Metro News Release
For immediate release: June 23, 2010
Metro to run extra service on July 4
Smithsonian Metrorail station will be closed until fireworks conclude
Metro will have extra service on July 4 for people attending holiday festivities on the National Mall and the Washington Nationals day game because large crowds are expected.
Metrorail will run from 7 a.m. to midnight, and operate near rush-hour level service for six straight hours from 6 p.m. to midnight. Trains will run on their usual routes on all five rail lines, however, the Smithsonian Metrorail station will be closed until the fireworks conclude. Customers should use other stations such as Foggy Bottom-GWU, Metro Center, Archives Navy Mem’l-Penn Quarter, Gallery Pl-Chinatown, Judiciary Square, Union Station, L’Enfant Plaza, Capitol South or Federal Center SW to get to the National Mall. Parking will be free at Metrorail parking lots.
The Smithsonian Metrorail station will be closed for most of the day for security reasons. The station will reopen shortly after the fireworks show has concluded.
Metro officials expect to provide between 500,000 and 600,000 rail trips system-wide and expect crowded conditions on trains leading up to the scheduled 9:10 p.m. fireworks show at the Mall. “We expect that our stations, trains and buses will be crowded as people head to see the fireworks, and we expect to see even tighter conditions afterward,” said Dave Kubicek, Metro’s Acting Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. “People should expect to be waiting in long lines to get back into Metro stations after the fireworks, perhaps for an hour or more. To avoid waiting in long lines, people should use a variety of stations for entry on the way home.”
There will be no scheduled weekend track maintenance during the July 4th holiday weekend.
On Monday, July 5th, the national holiday, Metrorail will operate on a Sunday schedule, opening at 7 a.m. and closing at midnight. Metrobus will also operate on a Sunday schedule.
Metrorail Service on Sunday, July 4
Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight. At 6 p.m., Metro will ramp up rail service leading up to the fireworks display on the National Mall. Trains will depart every eight minutes from the end of each rail line. However, at the Shady Grove and Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail stations, trains will depart every four minutes. Trains will operate approximately every four minutes in the downtown portion of Washington, DC. Parking will be free at all Metrorail parking facilities.
Attendees should consider using any of several stations to the get to The Mall, including Farragut North, Federal Center SW, Capitol South, Union Station and Judiciary Square Metrorail stations. If possible, people should avoid transferring from one line to another at Metro Center, Gallery Pl-Chinatown or L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail stations to cut down on their travel time. To avoid excess crowding at the Federal Triangle Metrorail station, customers may wish to walk a few extra blocks to avoid transferring, or use the following stations:
Rail Line (End of Line Station) Suggested station to exit to get to The Mall
Shady Grove (Red Line) Farragut North or Metro Center
Glenmont (Red Line) Union Station, Judiciary Square or Gallery Pl-Chinatown
Vienna (Orange Line) Foggy Bottom-GWU, Farragut West or McPherson Square
New Carrollton (Orange Line) Largo Town Center (Blue Line) Capitol South, Federal SW, or L’Enfant Plaza
Greenbelt (Green Line) Gallery Pl-Chinatown
Branch Avenue (Green Line) L’Enfant Plaza
Franconia Springfield (Blue Line) or Huntington (Yellow Line) Arlington Cemetery (Blue Line) or L’Enfant Plaza
On the afternoon of July 4th, the Washington Nationals will host the New York Mets at 1:35 p.m., at Nationals Park. Metro will have additional trains available before and after the baseball game.
Metrobus Service on Sunday, July 4
Metrobus will operate on a Sunday schedule on July 4th. However, due to street closures near the National Mall and various locations throughout the region, riders can expect numerous Metrobus routes to be detoured. For more information and further updates on specific detours, please check Metro’s Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com for updates.
As a result of the many bus detours, NextBus, Metro’s automated bus arrival information service is not able to reflect the changes in July 4 bus service.
MetroAccess Service on Sunday, July 4
MetroAccess will operate its regular schedule on Sunday, July 4th. To the extent allowable by road closures, MetroAccess will provide regular service after the fireworks. Customers planning to attend July 4th events on the National Mall and in the downtown area should expect traffic congestion and delays. For Monday, July 5th, in observance of the Independence Day holiday, all subscription trips will be canceled. Customers wishing to travel will need to speak to a reservation agent to book their trips.
Security and Customer Assistance
Metro Transit Police, the National Park Police and several other police agencies will assist Metro Transit Police on July 4.
“We are taking precautionary measures to allow our customers to use our system without incident,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn. “Our customers are likely to see members of our special response teams of officers carrying additional weaponry with a canine accompanying them.”
Customers are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior, unusual activity or unattended items to a uniformed Metro employee, police officer, or by calling the Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121.
In addition to the Metro Transit Police, more than 50 Metro administrative staff will provide additional customer assistance for those who may be unfamiliar with using the Metrorail system.
The Metro Center Metrorail station sales office will be open on July 4th from 8 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Travel tips
Metrorail riders should purchase either a One-Day Pass, or be sure to have enough fare value on their SmarTrip cards or farecards to make a round trip so as not to have to stand in line to add fare more than once. Each passenger must have his/her own fare card, SmarTrip card or One-Day Pass.
Customers can expect many downtown rail station escalators will be turned off to help meter large crowds for safety.
Metrorail station restrooms will be open on July 4th with the exception of the Pentagon, Rhode Island Ave-Brentwood, Congress Heights, Addison Road-Seat Pleasant, Anacostia and Navy Yard Metrorail stations. Bicycles will not be permitted in the Metrorail system on July 4th.
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July 4 Trip History
Year Rail Trips Taken Day
2009 631,206 Saturday
2008 598,898 Friday
2007 499,341 Wednesday
2006 451,623 Tuesday
2005 541,101 Monday
2004 363,280 Sunday
News release issued at 1:19 pm, June 23, 2010.