Metro News Release
For immediate release: October 13, 2005
Metro ready to handle crowds attending the Millions More Movement
Metrorail to open early at 5 a.m.
Metrorail will open at 5 a.m., two hours early on Saturday, October 15, to accommodate the Millions More Movement rally on the National Mall.
Due to the anticipated large crowds using Metrorail on Saturday, large coolers, bicycles, and segways will be prohibited in the system all day. Metro will have extra rail cars and trains ready to go into service if needed.
Highlights of the plan include:
- Metro will operate a normal Friday service.
- All trains on all rail lines will operate every six minutes from the end of each rail line, and every three minutes in the downtown core of the city from 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- From 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., all trains on all rail lines will operate every 12 minutes from the end of each rail line, and every six minutes in the downtown core of the city.
- After 9 p.m., all trains on all rail lines will operate every 15 to 20 minutes from the end of each rail line and every seven to 10 minutes in the downtown core of the city.
- Parking is free at all Metrorail stations on Saturday.
There are several Metro stations serving the Millions More Movement. Metro recommends the following departure points for passengers attending Saturdays events on the Mall:
Passengers Coming In From This Metrorail Station | Should Exit This Downtown Metrorail Station |
|---|---|
Greenbelt, Green Line | Gallery Place or Archives-Navy Mem’l |
Branch Avenue, Green Line | L’Enfant Plaza |
Shady Grove, Red Line | Metro Center, or Gallery Place |
Glenmont, Red Line | Union Station, or Judiciary Square |
New Carrollton, Orange Line | Capitol South, or Federal Center, SW |
Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, Orange Line | Smithsonian or Federal Triangle |
Largo Town Center, Blue Line | Capitol South, or Federal Center, SW |
Franconia-Springfield, Blue Line | L’Enfant Plaza |
Huntington, Yellow Line | L’Enfant Plaza |
Metro station managers and employees who volunteer their time on Saturday to serve as Metro Information Persons, will help direct customers to the downtown Metrorail stations. In addition, Metro Transit Police will be at the busiest downtown and end-of-the-line stations to patrol and assist with crowds.
Metrorail system brochures, which provide information on how best to get from a Metrorail station to a particular destination in the downtown area, will also be available for Saturday. The Customer Service Call Center (202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780) will be in operation that day for those who need to call for assistance.
Metro also reminds passengers if they see anything suspicious, they should approach a Metro Transit Police officer, inform a Metro employee in uniform, or call Metro Transit Police on its 24-hour communications line at 202-962-2121.
News release issued on October 13, 2005.