In what will surely be seen as a sign of the times, Uber will fund an extra hour of Metro service for fans attending the Washington Capitals Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Capital One Arena on Monday night, officials said Sunday.
The ride-hailing firm stepped up late last week after Game 4’s late-night service was funded by DowntownDC Business Improvement District, via a donation from the oil-rich nation of Qatar. That deal raised eyebrows because it struck many as an indirect payment from a foreign government to Metro.
“It’s obviously a much easier deal than Qatar,” Metro Board Chairman Jack Evans said. “Uber obviously is a method of transportation and a real good one that lots of people use so I’m pleased that they’re partnering with Metro to be able to keep Metro open another hour. For those that don’t want to or can’t afford Uber, they’ve got Metro, so that’s terrific.”
Uber said it approached Bowser’s office with the offer to help. The gesture comes amid tensions over a ride-hail tax increase, first proposed by Bowser, which would raise the revenue tax on ride-hailing companies to 6 percent to pay for D.C.’s share of Metro dedicated funding, following revisions by the D.C. Council.
“We think that anything that gives people an alternative to driving their own car, whether it’s transit, ridesharing, or bikeshare, is a good thing for D.C.,” Uber spokesman Colin Tooze said Sunday. “We’ve long said that Metro requires a dedicated funding source, but in the meantime, it’s clear that Metro needs a hand in order to be able to meet demand, especially around major events, so we were happy to help.”
Uber has offered to sponsor late-night Metro service in the past — during last fall’s Washington Nationals playoff run — but local officials didn’t take the offer, the company said. Uber reached out again last week and company and city officials made an agreement. An internal email from Uber regional general manager Rachel Holt, which was obtained by The Post, underscores the significance of that development for the Silicon Valley ride-hailing giant.
“The Mayor’s willingness to accept this help from us publicly is itself a reflection of the good work you do every day, and of just how far our relationship with the District has come,” she told employees.
Under new operating hours established in summer 2017, Metro closes at 11:30 p.m. on weeknights. Metro does not sponsor late-night and special event service, which costs $100,000 per hour and must be funded by an outside party.
After 11:30 on Monday night, fans will be allowed to enter the system at Gallery Place station, Metro Center’s 11th and G streets entrance and Judiciary Square’s F street entrance. The rest of the stations will be “exit only.”
Metro says its final trains will depart from Gallery Place at the following times:
to Glenmont 12:38 a.m.; to Shady Grove 12:32 a.m.
to Branch Ave 12:28 a.m.; to Greenbelt 12:48 a.m.
to Huntington 12:19 a.m.
And last trains from Metro Center will leave at these times, according to the agency:
to Franconia-Springfield 12:28 a.m.; to Largo Town Center 12:27 a.m.
to New Carrollton 12:20 a.m.; to Vienna 12:36 a.m.
to Largo Town Center 12:27 a.m.; to Wiehle-Reston East 12:21 a.m.