Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 19, 2005

Riders can speak at Metro Board meetings

Got a compliment, complaint or concern about Metro" Now you can tell the agency’s Board of Directors directly.

Metro is adding a public comment period to its monthly Board meetings, beginning Thursday. Each person will have two minutes to speak their mind on Metro or transportation related issues. The comment period will last up to 20 minutes at the start of the meetings. Written comments also will be accepted. Those who wish to submit them are asked to bring 30 copies of their comments to leave for the Board, Metro managers and the public. Anyone who wants to speak must register in person before the meeting begins. Sign-up sheets will be available beginning 15 minutes before the 11 a.m. meeting, which is held the third Thursday of each month. Those who signed up but didn’t speak will have another chance at the next month’s Board meeting.

Unlike the agency’s Town Hall Meetings, Board members are not expected to answer questions from speakers. The Board wants to hear from a wide variety of riders, so the same person will not be allowed to speak during the comment period more than once every three months.

Metro will test the policy over the next three months and make any needed adjustments. The comment period is part of a set of Board initiatives aimed at hearing more from the public. Other initiatives include, town hall meetings, a riders advisory committee and email contact with board members.

Board meetings are held in the first floor meeting room at Metro’s Jackson Graham Building, 600 Fifth St. NW, Washington, D.C., a one-block walk from the Gallery Place-Chinatown and the Judiciary Square Metrorail stations. More details about the public comment procedures can be found at http://content.wmata.com/board_gm/next_meetings.cfm Click "Board of Directors" meeting, then "Public Comment Period". ###

News release issued on April 19, 2005.