Metro News Release

For immediate release: November 4, 2009

Metro experiencing communications outage

Trains, buses, paratransit service operational

An outage to a Metro internal power distribution unit has taken a Metro data center computer out of commission temporarily and is affecting several communication services to Metro customers. Trains, buses and paratransit service are operating as usual.

The problem began at about 2:45 a.m. and technicians have been working to fix the problem as some services have begun to return, such as the Metro web site, which came back online shortly before 8:30 a.m. Metro’s Customer Call Center began to receive calls by about 9 a.m.

The following systems are now functioning:
• Metrobus fareboxes are functioning, although some bus operators had difficulty logging onto them earlier this morning. If that was the case, customers were allowed to ride without paying.
• The Bus Operations Control Center had early difficulty communicating with buses on the streets, however bus radios came back into service at about 10 a.m.
• All reservation and dispatch systems for MetroAccess returned to use at about 10 a.m.
• The MetroAccess call center and online reservation system returned to service at about 10 a.m.
• The public address system came back online at 10:30 a.m.

The following systems are not functioning:
• Customers are not able to purchase fare with their debit cards.
• Customers are limited to charge up to $20 only using a credit card at fare machines.
• The NextBus system is not operational.
• SmartBenefits are not functioning.
• The e-alert system is not functioning.

The outage occurred at Metro Headquarters, 600 5th Street, NW.

Media contact for this news release: Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.

News release issued at 10:39 am, November 4, 2009.