Metro News Release

For immediate release: September 30, 2002

This week in Metro (Monday, September 30, 2002)

Reminder: New Metrobus route establishedService started on September 29

New weekday 16Y Metrobus service will begin on Sunday, September 29, and will operate between Columbia Pike in Arlington and downtown D.C., the first major corridor in Virginia to have through bus service to downtown since the Yellow Line opened in 1982. The regular one-way $1.10 fare will be charged. Buses will run eastbound to D.C. in the mornings, and in the afternoons, buses will run westbound to Virginia. Coming UpNow through October 27, 2002, "On Track: Transit and the American City" Exhibition at the National Building Museum, on F Street, NW, between 4th and 5th streets, across from the entrance to the Judiciary Square Metro station; this exhibit, sponsored by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the museum, and other supporters, features an interactive display about transportation in the United States from the early days of transportation until now. Metro is prominently featured in the exhibition as well as other transit agencies from around the country. The exhibit showcases the ways in which public transportation has shaped the geographical and social landscape of this country.September 30, 2002, 7 p.m., Public Hearing on New Carrollton Maintenance Yard Expansion and Parking Garage and College Park-UM Parking Garage, at the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission Building, 6600 Kenilworth Avenue in Riverdale, MD. The purpose of this hearing is to receive public input on the plans to expand the existing eight-rail car maintenance facility at the New Carrollton Yard to a 28-rail car facility, and to construct a parking garage at New Carrollton and College Park.October 1, 2002, 10 a.m., Joint Development Project Opening Celebration, above the Court House Metro Station in Arlington, Virginia; to celebrate the successful completion of the joint development project by Metro with Strayer University, CVS/pharmacy, and SunTrust Bank. These three businesses will occupy a state-of-the art, three-story building which was constructed above the Court House station. The construction project project has no parking associated with it and represents a model for smart growth and transit-oriented development in the region as it provides direct access to Metrorail and Metrobus.October 2-16, 2002, Elevator Upgrade at the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail Station, with Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades to the elevators at this station; customers who normally enter or exit this station and who are unable to use the escalator should call 202-962-1825 before their trip to request a shuttle bus be waiting to take them from Dunn Loring-Merrifield to Vienna at the Dunn Loring station.October 2, 2002, 9:30 a.m., a New York Avenue Metro Station Kick-Off Event, to Announce the Rail-Volution Conference of October 3 to 6. This event will demonstrate that the construction site of the New York Avenue Metro station underscores the themes which are the focus of the Rail-Volution Conference (see the next entry): smart growth and smart land use, transit-oriented development, transit as a catalyst for creating livable communities, and the strength of public and private partnerships for funding transit development.October 3-6, 2002, Rail-Volution Conference, at the Omni-Shoreham Hotel near the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro station on the Red Line, in Washington, DC; the Opening Reception will be on Thursday, October 3, at 6:30 p.m., at the National Building Museum on F Street, NW, between 4th and 5th, and across from the entrance to the Judiciary Square Metro station on the Red Line. This conference focuses on smart land use, transit, and transit-oriented development; political, federal agency, transportation, and community leaders, as well as transit-business related organizations’ representatives will be on hand to discuss these critically important issues. Metro CEO Richard A. White will give a presentation at the Opening Plenary on Friday, October 4, at 8:30 a.m.October 8 and 9, 2002, 8:45 a.m., SmartBenefits Seminars for agencies and organizations that want to learn more about this program. The seminars will be held at Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, NW. Employers will learn about the Web-base tool which permits them to load Metrochek, a monthly transit benefit of up to $100 for each participating employee, directly into an employee’s SmartTrip card. To register for one of the free seminars, employers should call 202-962-1326.October 16, 2002, Branch Avenue Rail Yard Energizing, when Metrorail provides electric power to the newest rail yard at the end of the Green Line just beyond the last station, Branch Avenue. Rail yards are facilities where Metro maintains, refurbishes, and stores rail cars between those times when they are in service for customers. Metro is working with two schools, nearby Skyline Elementary and St. Phillips Elementary, to provide presentations to students about the safe use of Metro. October 17, 2002, 7 to 9 p.m., Sponsors Reception event sponsored by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), Washington, DC, Chapter; this event encourages sponsorships of COMTO’s National Meeting and Training Conference in 2003 and is by invitation only. This reception also kicks off a weekend of events by the National COMTO board members who will be in town for the reception.July 8-12, 2003, 32nd Conference of Minority Transportation Officials’ National Meeting and Training Conference, in Washington, DC; the conference will feature workshops, technical tours and a youth symposium. Conference planners expect 1,000 attendees at the conference sponsored by Metro and the COMTO Washington, DC, chapter.No Metro Board Committee Meetings Scheduled for October 3, 2002On October 3, there will be no Metro Board of Directors committee meetings. To hear a recording about upcoming meetings, date and time changes for meetings, or the results of the last meeting, call 202-962-1055.

News release issued on September 30, 2002.