Metro News Release

For immediate release: July 1, 2010

Crowded Conditions expected for Metro on July 4

Smithsonian Metrorail station will be closed until fireworks conclude;
Metrobus to operate standard Sunday schedule

Metro will have extra service on July 4th for people attending holiday festivities on the National Mall and the Washington Nationals day game, however large crowds will result in crowded trains after 6 p.m. Due to the large crowds, riders should have enough money on their SmarTrip cards, or purchase a one-day rail pass if making multiple trips or buy a round-trip farecard when first entering the rail system to avoid long lines when going home after the fireworks show.

The Metrorail system will be open 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 for entry-only shortly after the fireworks show has concluded to help get people home. It typically takes 1 ½ to 2 hours to clear the Mall after the fireworks.

Metrobus will operate on a Sunday schedule on Sunday, July 4th. MetroAccess will also operate as usual.

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. 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 long waits, people should walk to Metrorail stations that are a few blocks away from the Mall.

There will be no scheduled weekend track maintenance during the 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. Metrobuses will also operate on a Sunday schedule.

Metrorail Service on Sunday, July 4

Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight. The Smithsonian Metrorail station will be closed for most of the day and will reopen shortly after the fireworks conclude. The Arlington Cemetery Metrorail station on the Blue Line will stay open until midnight. Throughout the day, all Orange Line trains departing the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station will alternate its final destination between the Stadium-Armory and New Carrollton Metrorail stations. Throughout the day, all Yellow Line trains will operate between the Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station. Beginning at 2 p.m., all Red Line trains departing from the Shady Grove Metrorail station will alternate their final destination between the Silver Spring and Glenmont Metrorail stations.

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.

Riders 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:

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. Due to street closures near the National Mall and various locations throughout the region, the following 26 Metrobus routes will be detoured: 5A, 13F, 13G, 32, 34, 36, 52, 54, 64, 70, A42, A46, A48, D6, F4, P6, S2, S4 and V8. The 4H, 7A, 13F, 13G, 16B, 16G and 16J lines will be detoured near the Pentagon and Rosslyn Metrorail stations but will have access to the stations. For more information 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. MetroAccess riders 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.

Metro riders are likely to see members of the Metro Transit Police 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.

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

News release issued at 11:53 am, July 1, 2010.