WASHINGTON — It’s going to be a big day on Metro as thousands of people flock to the District to see Pope Francis on his first and only full day in the nation’s capital, and Metro spokesman Dan Stessel has tips for first-time and longtime riders.
The day didn’t have a good prelude: Hundreds of passengers were stranded on a Green Line train near the Georgia Avenue station on Tuesday night after a power problem. Stessel tells WTOP that the situation was resolved at about 11 p.m. and that power and other technical personnel are still there “to make sure that does not reoccur.”
Wednesday, Stessel says, the trains are rolling, and he knows that a huge influx of new passengers will be riding Metro trains and buses. He advises newcomers to make sure they have enough money on their farecards or SmarTrip cards to cover all their travel while in D.C. The lines at the card machines, he predicts, will be “very, very long.”
His second tip: “Try to travel without transferring.” For example, if you’re on the Red Line heading down to the Mall for the papal parade, he advises, get off at Farragut North and walk the rest of the way — you’ll probably save time over getting into the crowds at Metro Center to switch trains to get closer.
Regular riders, including those headed to the Nats-Orioles game at Nationals Park Wednesday night, should avoid the eastern part of the Red Line, Stessel says. The Green line will get you there, while avoiding the area around the Basilica of the National Shrine of the immaculate Conception, where Pope Francis will say Mass at 4:15 p.m.
Stesssel says people should go to wmata.com/papalvisit for more information.
At 8 a.m., Stessel said ridership was surprisingly light — down about 14 percent over the same time last Wednesday. “That’s the power of telework,” he said.
Stessel adds that about 70 Metrobus routes have changed to detour buses around closed roads in the downtown area. But there’s a way around that: “Transfer to Metrorail at your first opportunity,” Stessel says.
When your bus passes a Metrorail station, riders can get a free transfer from the bus driver to get on the train.
People may be literally praying for Metro to hold up for the duration of the pope’s visit: A Change.org petition is asking Pope Francis to bless the Metro system. Advised of the appeals for spiritual help, Stessel laughed.
“We accept all of those prayers.”
