6% of District Metro Riders are Gonna be Psyched

From WMATA:

“The 2017 Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) and Metro today announced a special SmarTrip® sleeve to commemorate the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the nation’s 45th president. The commemorative sleeves will be distributed at selected Metro stations, free of charge, on the morning of Inauguration Day.

In addition, the PIC and Metro are encouraging those planning to attend the Inauguration to purchase their Metro Inaugural SmarTrip cards online in advance to avoid long lines on January 20. The sleeve design features an image of the President Elect provided by the PIC and includes its inaugural theme, “Make America Great Again.”

“The Presidential Inaugural Committee has worked closely with Metro on a commemorative sleeve honoring President-elect Trump’s inauguration. The sleeve will be distributed free of charge on Inauguration Day, January 20th,” said PIC Communications Director Boris Epshteyn. “Americans from every corner of this country will be coming to Washington, D.C. for inaugural events, and we encourage everyone attending to take advantage of the discounted price of the Metro one-day pass and purchase their inaugural SmarTrip card in the next week to avoid the expected wait times.”

Metro and the PIC are encouraging everyone planning to take Metro to the Inauguration to purchase a SmarTrip card in advance before the cutoff date of January 13. Each rider age 5 or older needs his or her own SmarTrip card to enter and exit the Metrorail system. The Commemorative Inaugural Card – available at wmata.com for a discounted price of $10 – allows for unlimited travel on Metrorail or Metrobus on January 20, 2017.

“Our goal is to get as many Inauguration fare cards into circulation as possible so our visitors can skip the lines and head right for the train or bus,” said Metro General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We encourage everyone coming to the Inauguration to purchase their SmarTrip card online.”

Group organizers interested in purchasing 25 or more cards may call Metro’s bulk sales office (202) 962-5700 for assistance.

There is no track work planned during Inauguration week, from January 14 through 21, to allow Metro to offer extra service to Inauguration events. On January 20, Metrorail will open early at 4:00 a.m. with near rush-hour service on all lines until 9 p.m.

Metro will produce 50,000 of the commemorative sleeves and distribute them to Inauguration attendees on the morning of January 20 at the following popular boarding stations:

Vienna
New Carrollton
Franconia – Springfield
Shady Grove
Greenbelt
Largo Town Center
Branch Avenue
Glenmont
Wiehle-Reston East
Pentagon City

In addition, sleeves will be available from Station Managers at Union Station, Metro Center and Gallery Place.

The sleeves will be distributed free of charge, one to a customer, while supplies last on the morning of January 20. Any remaining commemorative sleeves will be available after January 20 at Metro’s sales office, located at 600 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC. Metro will advise the public of any remaining supply via social media.”