Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 5, 2006

Metro to operate regular weekday service on Columbus Day

Metro will operate regular weekday Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess service and collect weekday parking fees at Metrorail parking facilities on Columbus Day, Monday, October 9.

On Monday, October 9, the Metrorail system will open at 5 a.m., and close at midnight. Weekday peak fares will be in effect from 5 to 9:30 a.m., and from 3 to 7 p.m. Regular weekday parking fees will also be collected, so anyone who wishes to park at a Metrorail station on Monday will need a SmarTrip card for payment. Metrobus and MetroAccess service will also operate on a regular weekday schedule.

This past summer, Metro’s Board of Directors approved a $1.9 billion dollar fiscal year 2007 budget that included several new initiatives including operating regular weekday service on Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Martin Luther King Day and Presidents Day due to high ridership on those federal holidays. The total cost to operate regular weekday service on these four holidays is $1 million.

Over the last five years, Metro has seen a 19 percent increase in Metrorail ridership and a 40 percent increase in Metrobus ridership during these four holidays. The decision by the Board to operate normal weekday service on these four holidays will meet help meet that customer demand.

News release issued on October 5, 2006.