Metrorail sets ridership record
UPDATED
Metrorail experienced its second-highest weekday ridership ever Thursday, according to a news release from the transit agency.
The 34-year-old rail system recorded 877,890 trips Thursday. Metro officials said the Cherry Blossom Festival and the Washington Capitals hockey game were factors in the record ridership. The highest numbers in Metrorail's history were recorded in 2009 for the Obama Inaugural.
Officials predicted that pleasant weather this weekend and visitors attending the Cherry Blossom Festival will keep crowds heavy (check out Dr. Gridlock's tips for getting around). The Washington Nationals are also hosting the Boston Red Sox in an exhibition game at Nationals Park at 4:05 p.m. Saturday. Metro plans to operate extra trains on the Green Line to accommodate the crowds associated with the baseball game.
According to Metro, here are Metrorail's top five ridership days:
1) Obama Inaugural (Jan. 20, 2009): 1,120,000
2) Cherry Blossom Festival/Washington Capitals (April 1, 2010): 877,890
3) Obama Inaugural activities (Jan.19, 2009): 866,681
4) Baseball/Women of Faith (July 11, 2008): 854,638
5) Ronald Reagan state funeral (June 9, 2004): 850,636
By
Michael Bolden
|
April 2, 2010; 1:30 PM ET
Categories:
Advisories
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Commuting
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Metro
| Tags: Metro
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Posted by: ceebee2 | April 2, 2010 10:59 AM | Report abuse
Let's cut away 6 and 8 car trains. Back to 4.
Posted by: wpjunk | April 2, 2010 11:10 AM | Report abuse
Where do they get off saying they have budget problems because ridership is down. The board is useless. There needs to be an independent outside audit of metro NOW!!! Where is all the money going?
Posted by: 123cartoon | April 2, 2010 11:31 AM | Report abuse
Hm, that still doesn't explain the 10+ minute waits for a train during rush hour last night. I'm sick and tired of this waste of a transit system.
Posted by: wigfly64 | April 2, 2010 11:43 AM | Report abuse
That's a lot of people...we need to get those 14 car trains in service NOW.
Posted by: pikamander007 | April 2, 2010 12:07 PM | Report abuse
The streets downtown were HIDEOUSLY gridlocked last night. We were going to the Caps game and it took half an hour to get from 14th & New York to 9th & I (entrance to the big car park where the old convention center was). It usually takes 20 minutes from the Watergate complex to the car park, but last night it took an hour. It's fashionable these days to bust on Metro, but I shudder to think of what the traffic would be like if all those people on the trains were driving.
Posted by: 1995hoo | April 2, 2010 2:35 PM | Report abuse
Yeah, don't dis cancer. I shudder to think of what it would be like if everyone with cancer had heart disease instead.
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Posted by: itkonlyyouaa | April 3, 2010 10:23 AM | Report abuse
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Yep, Metro ridership is down...