Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 15, 2004

ING DIRECT, Metro offer riders a free lift on December 16

Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess riders will be able to ride for free tomorrow morning (Thursday, December 16) thanks to a joint promotion with Metro and ING DIRECT, an online savings bank.

ING DIRECT is covering the cost for Metro riders from 5 to 9:30 a.m. on Thursday as a part of its "Metro and Save" event that Metro sees as having a customer appreciation focus.

Everyone who enters a Metrorail station, boards a Metrobus or takes a scheduled MetroAccess trip before 9:30 a.m. on Thursday will have their trip paid for by ING DIRECT. Parking at Metrorail stations is not included in the promotion and regular parking fees will be charged.

"It has been a pleasure for us to work with ING DIRECT as promotional partners," said Metro General Manager and CEO Richard White. "This promotion is a win-win for Metro and its customers as well as for ING DIRECT. Metro is delighted to have the opportunity to give this little thank you gift to our regular customers for their loyalty to our Metro system. It’s one way for Metro to show our faithful riders that we value their business, and we hope they" ll continue to rely on Metro."

The bank hopes that instead of spending their money on transportation the morning of the 16th, that commuters will have a few extra dollars to put to work in an Orange Savings Account from America’s fastest growing bank. Since all of ING DIRECT’s transactions are done electronically--on the Internet and on the telephone instead of at traditional bank branches--the company is able to pass its cost savings on to customers in the form of great rates.

This marks the first time that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has partnered with a private company to give away free rides to promote the savings associated with using public transit.

News release issued on December 15, 2004.