Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 10, 2006

March Metrorail Ridership Shatters Records

More people took trips on Metrorail during March than during any other month in Metrorail’s 30-year history. Ridership for the month was 18,716,654, and averaged 719,861 riders per weekday. The previous all-time high for ridership was last June 2005, when 18,556,046 passenger trips were taken. March 2006 saw 160,608 more riders than June 2005.

For fiscal year 2006 year-to-date (July 1, 2005, through March 31, 2006), Metrorail has carried 150,777,273 customer trips, a 6.4 percent increase, or nine million more customers than in fiscal year 2005. The average weekday ridership in fiscal year 2006 year-to-date is 688,146, compared to 652,940 in the previous year.

Last month, rail ridership exceed 700,000 on 17 weekdays, and it was highlighted on Friday, March 31, when Metrorail recorded its third highest weekday ridership count ever with 808,108 trips.

Metrobus ridership in March was approximately 11,813,867 million, and averaged 451,000 riders per weekday.

Metrorail’s Top 10 Weekday Ridership Days List

Ridership                                                                            Event

1) 06-09-04                        850,636                    Reagan State Funeral Ceremony

2) 01-20-93                        811,257                    Clinton Inaugural #1

3) 03-31-06                        808,108                    Cherry Blossoms

4) 10-16-95                        804,146                    Million Man March

5) 07-21-05                        769,553                    Baseball

6) 04-14-05                        766,184                    1st Baseball Game

7) 07-20-05                        764,663                      Baseball

8) 06-30-05                        764,425                      Baseball

9) 06-10-04                        763,121                       Reagan State Funeral Ceremony

10) 06-08-05                     761,652                       Baseball

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News release issued on April 10, 2006.