Metro News Release

For immediate release: March 24, 2006

Metro Prepares for the Cherry Blossom Season

Metrorail To Deploy Six-Car Trains During Mid-dayMetrorail To Open At 6 a.m. on April 2 for the Cherry Blossom 10-mile Race

With the return of the annual cherry blossoms coming soon, Metro is prepared to carry large crowds to view the cherry blossoms and attend the 2006 National Cherry Blossom Festival activities from March 25 to April 9.

"Every Cherry Blossom season, Metro employees work diligently to ensure safe, reliable, and convenient service," noted Steven Feil, Metro’s Chief Operating Officer for Rail. "During last year’s festival, more than 8.9 million passenger trips were made on Metrorail, and on seven weekdays, ridership exceeded 700,000. We are prepared to accommodate more riders, especially during off-peak hours, such as mid-day and weekends." "I am confident we will be able to move large numbers of people safely and efficiently with six-car and eight-car trains. Additionally, we will coordinate with Metro Transit Police to assist with the large crowds expected at core stations," Mr. Feil said.

On Sunday, April 2, the Metrorail system will open one hour early, at 6 a.m., to accommodate people attending the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-mile race. The race starts at West Potomac Park, winds its way across the Memorial Bridge and along Rock Creek Parkway. The closest Metrorail stop for customers is the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange Lines.

During that period of time, Metrorail will provide typical Sunday morning service with a 15-minute frequency on all lines.

National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade to Affect Metrobus Routes on Saturday, April 8

Several Metrobus routes will be affected by the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, on Saturday, April 8. Bus riders traveling via Metrobus downtown on Saturday, April 8, may experience delays and detours during this event.

The parade will affect Washington, DC, Metrobus routes 13A, 32, 35, 52, 54, 66, 70, P6, S2, S4, and V8.

For a detailed summary of the bus detours, Metrobus customers should visit www.metroopensdoors.com. a few days prior to the parade.

For the parade, approximately 5,000 participants are expected to assemble on the Mall at Madison Drive and 7^th Street, NW, starting at 7 a.m. The parade will start at 10 a.m., marching south on 7^th Street and west on Constitution Avenue to 17^th Street, NW, where it will disband. The parade is expected to end by 1 p.m., and all streets are expected to re-open by 1:30 p.m. As many as 100,000 spectators are expected to watch the parade.

Parade-related street closings will be as follows:

During the Cherry Blossom season, riders can do their part to help ensure that their trip is pleasant by remembering the following travel tips:

Visitors should avoid traveling during the peak weekday commuter periods of 5:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m., and are strongly encouraged to avoid traveling on Metrorail between 4 and 6 p.m. at the height of the afternoon peak period.

Regular commuters, especially those who work for the federal government and whose offices are in the vicinity of the Smithsonian Metrorail station, which is the most popular station for tourists arriving at the National Mall, are urged to stagger their arrival and departure times for work and use all downtown Metrorail stations.

Regular commuters should allow extra time for travel, and are reminded when traveling on Metrorail to please walk into the center of the rail car and not block the rail car doors.

Visitors are encouraged to buy the $6.50 one-day Metrorail pass, the best bargain for multiple trips; the one-day pass can only be used after 9:30 a.m. on weekdays, and all day on weekends.

Visitors can also buy a SmarTrip card, which is used on Metrorail, Metrobus, and is the only way to pay for parking at Metro-operated lots. Visitors can purchase a SmarTrip card from Metro’s Web site for $25 (with $20 of value on the card) or for $10 at any Metrorail station with a parking facility (with $5 of fare value on the card). SmarTrip cards can hold up to $300 of fare value. Each visitor most have his/her own card.

Adults are reminded to take special care of children, especially when traveling in large crowds. Prepare beforehand the course of action you and your children will take if you become separated. Adults are also encouraged to advise their children to remain in the station where they are if they become separated from their parents, and seek assistance from a transit police officer or a station manager.

All riders are reminded to be aware of their surroundings during this busy travel season, and to make sure their personal belongings or valuables are safe and secure when traveling on Metro.

The 2006 National Cherry Blossom Festival brochures are free and available in station brochure racks. For more information on traveling by Metrobus and Metrorail, call (202) 637-7000, TDD (202) 638-3780, or visit Metro’s web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.

News release issued on March 24, 2006.