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    1. Technology
    2. Passenger Info

    DC: Metro introduces new features for MetroAlerts and real-time parking availability

    Dec. 10, 2018
    Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority introduced a new, improved MetroAlerts system to make it easier for customers to get information when and where they want it.
    Related To: WMATA-Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

    Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority introduced a new, improved MetroAlerts system to make it easier for customers to get information when and where they want it. The new features allow Metrorail and Metrobus riders to customize the alerts they receive by day and time, and allow multiple email addresses or phone numbers on one account.

    "These improvements will help customers eliminate unwanted alerts that don’t affect them and better tailor text and email alerts to their travel patterns,” said Metro Assistant General Manager Lynn Bowersox. “We are mindful of the fact that our customers receive hundreds of emails and text messages through the course of the day, and this is about giving customers better control of when and how they receive information from us.”

    MetroAlerts provide riders with text or email alerts about disruptions or delays that may affect their trip on specific bus or rail lines. Riders will no longer receive automatic alerts all day -- only when they want, for the times of day they choose based on their travel patterns.

    Among the new enhancements for Metrorail and Metrobus customers include the ability to:

    • Add multiple email addresses or phone numbers to one account
    • Select any number rail lines, bus routes or stations to receive alerts 
    • Select specific days of the week to receive alerts
    • Select parts of the day to receive alerts - morning, afternoon, evening or night
    • Temporarily suspend alerts while on vacation
    • View your MetroAlerts history

    No changes are necessary for customers who wish to maintain their current MetroAlerts settings, as all current settings have been transferred to the new system.

    Real-time parking status now shown on wmata.com

    In a separate improvement, Metro customers can now see which parking lots and garages have space before leaving home. Metro launched a new feature on the parking page at wmata.com that provides real-time parking availability. Simply check the parking details by station for the real-time parking status.

    Customers will see one of three color-coded status updates:

    • Available (Green)– Ample parking spaces are available.
    • Limited (Yellow) – A limited number of parking spaces are available.
    • Full (Red) – The lot/garage is full. No parking spaces are available.

    The system provides an estimate of spaces available, rather than an exact number and does not differentiate where cars are parked (i.e. reserved, paid or handicap space).

    Metro plans to provide the API data for real-time parking status in the future.