Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WMAL (Washington) – If Monday’s Nationals game ends after Metro’s usual 11:30 p.m. closing time, the transit agency will run trains for 20 minutes after the game to get fans home, but whether there will be extended service after future playoff games involving the Nats or other D.C. sports teams remains uncertain.
“What we’ve seen, you know, in past years is situations where it’s gone right down to the wire, will there be a sponsor? Won’t there be a sponsor? There’s all this drama. We’d really like to take the temperature down on that,” said Metro spokesperson Dan Stessel.
Soon the transit agency’s board of directors will look into how to provide late night service after home playoff games, according to Stessel. At issue: who will pay. The transit agency has foot the bill for extended service after all home games in the National League Division Series this time, but the cash-strapped agency is looking for other ways to provide the service in the future.
In the past, corporations have stepped up to sponsor estended service, but Stessel said that has been inconsistent.
“Certain teams do not want to pay. They do not view it, as a matter of principle, they don’t view it as their role to have to pay for transit service,” said Stessel.
Stessel added the board is hoping to come up with something that’s predictable.
The Nats take on the Dodgers in game 5 of the NLDS at 6:40 p.m. Monday.
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