Snow covers trains at the Shady Grove rail yard. Photo courtesy WMATA by Larry Levine.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (WMATA) Metrorail ridership so far this week has seen ridership levels slow to a trickle with heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions. Only 36,097 trips were taken yesterday, Wednesday, Feb. 10, when white-out blizzard conditions limited the rail system to underground service only. By comparison, there were 670,643 trips taken the previous Wednesday (Feb. 3).
Snow began on Friday, Feb. 5, and began to impact ridership immediately. The numbers of trips taken during the weekend were extremely low, as were Monday’s and Tuesday’s trip count, according to WMATA officials. Ridership on Saturday, Feb. 6 (63,111) was the lowest number of trips taken in the rail system since Christmas 2006 when 56,326 trips were recorded. That record was eclipsed yesterday (Feb. 10) when only 36,097 trips were taken.
Metro employees worked hundreds of hours clearing snow and placing de-icing treatment on walks leading to and from Metrorail stations. Photo credit WMATA Photograph by Larry Levine.
Today’s underground-only limited service is also expected to see a drop-off in ridership compared with the previous Thursday, but well above yesterday’s level.
February Metrorail ridership
Date Metrorail Trips Taken Service Level
Monday, Feb. 1 701,138 Regular service
Tuesday, Feb. 2 728,047 Regular service
Wednesday, Feb. 3 670,643 Regular service
Thursday, Feb. 4 753,587 Regular service
Friday, Feb. 5 516,257 Halted above ground service at 11 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 6 63,111 Underground service only; rail system closed at 11 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 7 90,139 Underground service only
Monday, Feb. 8 124,057 Underground service only
Tuesday, Feb. 9 261,522 Five Blue Line stations closed; rail system closed at 8:45 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 10 36,097 Underground service only
Thursday, Feb. 11 Available on Friday Underground service only
Snow and ice build up along Metro's escalators at the Smithsonian Metrorail Station. Too much snow hinders their ability to function. Photo courtesy WMATA by Larry Levine.