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Just one quarter into fiscal-year 2001, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrorail ridership increased 7.8 percent over the same July 1 to Sept. 30 period last year; Metrobus ridership increased 5.4 percent. And WMATA recorded $101.7 million first-quarter 2001 revenue — $5.8 million more than projected.

"This continuing increase in ridership and revenues is due in large part to our loyal customer base," said WMATA General Manager Richard White in a prepared statement.

September Metrorail ridership recorded 584,500 average weekday passenger trips, a 9.2 percent increase — or 49,300 trips per average weekday — compared with September 1999. Metrobus average weekday ridership also increased 8.5 percent or 41,000 trips compared with last September.

Events contributing to the September increases include the Washington Redskins season opener and a double-header soccer event at RFK Stadium.

And, three months into experimental extended weekend service until 2 a.m., Metrorail’s September Friday late night average ridership increased 11.9 percent compared with July and August; Saturday late night average ridership increased 13.2 percent.

The one-year experimental service period is scheduled to end June 30, 2001. WMATA’s board plans to meet before that date to decide whether to extend weekend service to 2 a.m. permanently or retain the existing policy to end service at 1 a.m.