Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 31, 2006

Metro to Open at 5 a.m. SaturdayFor the 17th Annual Komen National Race for the Cure

To accommodate runners, walkers, volunteers, and spectators at the Komen National Race for the Cure® on Saturday, June 3, Metrorail will open at 5 a.m., two hours early. The race, held in downtown Washington, D.C., begins at 8 a.m. with several events prior to the start. 

More than 50,000 participants and supporters are expected to attend the event. This is the 10th consecutive year that Metrorail is opening early to accommodate participants’ transit needs. Please note, all Metrorail trains will operate every 12 minutes from the end of each rail line, starting at 5 a.m.

Participants attending the 6:45 a.m., Pre-Race rally should use the Federal Center SW Metrorail station on the Orange and Blue Lines, or the Judiciary Square Metrorail station on the Red Line. Participants arriving prior to the 8 and 8:15 a.m. starting time should use the Metro Center Metrorail station on the Red, Orange and Blue Lines, Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter on the Green and Yellow Lines or the Federal Triangle Metrorail station on the Orange and Blue lines.

Metro encourages all participants to have enough money on their SmarTrip cards or farecards for their round trip in advance of the Race, or when they first enter the system. The Smithsonian, Federal Center SW, and Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Metrorail stations are expected to be among the busiest stations on race day, so customers are encouraged to exit or enter at other nearby, less crowded stations such as the Metro Center, L’Enfant Plaza or Union Station Metrorail stations.

Also this weekend, Metro will conduct a major track project on the Blue and Orange Lines outside the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station. Trains will not run between Stadium-Armory and Minnesota Avenue on the Orange Line, or between Stadium-Armory and Benning Road on the Blue Line. Metro will operate a free shuttle bus service between these stations every five minutes. Individuals attending Saturday’s race from New Carrollton or Largo Town Center should add up to 30 minutes of travel time or they can use the Green Line from either the Greenbelt, College Park-U of Maryland, or Prince George’s Plaza Metrorail stations to bypass the track project.

For race information, individuals can visit visit www.nationalraceforthecure.org. For more information on riding Metro, customers can visit www.metroopensdoors.com, or call 202-637-7000 (TTY 202-638-3780) to obtain more information.

News release issued on May 31, 2006.