[WardFive] Metro service information for 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington

Metro News Release

For immediate release: August 19, 2013

Metro service information for 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington
No track work except at Franconia-Springfield Station; extra trains in service

Metro will operate normal weekend service on all rail lines throughout the weekend of August 24-25 to accommodate visitors attending events for the 50th Anniversary of the Historic March on Washington.  The only exception will be Franconia-Springfield Station, where trains will depart every 24 minutes, rather than the usual 12 to 20 minutes.  All other 85 stations will have service every 6 to 12 minutes during daytime hours.

Metro will provide additional customer service staff at key stations to provide assistance for visitors.  On Saturday, guests attending the event on the National Mall are encouraged to use the following four stations:

·         Farragut North 

·         Farragut West  

·         Smithsonian   

·         Arlington Cemetery  

Entry points to the Saturday event on the National Mall will be located near 17th Street NW on both sides of the World War II Memorial. Foggy Bottom Station is recommended for guests with disabilities only.

Metro has produced a special visitor's brochure for the event, which is available for download here.  The brochure will be available at all stations throughout the weekend.

Bicycles restricted before 10 a.m. Saturday

Due to the potential for high ridership prior to the event, standard frame bicycles will not be permitted on Metrorail between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday. Bicycles will be permitted after 10 a.m. for the remainder of the weekend. Collapsible bicycles are permitted at any time.

General Information

·         Metrorail will open at 7 a.m. and close at 3 a.m.

·         Trains will operate on a regular Saturday schedule throughout the day.  

·         The only scheduled track work will affect Franconia-Springfield Station, where trains will depart every 24 minutes, rather than every 12-20 minutes.  The other 85 Metrorail stations will have normal service with no track work.  Riders should consider using stations other than Franconia-Springfield. Huntington and Van Dorn Street stations are good options.

Travel Tips

·         Metro may experience high ridership as a result of events on the National Mall. Please plan accordingly.

·         Each passenger must have a SmarTrip® card or paper farecard to enter and exit the Metrorail system. To avoid lines, buy a card in advance for each member of your group. Be sure the card is loaded with enough value for both directions of travel (a complete round trip). A $1-per-trip surcharge applies when using a paper farecard.

·         For maximum convenience, buy a $14 One Day Pass, which allows unlimited Metrorail travel on the day it is used. You can buy a One Day Pass at any Metrorail station.

·         Your safety is important to us. Always stand back from the platform edge. Do not hold train doors (they do not reopen like elevator doors). Don't take strollers on escalators. Take small children by the hand while riding the system.

·         If you see any unattended items or suspicious activity, notify Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121.

·         Parking at all Metro-owned lots and garages is FREE on Saturdays and Sundays. On weekdays, you will need to pay the parking fee using value on a SmarTrip® card or with a credit card. Cash is not accepted.

·         For safety reasons, charter/tour buses are prohibited from entering Metrorail stations at any time. Charter/tour bus operators should follow instructions available on the event website.

 

 

News release issued at 11:04 am, August 19, 2013.

 

 

Ann E. Chisholm

Office of Government Relations

Government Relations Officer for the District of Columbia

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

600 5th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001

202.962.2877

 

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This electronic communication, including any attachments, is intended solely for the use of its intended recipient(s) and might contain information that is legally privileged, confidential, proprietary in nature, or otherwise exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, any distribution or copying of this electronic communication (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it (including any attachments) from your system without copying or forwarding it, and notify the sender of the error by reply e-mail.