Metro News Release

For immediate release: September 21, 2006

Metro to offer free bus rides to seniors and people with disabilities in Montgomery County

            Who says there’s no such thing as a free ride"  Metrobus will offer just that to seniors and people with disabilities on weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. in Montgomery County. 
 
            The Metro Board approved the perk today. It begins October first and will save each passenger 60 cents a trip. Metro currently charges half the peak fare on bus and rail for seniors and people with disabilities who present a valid Metro disability or senior ID.
 
MontgomeryCounty is picking up the tab for the free rides program, which could cost up to $125,000 in fiscal 2007. Metrobus operates about 30 routes in the county. Montgomery County’s Ride On buses began the same program in July. 
           
All MetroAccess customers with a valid MetroAccess ID card and one companion are able to ride Metro, DC Circulator, Ride-On, Falls Church’s "George," Fairfax County’s Fairfax Connector, and the City of Fairfax’s CUE Bus for free.
 
Metro also offers free orientations to teach people with disabilities how to use bus and rail, along with trip planning assistance.

News release issued on September 21, 2006.