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Editor's Note: This information was provided by WMATA. It is presented here without editing.

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Metrorail Facts

Metro

July 1996

Contents:

  • Introduction
  • WMATA Fiscal Year 1995
  • Cost of Metrorail System (1969-2001)
  • Some Statistics
  • Holiday Schedule
  • Metrorail Information
  • Hours of Operation
  • Fares
  • Rail Cars
  • Operating Status
  • Communications
  • Escalators
  • Elevators
  • Deepest Station
  • Systemwide Mileage When Completed
  • Sequence of Metro Openings
  • Metrobus Information
  • Buses
  • Communications
  • Facilities
  • MetroAccess


  • Introduction

    The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) was created by an interstate compact in 1967 to plan, develop, build, finance and operate a balanced regional transportation system in the national capital area. The Authority began building its rail system in 1969, acquired the four area bus systems in 1973 and began operating the first phase of Metrorail in 1976.

    The following jurisdictions comprise the transit zone: District of Columbia; Maryland -- Montgomery and Prince George's counties; Virginia -- Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church.

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    WMATA Fiscal Year 1995

    Operating Budget: $634.0 million
    Budgeted staff: 8,597

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    Cost of Metrorail System (1969-2001)

    $10 billion

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    Some Statistics

    Transit modes: Metrobus and Metrorail
    Area served: 1,500 square miles
    Population: 3.2 million
    Ridership (weekday average trips, est. fiscal 1995):

    852,000 total
    552,000 rail
    441,000 bus
    141,000 combined bus/rail trips

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    Holiday Schedule

    New Year's Day
    Metrorail: 8 a.m. - Last Train
    Metrobus: Sunday schedule

    Martin Luther King Day
    Metrorail: 5:30 a.m. - Last Train
    Metrobus: Saturday schedule

    President's Day
    Metrorail: 5:30 a.m. - Last Train
    Metrobus: Saturday schedule

    Memorial Day
    Metrorail: 8 a.m. - Last Train
    Metrobus: Sunday schedule

    July 4th
    Metrorail: 8 a.m. - Last Train (hours extended as needed)
    Metrobus: Saturday schedule

    Labor Day
    Metrorail: 8 a.m. - Last Train
    Metrobus: Sunday schedule

    Columbus Day
    Metrorail: 5:30 a.m. - Last Train
    Metrobus: Saturday schedule

    Veterans Day
    Metrorail: 5:30 a.m. - Last Train
    Metrobus: Saturday schedule

    Thanksgiving Day
    Metrorail: 8 a.m. - Last Train
    Metrobus: Sunday schedule

    Christmas Day
    Metrorail: 8 a.m. - Last Train
    Metrobus: Sunday schedule

    Note: Different schedules are followed on Metrobus depending on the route. Check the timetable or call Metro at 202-637-7000 (TDD 202-638-3780)

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    Metrorail Information:

    Hours of Operation

    Weekdays, 5:30 a.m. - midnight or last train
    Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. - midnight or last train

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    Fares

    Peak fares are in effect weekdays 5:30 - 9:30 a.m. and 3 - 8 p.m. Off-peak fares are in effect at all other times

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    Rail Cars

    In revenue service: 764
    Length: 75 feet
    Width: 10 feet
    Manufacturers: Rohr Corp (298 cars) and Breda Costruzioni Ferroviarie (466 cars)
    Normal capacity:

    Rohr Corp - 175 (80 seated, 95 standing)
    Breda - 187 (68 seated, 119 standing)
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    Operating Status

    In operation: 74 stations, 89 miles of track
    Under construction: 4 stations, 7.58 miles of track
    Under final design: 5 stations, 6.42 miles of track (Fast Track Program completion by early 2001)

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    Communications

    · Two-way radio between train operator and central control
    · Hotlines, central control to police and fire departments
    · Call boxes spaced 800 feet apart along tracks
    · Closed-circuit TV throughout the system
    · Onboard P.A. from operator's cab
    · Passenger-to-station manager intercoms on rail station platforms
    · Passenger-to-operator intercoms at each end of the rail cars
    · Station P.A. from kiosks or central control
    · Passenger-to-station manager intercoms in all elevator cabs
    · Video monitoring of entrance elevators

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    Escalators

    A total of 522 in operation. The longest escalator in the Western Hemisphere, 230 feet from mezzanine to platform level, is at the Wheaton station.

