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Rail News Home Passenger Rail

3/16/2010



Rail News: Passenger Rail

WMATA's rail ridership rises in March


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In February, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Metrorail ridership fell to historic lows after back-to-back snowstorms closed many government offices, schools and businesses. Weekday ridership fluctuated from 36,097 trips on Feb. 10 to 803,641 trips on Feb. 18.

But after averaging 593,000 trips in February, as well as 717,000 trips in January, weekday ridership so far in March is averaging 750,000 trips, according to WMATA. Ridership typically surges in the spring when the weather turns milder, the cherry blossom season begins and more tourists come to Washington, D.C.

“When the region reopened for business after the blizzards, many roadways were still piled high with snow banks blocking driving lanes and parking areas, so [people] climbed on board Metro,” said WMATA General Manager John Catoe in a prepared statement. “It looks like they’ve stayed with us.”