Metro News Release
For immediate release: March 30, 2005
Metro Announces its Game Plan For Sunday, April 3
Metrorail To Open At 6 a.m. on April 3 for the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile RaceMetro to Operate Six-Car Trains Throughout the Day
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is preparing a for a busy day of activities on Sunday, April 3. With an early opening, the return of Major League Baseball to Washington, D.C., and the Washington Wizards at the MCI Center, Metro is preparing to handle the crowds expected for all activities.
"If anyone is planning to participate in the Cherry Blossom 10-mile race, or attending the Wizards basketball game at the MCI Center, or the baseball game at R.F.K. Stadium, we encourage everyone to use Metro," said Jim Hughes, Metro’s Acting Deputy General Manager for Operations. "This Sunday, we plan to operate six-car trains on all rail lines, have additional trains on standby after the sports events, additional supervisors and station managers working at key Metrorail stations, and Metro Transit Police providing support for crowd control."
Metrorail Opens at 6 a.m. for the Cherry Blossom 10-mile race
Metrorail will open one hour early, at 6 a.m., on Sunday, April 3, to accommodate patrons attending the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Race. The race, which starts at 8 a.m. from West Potomac Park, will wind its way across Memorial Bridge and along Rock Creek Parkway.
The closest Metrorail stop for customers is the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station on the Orange and Blue Lines.
Metrorail will provide its typical early Sunday morning service with a 12 to 15 minute frequency on all rail lines.
Washington Nationals vs. New York Mets -- R.F.K. Stadium
At noon, Major League Baseball returns to R.F.K. Stadium with an exhibition game. Patrons attending the baseball game can take Metrorail to the Stadium Armory Metrorail station, located on the Blue and Orange Lines, or use Metrobus routes D2, D6 and 98, which also drop off people at the Stadium Armory Metrorail station.
Metro will have six-car trains operating on the Blue and Orange Lines, and will have extra trains positioned at the end of the game to get people home from the game. Additional personnel including station managers, supervisors, and Metro Transit Police will be available to assist customers with questions about Metrorail service and how to get to and from Stadium Armory.
Washington Wizards vs. Indiana Pacers -- MCI Center
At 1 p.m., the Washington Wizards will host the Indiana Pacers at MCI Center. With the expected volume at the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metrorail station (Red, Yellow and Green Lines), Metro will have extra trains positioned at the end of the game to get people home. Metro will also deploy additional station managers and rail supervisors to the 7th Street entrance. The Metro Transit Police department will be available to assist with crowd control.
"Typically, we see 30 to 40 percent of patrons using Metro to attend special events at the MCI Center, and we expect similar numbers for Sunday’s events at both the MCI Center and R.F.K. Stadium," said Mr. Hughes. "We expect to see high ridership throughout the day and therefore we ask our customers to plan accordingly and exercise patience and caution while traveling on Metro."
This Sunday, customers can do their part to help ensure that their trip is more pleasant by remembering the following travel tips: Patrons attending the Washington Wizards game at the MCI Center are urged to use the other Gallery Place-Chinatown Metrorail stations entrances at 9th and G Streets N.W. and 7th and H Streets N.W., or to use the Judiciary Square station at 5th and F Streets to avoid the crowds.
Customers should allow extra time for travel when there are larger than usual numbers of people using Metrorail and Metrobus.
Visitors are encouraged to purchase round-trip farecards or to make sure their SmarTrip cards have the appropriate value when they first enter the Metrorail system to avoid long lines on return trips.
Parking is free on weekends and holidays at all Metro operated parking facilities.
Patience and courtesy will be essential when traveling during this time; many customers will be first-time users of Metrorail and will need extra help in getting around the system.
For more information on Metrorail and Metrobus, please visit the Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com, or call (202) 637-7000, TTY at (202) 638-3780.
News release issued on March 30, 2005.