smithsonian Metrorail station will be closed all day on July 4th for security reasons.
Highlights of the plan include:
Free parking at all Metrorail stations on July 4th
A special July 4th service pattern involving -
- Operating the Yellow Line between Franconia-Springfield and Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street-Convention Center Metrorail stations throughout the day, and encouraging riders to exit at L’Enfant Plaza and Archives-Navy Memorial Metrorail stations to get to the Mall;
- Providing Blue Line service between Huntington and the Rosslyn Metrorail stations;
- Having the Orange Line serve both Addison Road-Seat Pleasant and New Carrollton Metrorail stations; and
- Providing extra Green Line service on the southern end with every other train turning back at the Fort Totten Metrorail station.
"Because the National Park Service will fence off the Mall area and provide limited access points where security screening can take place, and because the Smithsonian Metrorail station is inside the secured area, we are required to close the Smithsonian station all day, the same as we have done the last two years," noted Jim Hughes, Metro’s Director of Planning.
Metro station managers and employees who volunteer their time on July 4th to serve as Metro Information Persons, will direct customers to alternative downtown Metrorail stations other than the Smithsonian. In addition, Metro Transit Police will be deployed at the busiest downtown and end-of-the-line stations to patrol and monitor the flow of crowds.
Metrorail system "Walking Maps" which provide information on how best to get from a Metrorail station to a particular destination in the downtown area will also be available for July 4th. Metro’s Web site will have additional information at www.metroopensdoors.com, and its Customer Call Center (202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780) will be in operation that day for those who need to call for information on riding the Metrobus or Metrorail system.
Customers are reminded of the following tips:
- Purchase the One Day rail pass if making multiple trips or buy a round-trip farecard when first entering the rail system to avoid long lines when going home.
- Individuals should use the Passes/Vendors farecard machines to make simultaneous purchases of multiple farecards for individuals traveling in a group.
- Adults should take extra care with children traveling with them in the system on any occasion, but especially on July 4th.
- Up to two children four years of age and younger can ride free with each paying passenger.
News release issued on May 28, 2004.