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Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority began its Metrorail service at 5 o’clock the morning of Sept. 20, rather than its usual 5:30 a.m., at Department of Defense’s request to help reduce traffic that’s gridlocked the city’s streets and highways since the Sept. 11 tragedies in Washington and New York.



"We are encouraging everyone to use public transportation as a means to travel throughout the National Capital Region, and to stagger their work hours whenever possible," said WMATA General Manager Richard White in a prepared statement.



Parking also is becoming an issue — especially at the Franconia-Springfield Metrorail station at the end of the Blue Line near Springfield, Va.



WMATA recommends passengers at that station park at the satellite lot at Springfield Mall’s Macy’s store and take the free shuttle bus to the station, car-pool to the station to reduce the overall number of cars trying to park there, or take feeder buses to the station.