Metro Announces Its Opening Day Plans

[Luke_Wilbur]

As the Washington Nationals prepare for their home opener at R.F.K. Stadium this Thursday, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is also preparing to handle the anticipated crowds with extra trains and personnel, and reminding everyone to have enough money on their farecard or SmarTrip card when leaving Metro that evening.

 

"Metro has a distinguished history of providing safe, reliable and convenient service for large crowds, and this event is no different from other events in Washington, D.C.," said Richard A. White, Metro's CEO and General Manager. "Everyone at Metro is excited about the return of Major League Baseball to the nation's capital, and we are honored to be able to provide fans with service to and from the game."

 

On Thursday, patrons can expect the following services from Metro:

 

Metro will operate its full rush hour service with six-car trains starting at 3 p.m., continuing up until game time (7:05 p.m.).

 

Patrons attending the game should utilize the Stadium-Armory Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange Lines.

 

After the game, Metro will have up to 14 six-car trains available to transport attendees from Stadium-Armory.

 

Metro will have free brochures available that provide simple walking directions to R.F.K. Stadium from Stadium-Armory, as well as information on Metrobus service and parking. (The free brochure is available to view on Metro's Web site at www.metroopensdoors.com)

 

Metro will have additional station managers, rail supervisors, and Transit Police at Stadium-Armory to assist customers with service questions, and how to get to and from R.F.K. Stadium.

 

Metro volunteers will be at the following six stations to answer questions: Franconia-Springfield, Greenbelt, Largo Town Center, New Carrollton, Shady Grove, and the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail stations. The volunteers will also remind patrons to check their SmarTrip card or farecard to ensure they have enough money to enter or exit the Metrorail system. These special volunteers will be wearing blue Washington Nationals baseball hats and Navy blue t-shirts that say Metro Staff and "Thanks For Taking Us Out to the Ball Game."

 

Metro will make special on-board train announcements and station announcements reminding people that they must have a SmarTrip card when exiting a parking facility, and telling them which direction customers should walk toward when exiting the Stadium- Armory Metrorail station.

 

Metro personnel will be on hand to sell farecards and SmarTrip cards at Franconia-Springfield, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, Shady Grove, New Carrollton, Greenbelt, Largo Town Center through the afternoon peak period, and Stadium-Armory from 4 p.m. to the conclusion of the baseball game to help reduce lines at the farecard machines and to remind customers to have the appropriate value on their SmarTrip cards to exit Metro parking facilities.

 

Metro will have additional station managers and supervisors throughout the entire system starting Thursday afternoon and into the evening to assist where needed.

 

"Metro will be ready to provide safe, reliable, and convenient service not only for Thursday's Washington Nationals opening home baseball game at R.F.K. Stadium, but throughout the entire season," concluded Mr. White.