Metro News Release

For immediate release: April 20, 2010

Metro transports U.S. Paralympics athletes

Members of U.S. Paralympics team to travel to White House, U.S. Supreme Court on modified Metrobuses

Metro will transport members of the 2010 U.S. Paralympics team to the White House and U.S. Supreme Court on two specially modified Metrobuses tomorrow.

The buses, manufactured in 1990, have no seats. The vehicles feature hand rails, wheelchair restraints and a ramp at the front door. Each bus can transport 12 to 15 passengers in wheelchairs, depending on chair sizes.

Metro maintains four of these modified buses in its reserve fleet. The buses have been used to support several events, such as transporting disabled veterans to the opening of the World War II Memorial.

Bus service for the athletes, which is funded by the U.S. Olympic Committee, supports Metro’s continuous goal to provide quality transportation to all customers, including visitors to the Washington Metropolitan area, said Phil Wallace, Metro’s General Superintendent for Bus Maintenance.

The Paralympics athletes will receive congratulations from President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on their success during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games.

News release issued at 2:27 pm, April 20, 2010.