Metro News Release

For immediate release: June 14, 2005

Metro to host online chat this Friday

Metro General Manager and CEO Richard A. White will respond directly to online questions about topics such as Metro service, reliability, accountability and other issues this Friday, June 17, when the transit authority hosts "Metro LunchTalk Online"--a live hour-long online chat from noon to 1 p.m.

With Metro Board members voting on the budget this week and with the announcement of plans for July 4th service, this offers Metro’s passengers the opportunity to ask directly about current issues such as the budget’s inclusion of customer service enhancements, recent problems on the Orange and Blue Lines due to a circuit problem, and weekend track work.

Metro customers can log onto Metro LunchTalk Online from Metro’s homepage or directly at www.forums-wmata.com. Participants must register in advance if they want to submit questions during one of the forums. Viewers who prefer to follow along without submitting questions are not required to register. One of the features of registering is that if someone submits a question, the original sender of the question will receive an email if a response to his/her inquiry has been posted. As many questions as possible will be answered during the hour-long session.

An archive of all of the previous online chats is posted on the web site. Persons without internet access can call Metro’s Customer Service Office at 202-637-1328 and request a session transcript.

For more information about Metro LunchTalk Online visit www.forums-wmata.com.

News release issued on June 14, 2005.