Metro News Release
For immediate release: September 6, 2006
Metro Prepares For Thursday’s Immigration Rally
Metrorail Afternoon Rush Hour Service to Begin at 2 p.m.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is preparing to enhance service to accommodate the participants of the Immigrants’ Rights Rally on Thursday, September 7. To accommodate the participants as well as Metro’s daily commuters, Metrorail will begin afternoon rush-hour service one hour early at 2 p.m.
The afternoon rush-hour service will continue throughout the afternoon as dictated by customer volume. Regular, weekday peak fares will only be in effect from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m, and all trains will operate with six-cars. Metro Information Persons (MIPs) will be available at high volume stations to assist customers in stations and parking lots. Metro will have additional rail supervisors on duty to help direct passengers at the key downtown stations near the National Mall. Metro personnel will be available to handsell Metrorail farecards at some end of line rail stations during the afternoon, and key stations near the National Mall once the rally concludes.
As Metro parking facilities are expected to fill earlier than normal, customers are encouraged to take a bus or be dropped off at their stations. Bus service is provided by Metrobus and local transit systems, and many routes connect Metro stations with local park and ride lots.
Because of the expected increase in customers from terminal stations to downtown stations in and around the National Mall, all customers are encouraged to vary their trip schedules, especially during the afternoon rush-hour period. Metro also encourages everyone to avoid transferring from one rail line to another during the mid-to-late afternoon as crowd volumes in the rail system are expected to be higher than usual.
Participants attending the rally on Thursday are encouraged to enter and exit at the following rail stations:
Passengers Entering this Metrorail Station Should Exit this Metrorail Station
Shady Grove, Red Line Gallery Place-Chinatown
Glenmont, Red Line Union Station
Vienna, Orange Line Smithsonian
Largo Town Center, Blue Line L’Enfant Plaza
or New Carrollton, Orange Line
Greenbelt, Green Line Gallery Place-Chinatown
Branch Avenue, Green Line L’Enfant Plaza
Franconia-Springfield, Blue Line Smithsonian
Huntington, Yellow Line L’Enfant Plaza
It is important that first-time users as well as regular commuters be reminded of these Metro tips on Thursday, September 7:
• Remember the stations where you entered and exited and use those same stations going home.
• Each customers must have his/her own farecard. The maximum change from a farecard machine is $5. So come with small bills.
• Children younger than five-years-old travel free.
• Please ensure your farecard has enough fare value for round trip travel and keep the farecard dry to avoid any malfunctions at the faregates.
• If you parked at a Metro parking lot, at least one person in your car must have a SmarTrip card to exit the lot.
• SmarTrip cards are sold at the station for $10. The card cost is $5 and it has $5 value.
• You can increase the value of your SmarTrip card at the Passes/Farecard vendor so that you enough round-trip fare value to travel on Metrorail and also enough parking fees.
• Fares are distance-based by time of day and posted on the farecard vendors. Ask a Metro staff if you are not certain.
• The One-Day Pass for $6.50 is good for travel on Metrorail from 9:30 a.m. until closing (parking fees are not included).
• Please exercise care throughout the rail system as trains and platforms will be crowded.
• Please keep your belongings with you and hold children by their hands as crowded trains and platforms are expected.
• Please remember not to leave any personal items such as bags or packages behind in the Metro system.
Metro also reminds passengers if they see suspicious behavior or unattended items, they should approach a Metro Transit Police officer, inform a Metro employee, or call Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121.
Customers are encouraged to call Metro for more information about riding Metrobus or Metrorail at (202) 637-7000 or TTY (202) 638-3780. Customers can also log on to The Trip Planner, Metro’s on line trip planner, at www.metroopensdoors.com.
News release issued on September 6, 2006.