Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 1, 2006

Metro launches operation H2O this afternoon by distributing free water at three Metrorail stations with limited escalator service

Metro officials launched “Operation H2O” today to help its passengers cope with the excessive heat at three stations with limited escalator service.

Metrorail passengers exiting the Capitol South, Benning Road and Dupont Circle (Q Street side) Metrorail stations between 2 and 7 p.m. today will receive a free bottle of water, courtesy of Metro because of the combination of the excessive heat coupled with the fact that one escalator is unavailable at each of these locations. In addition, both mezzanine to platform elevators are unavailable at the Dupont Circle Metrorail station for an extended capital improvement project.

Staff will hand out up to 7,000 bottles of water at each station until the supply of 21,000 bottles runs out. The total cost to distribute the water is $16,500, which includes the water, ice and labor.

“We are working as quickly as possible to restore these escalator units at these three key stations, and we understand that anytime an escalator unit is not working it’s an inconvenience,” said Dan Tangherlini, Metro’s Interim General Manager. “Distributing water to passengers after they climb up our escalators is our way of saying thank you to our loyal customers, and to also thank them for their patience while we make these repairs.”

Between 2 and 7 p.m. on an average weekday, 1,519 passengers exit Benning Road, 2,061 passengers exit Capitol South, and 4,620 passengers exit the Dupont Circle Q Street side.

At Benning Road, each escalator unit has approximately 65 steps, Capitol South has approximately 85 steps, and at Dupont Circle, Q Street side, each escalator has approximately 155 steps.

Passengers with medical conditions should use the station elevators instead of walking up the escalators. In the case of the Dupont station, passengers should ride to the next Metrorail station and catch a special shuttle bus that will return them to their original station.

News release issued on August 1, 2006.