Metro to Operate Special Service on July 4th

[Howard Hartman]

Metro to Operate Special Service on July 4th

Smithsonian Station Will Be Closed

Fourth of July festivities on the National Mall are expected to result in large crowds in the Metro system on July 4th.

Metrorail will be open for service from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m., however the Smithsonian Metrorail station will be closed all day for security reasons. Special routing of trains has been designed to get people to and from the National Mall as quickly as possible. Parking will be free at Metrorail parking lots. Bicycles are not permitted in the rail system on July 4th.

Because the National Park Service will fence off the Mall area and provide limited access points where security screening can take place, and because the Smithsonian Metrorail station is inside the secured area, the Smithsonian station will be closed all day.

After the fireworks, there will be no shuttle buses taking people to the Pentagon. A combination of low ridership on the shuttles and more railcars this calendar year have resulted in the elimination of the shuttles.

Riders should expect to see altered service for the day. This includes:

? The Yellow Line will run between the Franconia-Springfield and Mt. Vernon Square/7th Street-Convention Center Metrorail stations. Riders should exit at L’Enfant Plaza and Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Metrorail stations to get to the Mall;

• Blue Line service will run between the Huntington and the Rosslyn Metrorail stations;
  
  
• The Orange Line will serve both the Largo Town Center and New Carrollton Metrorail stations;
  
  
• Extra Green Line service will see every other train turning back at the Fort Totten Metrorail station starting at 6 p.m.; and
  
  
• Extra Red Line service will see every other train turning back at the Silver Spring Metrorail station starting at 2 p.m.

Several Metro station managers and employees will serve as Metro Information Persons, to help direct customers to alternative downtown Metrorail stations other than the Smithsonian. In addition, Metro Transit Police will be at the busiest and end-of-the-line stations to patrol and monitor the crowds.

Free Metrorail system “Walking Maps,” which provide information on how best to get from a Metrorail station to a particular destination in the downtown area, are available for July 4th. Metro’s Web site will have additional information at www.metroopensdoors.com. The Customer Service Call Center (202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780) will be open for those who need to call for information on riding the Metrobus or Metrorail system. Metro’s Sales Office at the Metro Center Metrorail station will be open on July 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Customers are reminded of the following tips:

• Have enough money on your SmarTrip card 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.
  
  
• Individuals should use the Passes/Vendors farecard machines to make simultaneous purchases of multiple farecards for individuals traveling in a group.
  
  
• If a customer sees anything suspicious, they should approach a Metro Transit Police officer, inform a Metro employee, or call Metro Transit Police on its 24-hour communications line at 202-962-2121.