advertisement

---

As 2006 comes to a close, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is taking time to reflect on this year’s accomplishments.

The authority took delivery of new 6000 Series rail cars and rehabilitated 2000/3000 Series cars; launched eight-car train operations on the Orange Line during the morning rush hour; added features to its Web site to download real-time train arrival information on personal computers and Blackberrys, and system maps to Apple iPods; replaced six track switches; installed 49,000 feet of continuous-welded rail; and cleaned 603,000 feet of track. The authority also eliminated Red Line train turn-backs at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Station during off-peak hours.

In addition, WMATA recorded seven “Top 10” ridership days and posted fiscal-year 2006 Metrorail ridership of 205 million, a 5.3 percent increase compared with FY2005 and the first time the authority has carried more than 200 million rail passengers in one fiscal year.