Metro News Release
For immediate release: August 12, 2005
Parking Fees Increase for Non-Metrorail Riders at the Largo Town Center, Morgan Boulevard Metrorail Stations For Designated FedEx Field Events
Fee Change Takes Effect Friday, August 19, for the Redskins Exhibition Game
Non-Metrorail riders who park their cars at the Morgan Boulevard and Largo Town Center Metrorail stations on the Blue Line to attend special designated events at FedEx Field will pay $25, effective Friday, August 19, for the first Washington Redskins exhibition football game of the season.
Metro patrons who park and then ride Metrorail will only pay the regular parking fee of $3.50 during the week and nothing on the weekends if they use a SmarTrip card to travel on the rails and then use the same card to pay to park.
All parkers must use a SmarTrip card. The card allows Metro to charge rail customers the regular $3.50 parking rate on weekdays and nothing on weekends and non-Metrorail riders a $25 premium parking fee at Morgan Boulevard and the Largo Town Center parking facilities.
Individuals who choose to park at the Morgan Boulevard and Largo Town Center Metrorail stations and do not have a SmarTrip card can purchase a card in these parking facilities. Metro Sales representatives will be available at each Redskins game this season to sell SmarTrip cards for $30, which includes a $5 fee for the reusable card.
Beginning next week, patrons can purchase a SmarTrip card for $30 through Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com or at Metro’s main sales offices located at Metro Center, the Pentagon, and Metro’s headquarters building at 600 5th Street N.W.
The non-Metrorail rider fee will be in place three hours prior to event time and remain in effect until two hours after the event. This ensures that a premium market-based parking fee will be charged to those who use Metro’s parking lots to attend a stadium event and don’t use the Metrorail system.
Signage at these parking facilities, along with personnel from several Metro departments including Metro Transit Police will be available to assist fans with questions on the new parking procedures.
"If anyone wishes to park their vehicle at one of these two stations to see a Redskins game or any other designated special event at FedEx Field they should plan ahead and purchase a SmarTrip card ahead of time with the appropriate fare value, " said Ray Stoner, Metro’s Director of Parking. "However, we strongly encourage everyone attending a special event at FedEx Field to park their vehicle for free at another Metro station on weekends, and pay the round-trip rail fare to the Morgan Boulevard Metrorail station, as the station is within walking distance to the stadium," said Mr. Stoner.
Fans who expect to park at Morgan Boulevard or the Largo Town Center Metrorail stations and walk to the games will need to add fare on their SmarTrip cards to cover parking fees for future games. The SmarTrip cards can hold up to $300 in value.
For more information on Metrorail and Metrobus, patrons should visit Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com or call Metro at (202) 637-7000, or TTY (202) 638-3780.
News release issued on August 12, 2005.