Metro News Release
For immediate release: November 24, 2009
Metro to operate extra bus service in anticipation of Thanksgiving week travel to BWI and Dulles airports
Metro service to all three airports gives travelers convenient options
As area residents prepare for Thanksgiving holiday travel, Metro is preparing to make it easier for people who are traveling to and from the region’s three airports on Wednesday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 29. Metrorail service is available to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Metrobus will operate extra buses to the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
“Washington area residents can leave their cars at home and take Metro to the airports,” said Gerald Francis, Metro’s Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. “Thanksgiving weekend is one of the most popular weekends for air travel, and we recognize that so we are providing additional buses during Thanksgiving week.”
Metrorail Service Thanksgiving Weekend
On Thursday, Nov. 26, the Metrorail system will operate on a Sunday schedule, opening at 7 a.m. and closing at midnight. Trains on all lines will operate with six cars. Metrorail recorded 113,361 passenger trips on Thanksgiving of 2008.
On Friday, Nov. 27, the Metrorail system will run on a regular weekday schedule from 5 a.m. to 3 a.m. Trains on all lines will operate with six cars. Typically, Metrorail ridership the day after Thanksgiving is relatively light. Last year, Metrorail recorded 393,775 passenger trips, which is closer to ridership for a typical Saturday.
Metrorail will operate its regular schedule on Saturday, Nov. 28, (opening 7 a.m. and closing at 3 a.m.) and Sunday, Nov. 29 (opening at 7 a.m. and closing at midnight).
Parking will be free at all Metrorail stations on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, and Saturday, Nov. 28, and Sunday, Nov. 29.
Metrorail to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Air travelers can reach the airport by riding Metro’s Blue or Yellow Line to the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail station.
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving last year (2008), 5,851 people entered the Metrorail station at the airport and 12,587 exited the station. In 2008, on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, 8,890 entered the station and 3,036 exited the station.
Metrobus to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Air travelers can reach BWI/Thurgood Marshall Airport the airport by riding Metro’s Green Line to the Greenbelt Metrorail station and then catching the B30 Metrobus, which provides direct service from the train station to the airport for $3.10, or $3 using a SmarTrip card.
On Wednesday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 29, Metro will have two additional articulated buses available. The additional buses will be used if there is high demand during the day.
On Thursday, Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day, the B30 will operate on a Sunday schedule.
Metrobus to Washington Dulles International Airport
Air travelers have two options to reach Dulles Airport. One option is to take Metro’s Orange Line to the West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station and then taking the Washington Flyer bus to the airport.
A second option for air travelers is to take the 5A Metrobus at the L’Enfant Plaza or Rosslyn Metrorail station, which provides direct service to the airport for $3.10, or $3 using a SmarTrip card.
On Wednesday, Nov. 25, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., buses will depart Dulles Airport every 20 minutes. One bus will operate directly to the Rosslyn Metrorail station. The second bus will continue onto the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station.
On Thursday, Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day, the 5A will operate on a Sunday schedule.
On Saturday, Nov. 28, and Sunday, Nov. 29, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., buses will depart the Rosslyn Metrorail station every 30 minutes with one bus operating directly to Washington Dulles International Airport. The other bus will come from the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station. An additional bus will be available if there is a high demand on Saturday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 29.
For schedules and travel times of the B30 and 5A, please visit Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com.
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Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
For all other inquiries, please call customer service at 202-637-7000.
News release issued at 8:38 am, November 24, 2009.