Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 4, 2006

Metro wants to allow businesses to open shop in rail stations

Newspapers, baseball caps and handbags could be sold in select Metrorail stations as early as next year.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has proposed allowing businesses to set up shop in 12 Metrorail stations in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. A Metro Board committee today gave the pilot program preliminary approval. The full Board is expected to vote on the plan May 18.

Under the proposal, kiosks and retail spaces would be set up in and outside of rail stations and in parking garages on Metro property. Metro will choose businesses to own, operate and manage the kiosks for at least five years, and the businesses would pay rent to Metro.

"We envision it to be similar to airport terminals where vendors sell magazines, newspapers, sports memorabilia and T-shirts. We’re also looking at adding services that will make transit trips more convenient for our customers, such as dry cleaners and shoe repair," said Interim General Manager Dan Tangherlini.

Businesses would be asked to submit proposals, which do not include the sale of food, beverages or tobacco. Metro managers plan to investigate the option of the sale of food and beverages separately. Stations were chosen on location, ridership and use by tourists. Metro will present an updated proposal to the Board in the fall after reviewing proposals from interested businesses. Metro’s other retail program, automated teller machines (ATMs), has brought in more money than initially projected. Metro installed ATMs in 35 rail stations beginning last summer. They are expected to bring in about a $1 million this fiscal year, which ends next month.

"There is the potential to generate significant revenue for the Authority from the retail programs, which could be used for customer service initiatives, among other improvements," said Tangherlini.

The stations that would be part of the pilot program are listed below:

District of Columbia:   Anacostia, Georgia Avenue-Petworth, Gallery Place-Chinatown and Metro Center

Maryland:  College Park- U. Of Md., New Carrollton, Shady Grove and Glenmont

Virginia:  King Street, Rosslyn, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA

News release issued on May 4, 2006.