Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 6, 2006

Metro to offer SmartBenefits information seminars for area employers

Metro is offering three free information seminars for area federal and private employers to learn about the SmartBenefits transit incentive program.

Metro has scheduled the information seminars for Wednesday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 28, from 8:45 a.m. to noon. A third session on Tuesday, April 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., is specifically for federal agencies. All SmartBenefits seminars take place at Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, NW, in the Meeting Room adjacent to the lobby. Employers wishing to participate in the seminars can register by clicking on SmartBenefits on MetroOpensDoors.com or by calling (202) 962-1326 and selecting option 1.

SmartBenefits, a web-based program, lets employers electronically load the dollar value of the Metrochek transit, vanpool and parking benefit directly onto an employee’s SmarTrip card. Metro riders can use their SmarTrip cards to pay for travel on Metrorail and Metrobus, and to pay for parking at Metro parking facilities.

To date, more than 100 federal agencies and 1,700 private employers participate in the SmartBenefits program. Their participation provides valuable transit benefits to more than 54,000 employees in the region.

For more information about Metro and the SmartBenefits program, visit www.MetroOpensDoors.com.

News release issued on March 6, 2006.