Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 20, 2005

Metro reminds customers that Nationals play at R.F.K. Stadium this Thursday afternoon

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) would like to remind its customers that the Washington Nationals will host the Atlanta Braves this Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. at R.F.K. Stadium, the first afternoon weekday home game of the season. Metro is preparing to handle the anticipated crowds with extra trains and personnel, and reminding everyone to have enough money on their farecard or SmarTrip card when leaving Metro after the game.

"So far, Metro has moved over 80,000 people to see the Nationals at R.F.K. Stadium and we are pleased to see that people’s preferred choice of game transportation is Metro," said Steven Feil, Metro’s Chief Operating Officer for Metrorail. "With Thursday’s game starting at 1:05 p.m. and ending during the afternoon rush hour, we want to advise Nationals fans what they can do to make their ride smooth and comfortable going to and from the game."

On Thursday, patrons can expect the following Metro services:

Metro will operate six-car trains on the Red, Blue and Orange Lines leading up to game time. Trains will come every 6 to 10 minutes.

Prior to game time, additional trains will be deployed if necessary on the Blue and Orange Lines depending on the size of the crowds riding to the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station.

Patrons are reminded to use both entrances at the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station. The main entrance, closest to R.F.K. Stadium, is located at 19th Street and Independence Avenue, S.E. The second entrance, is located two blocks away at 19th Street between C and Burke Streets, S.E., near the old D.C. General Hospital.

Metro will have additional station managers, rail supervisors, and Transit Police at Stadium-Armory to assist customers with service questions, and directions how to get to and from the stadium.

Metro reminds all patrons attending the baseball game to have the appropriate value on their SmarTrip cards to exit Metro parking facilities after the game and to check their farecard to ensure they have enough money to enter or exit the Metrorail system.

News release issued on April 20, 2005.