Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 10, 2004

Metrorail ridership sets new all-time record

Metrorail ridership reached 850,636 trips yesterday, June 9, the highest ridership day in Metrorail’s 28-year history, on a day that people flocked to the District of Columbia to pay their respects to former President Ronald Reagan.

Wednesday’s ridership bested the previous record by 39,379, when 811,257 people took a trip on Metrorail on January 20, 1993, the day that Bill Clinton was inaugurated as President.

Typical weekday spring ridership usually sees anywhere between 670,000 to 690,000 customers taking trips on Metrorail. Numerous streets were closed in downtown Washington yesterday due to security measures surrounding the funeral procession along Constitution Avenue, and City officials encouraged commuters and visitors to use the Metrorail system.

Rush hour peak Metrorail service began yesterday at 1 p.m. due to the anticipated crowds and stayed in place until 7 p.m. Peak hour fares were in effect only from 3 to 7 p.m., the usual hours when peak fares are charged. Metro officials have decided to offer the same additional rush hour service again today.

Peak hour service means that six-car trains, instead of four-car trains were operating at more frequent intervals than non-peak hours. Trains arrived at stations every three to five minutes instead of every six to eight minutes, on average.

Two other days this month have also seen unusually high ridership. Earlier this week, on Tuesday, June 8, ridership was 717,196; it was 718,359 on Thursday, June 3.

A chart of the high ridership days is on the next page.

Metrorail’s High Ridership Days
(As of June 10, 2004)

*Every trip a customer takes counts as one ride toward the total ridership count for a day.

News release issued on June 10, 2004.