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    Elevators

    There are 182 elevators operating in stations, support shorts and facilities.

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    Deepest Station

    Forest Glen - 196 feet (21 stories) below the surface. Passengers enter and leave via six high-speed elevators, which carry them from the street to the station platform in less than 20 seconds.

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    Systemwide Mileage When Completed

    Subway: 50.71 miles, 47 stations

    Surface/Aerial: 52.35 miles, 36 stations

    Total: 103.06 miles, 83 stations

    By Jurisdiction:
    D.C.: 38.30 miles, 39 stations
    Montgomery Co.: 18.43 miles, 11 stations
    P.G. County: 17.86 miles, 13 stations
    Alexandria: 6.11 miles, 3 stations
    Arlington Co.: 12.19 miles, 11 stations
    Fairfax Co.: 11.17 miles, 6 stations

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    Sequence of Metro Openings

    Line Segment Stations Miles Date
    Red Farragut North to Rhode Island Avenue 5 4.60 3/29/76
    Red Gallery Pl.-
    Chinatown
    1 0 12/15/76
    Red To Dupont Circle 1 1.07 1/17/77
    Blue National Airport to Stadium-Armory 17 11.76 7/1/77
    Red To Silver Spring 4 5.65 2/6/78
    Orange Stadium-Armory to New Carrollton 5 7.37 11/20/78
    Orange Rosslyn to Ballston 4 2.95 12/1/79
    Blue To Addison Road 3 3.64 11/22/80
    Red To Van Ness-UDC 3 2.07 12/5/81
    Yellow Gallery Pl.-
    Chinatown To Pentagon
    1 3.25 4/30/83
    Yellow To Huntington 4 4.16 12/17/83
    Red To Grosvenor 5 6.81 8/25/84
    Red To Shady Grove 4 6.98 12/15/84
    Orange To Vienna 4 9.11 6/7/86
    Red To Wheaton 2 3.20 9/22/90
    Green To U Street-Cardozo 3 1.65 5/11/91
    Blue To Van Dorn Street 1 3.89 6/15/91
    Green To Anacostia 3 2.88 12/28/91
    Green To Greenbelt 4 7.96 12/11/93
    Blue To Franconia-Springfield 1 3.33 Mid 1997
    Red To Glenmont 1 1.35 Mid 1998
    Green To Branch Ave. 5 6.47 Early '01
    Total System 83 103.06

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    Metrobus Information:

    Buses

    Operating Fleet: 1,439
    Types of buses: 10 (listed here with seated/full-load capacities)
    GMC New Look (51/82)
    Flexible (47/78)
    Flexible Minibus (31/48)
    M.A.N. Articulated 55 feet (61/85)
    M.A.N. Articulated 60 feet (72/100)
    Advance Designed Flexible Metro 40
    (45/78 with wheelchair lifts
    47/78 without wheelchair lifts)
    Gillig Phantom (29/46)
    ADB Flexible Metro Minibus 30 feet (29/44)
    ADB Flexible Metro Minibus 35 feet (36/53)
    B.I.A. Orion (46/77)

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    Communications

    · Two-way radio between bus operator and central control
    · Emergency radio silent alarm

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    Facilities

    Metrobus divisions: eight and two annexes

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    MetroAccess

    MetroAccess is curb-to-curb paratransit service for people unable to use Metrorail, Metrobus or fixed-route local service. The new service is a phone call away for those who have been certified under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Hours, now 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, will expand to 5 a.m. to midnight seven days a week by 1997.

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