Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 11, 2004

Thursday’s Metrorail ridership fourth best in Metro history

Metrorail ridership yesterday, Thursday, June 10, reached 763, 121, the fourth best ridership for a single day in Metrorail’s 28-year history. Thursday’s high ridership day came on the heels of Wednesday’s record-shattering day when 850,636 trips were taken on June 9--the highest ridership day ever for the regional transit system.

The high ridership days this week are mostly attributable to customers who are flocking to the District of Columbia to pay their respects to former President Ronald Reagan. 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 on Wednesday 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 early both Wednesday and Thursday 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.

Although the Federal government and District of Columbia government employees have the day off because of the National Day of Mourning, Metrorail is offering peak service today starting at 5:30 a.m. until crowds dissipate because large numbers of people are expected to continue to be at the U.S. Capitol throughout the morning and are expected to line city streets to see the funeral procession move from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington National Cathedral for the funeral ceremony and again from the Cathedral back to Andrews Air Force Base. Peak fares will only be charged during the usual hours of 5:30 to 9:30 a.m. and again from 3 to 7 p.m.

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.

Free late-night Metro shuttle buses have been moving people throughout the past two evenings from RFK Stadium to the U.S. Capitol from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. both Wednesday and Thursday nights to allow them to pay their respects to former President Reagan. On Wednesday night, Metro’s free shuttles moved 1,760 customers from RFK Stadium to the Capitol and 1,841 from the Capitol back to RFK Stadium. On Thursday night and into this morning (Friday), shuttle buses continued to move mourners beyond 6 a.m. As of 7 a.m., Metro’s shuttles carried 1,962 individuals to the Capitol from RFK Stadium and 3,753 from the Capitol back to RFK Stadium. Apparently people accepted the offer to park at the stadium for free and used Metrorail to get to the Capitol then used the free shuttle to return to their vehicles overnight.

Metrorail’s High Ridership Days
(As of June 11, 2004)

High ridership days from this week are in boldface.
*Every trip a customer takes counts as one ride toward the total ridership count for a day.

News release issued on June 11, 2004.