Metro Raises Rider Awareness During National Preparedness Month

[Howard Hartman]

Metro Raises Rider Awareness
During National Preparedness Month

New signs and announcements are part of ongoing effort

For immediate release: September 1, 2010

September is National Preparedness Month and Metro aims to raise riders’ awareness of the Metro Transit Police telephone number so that riders know how to contact the police department. Metro also is hosting a series of informational outreach events at six Metrorail stations throughout the month to talk with riders and help them prepare for emergency situations affecting Metro service.

As part of Metro’s efforts to increase awareness of its police department’s 24-hour telephone number, starting this month, a new public service announcement by U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will play in the rail system to remind riders that if they see something suspicious, they should say something. “Report all suspicious activity on buses, trains or in stations to a Metro employee or call the Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121,” Napolitano says.

Metro also this week began installing signs on Metrobuses that provide the Metro Transit Police emergency telephone number. Work is also underway to begin to install signs on station kiosks and elevators. The signs are printed in English and Spanish.

Metro’s Office of Emergency Management will host a series of informational outreach events at six Metrorail stations throughout the month to talk with riders and help them prepare for emergency situations. Metro personnel also will distribute literature on Metrorail safety, creating alternate routes and emergency planning. The events scheduled include:

• Tuesday, Sept. 7 – Union Station Metrorail station (4 to 6 p.m.)
• Thursday, Sept. 9 – L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station (7:30 to 9 a.m.)
• Tuesday, Sept. 14 – Greenbelt Metrorail station (7:30 to 9 a.m.)
• Thursday, Sept. 16 – Bethesda Metrorail station (7:30 to 9 a.m.)
• Tuesday, Sept. 21 – Rosslyn Metrorail station (4 to 6 p.m.)
• Thursday, Sept. 23 – West Falls Church Metrorail station (7:30 to 9 a.m.)

Metro’s Office of Emergency Management also will be participating in events at local and federal government agencies, and private businesses throughout the region to help area employers and employees prepare for emergencies.

To help riders prepare for an unexpected event or emergency situation on Metrorail, Metrobus or MetroAccess, Metro encourages riders to take three simple steps:

1. Stay informed about unexpected changes to Metro service by signing up for e-alerts to learn about Metro service disruptions. Individuals may sign up to receive email alerts about Metrorail, MetroAccess or elevator service disruptions. Riders also may bookmark Metro’s homepage to quickly access Metro’s Web site for the latest information about Metrorail, Metrobus or elevator service.
   
   
2. Have an alternate travel plan in case a street or Metrorail station is not available. Planning brochures and station-specific maps available on Metro’s Web site provide riders with instructions on how to walk to nearby stations and listings of available bus routes.
   
   
3. Know how to report an emergency situation, or suspicious or criminal activity to Metro. Metrorail riders can use the intercoms on station pylons to call a station manager or the intercoms at the ends of rail cars to reach a train operator. Metrobus riders should alert the bus operator. Metro encourages its riders to report any suspicious or unusual activity to the Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121. Riders may want to program the telephone number into their cell phones so that they can reach the Metro Transit Police quickly.

For more information on emergency preparedness, including practical, how-to guides visit Metro’s Web site.