Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 14, 2005

Metro outlines services planned for inauguration week

Metro to stay open until 3 a.m. on Thursday, January 20

Metrorail will stay open until 3 a.m. on Thursday, January 20, to accommodate the large number of customers expected to travel to and from activities related to the 55th Presidential Inauguration. On Inauguration Day, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. and close at 3 a.m., for customers traveling from inaugural balls and other special events throughout the region. "Metro is proud of the role that it plays in transporting the public to and from important events such as the Inauguration," stated Metro’s CEO/General Manager Richard A. White. "Even though many people throughout the region will be celebrating this special occasion, our dedicated employees will be working to provide service to get people to and from Inaugural activities." On the last Inauguration Day, in 2001, 601,839 trips were made using the Metro system. METRORAIL STATION CLOSURES To accommodate the security precautions related to the inauguration, the parade, and inaugural balls, the following Metrorail stations and station entrances will be closed: Thursday, January 20, Inauguration Day The Smithsonian (Blue/Orange Lines) and Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter (Green/Yellow Lines) Metrorail stations will be closed from 5 a.m. until the inauguration parade is over at approximately 5 p.m. The Mount Vernon Square/7th Street Convention Center (Green/Yellow Lines) Metrorail station will close at 3 p.m. and re-open at 1 a.m. The Judiciary Square (Red Line) Metrorail station entrance at F Street N.W., will close at 5:30 p.m., and reopen at 1 a.m. The 4th Street entrance will remain open. METRORAIL SERVICE Tuesday, January 18 and Wednesday, January 19 With the Federal Government encouraging its employees to leave early on Wednesday, January 19, Metro will not reduce its train sizes from six-cars to four-cars on both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. Morning trains that are operating as six-car trains will remain six-car trains to help move the expected larger mid-day ridership. Thursday, January 20, Inauguration Day On Inauguration Day, Metrorail trains will operate on a special schedule with trains running every 4 to 6 minutes in the downtown core of the city from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and every 7 ½ to 8 minutes between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. All trains will operate with six-cars throughout the day. Extra trains will be available as needed. Off-peak fares will be charged all day, and parking will be free at Metro-operated facilities. Metro will hand-sell round trip farecards at high-volume stations. Officials will also sell a special Commemorative Inaugural One Day Metrorail pass for $6.50 at all Passes/Farecards vending machines in all stations. Metro will deploy Metro Information Person’s (MIP’s) throughout the system to assist first-time users, out-of-town visitors and regular customers. METROBUS SERVICE On Inauguration Day, Metrobus will operate on a Saturday schedule and regular fares will be charged. However, due to the extensive street closures around the Mall, Pennsylvania Avenue, and downtown Washington, the following 17 Metrobus routes will be detoured: 13A (Pentagon Transit Center, Washington, D.C. Loop) 32, 34, 35, 36 (Pennsylvania Ave Line) 52, 54 (14th Street Line) 66 (Petworth - 11th Street Line) 70 (Brightwood-Petworth, Georgia Avenue, 7th Street Line) 80 (North Capitol Street Line) A2, A46, A48 (Anacostia-Congress Heights Line) P6 (Anacostia-Eckington Line) S2, S4 (16th Street-Potomac Park Line) V8 (Minnesota Avenue - M Street Line) Special bus-to-rail transfers will be available on Metrobuses traveling in downtown D.C. that will allow customers to complete their trip on Metrorail for free. Customers will need to show the special transfer to the station manager when entering and exiting a station. Due to the nature of the events on Inauguration Day, additional detours or changes in service may occur. Customers are encouraged to plan extra time to travel by bus through these areas and should check with Metro at www.metroopensdoors.com or by calling 202-637-7000 for additional information on specific route detours. METRO TRANSIT POLICE SECURITY INITIATIVES The Metro Transit Police Department and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are collaborating to enhance security at Metrorail stations, and on trains and buses during Presidential Inauguration Week. The TSA will provide Metro with additional teams of TSA officers with canines to patrol stations and trains to supplement Metro’s team of explosive ordnance detection officers and canines. The TSA will also provide federal screeners and explosive trace detection equipment to inspect any unattended items in the Metrorail system. "We are taking precautionary measures to assure our customers that we are doing everything we can to ensure they can use our system without incident," said Metro Transit Police Chief Polly Hanson. "Our customers are likely to see members of our special response teams of officers carrying additional weaponry with a canine accompanying them and they are likely to see uniformed TSA officers with their canine teams on patrol and TSA screeners with explosive detection devices strategically located at our stations for quick deployment. This is a valuable partnership and provides an added layer of security to ensure the safety of our customers." The Metro Transit Police would like to remind its customers of the following: The Metro Transit Police strongly recommend that customers bring as little as possible with them when traveling through the Metrorail system to cut down on the possibility that items are left behind, resulting in the need for Metro or TSA officers to inspect unattended items. Metro Transit Police will deploy their Special Response Teams (SRT) and both Metro Transit Police and TSA explosive detection canine teams to conduct sweeps of Metrorail stations and trains. On Inauguration Day, all Metrorail station restrooms will be closed for security reasons. Customers are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior, unusual activity, unattended items, smoke, or odd odors to a uniformed Metro employee, police officer, or by calling the Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121. "As in the past during times when elevated security was called for, we are asking our customers to be an extension of our eyes and ears, and let us know if they see anything unusual," said Chief Hanson. CUSTOMER TIPS/REMINDERS: Customers are strongly encouraged to purchase round trip farecards or a SmarTrip card when they first enter the Metrorail system. In designated stations, Metro personnel will hand sell farecards to decrease the length of lines at farecard vending machines when customers return to stations to go home. Customers are reminded to listen to station and train announcements, and watch for updates on the electronic message boards in stations. Metro station managers and Metro Information People (MIPs) will direct customers in an effort to help them board the correct trains. Due to the expected large crowds, bicycles will not be permitted on Metrorail. Adults should talk with their children about what to do if they become separated. It is strongly advised that parents look for their children, directing them to remain where they are until found or to exit the train at the very next station, if they are riding the train when separated from adults. In addition, parents and other adults should seek the assistance of Metro Transit Police, station managers, MIPs, or others who will be in uniform that day. Metro has prepared a walking guide and map illustrating the locations of various Metrorail stations to the Swearing-In Ceremony and Presidential Parade. Customers can pick up a map from the Take-One racks located at any Metrorail station. Metro’s Customer Call Center will be open from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Inauguration Day, and the Customer Service Center located at Metro Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Due to the nature of this event and heightened security, all information is subject to change. For the latest information on Metrorail and Metrobus service, customers should visit Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com. or call (202) 637-7000 (TTY 202-638-3780).

News release issued on January 14, 2005.