Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 1, 2005

Metro to Open at 5 a.m. this SaturdayFor the 16th Annual Komen National Race for the Cure

To accommodate runners, walkers, volunteers, and spectators at Komen’s National Race for the Cure on Saturday, June 4, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m., two hours early. The race, held in downtown Washington, D.C., begins at 8 a.m. with several events prior to the start of the race.

More than 50,000 participants and supporters are expected to attend the event, which is designed to raise money for breast cancer research, education, and screening treatment programs. This is the ninth consecutive year that Metrorail is opening early to accommodate participants’ transit needs.

Participants attending the 6:45 a.m., pre-race rally should use the Federal Center SW Metrorail station on the Orange and Blue Lines, or the Judiciary Square Metrorail station on the Red Line. Participants arriving prior to the 8 and 8:15 a.m. starting line should use the Metro Center Metrorail station on the Red, Orange and Blue Lines, or the Federal Triangle Metrorail station on the Orange and Blue lines.

Metro encourages all participants to have enough money on their SmarTrip cards or farecards for their round trip in advance of the race, or when they first enter the system. The Smithsonian, Federal Center SW, and Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Metrorail stations are expected to be among the busiest stations on race day, so customers are encouraged to exit at other nearby, less crowded stations such as the Metro Center or Farragut West Metrorail stations.

Also this weekend, Metro will conduct a major track project on the Red Line at the Twinbrook Metrorail station that will require trains to share one track between Shady Grove and Grosvenor-Strathmore. Patrons attending Saturday’s Race for the Cure from the Shady Grove to White Flint areas are encouraged to bypass the track project and use the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metrorail station, as trains will operate on a greater frequency from this station.

For race information, individuals can visit www.nationalraceforthecure.org. For more information on riding Metro, customers can visit www.metroopensdoors.com, or call 202-637-7000 (TTY 202-638-3780) to obtain more information.

News release issued on June 1, 2005.