Apr 17, 2008 7:45 pm US/Eastern
Metro Reports Few Problems For Pope's Visit
WASHINGTON (WJZ) ―
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It was an easy commute for people traveling into Washington, D.C. and other surrounding areas Thursday.
CBS
It was an easy commute for people traveling into Washington, D.C. and other surrounding areas Thursday.
Jessica Kartalija reports officials say it was better than they expected.
Even before the sun came up, people packed their cars for a trip to the nation's capital. Some hit the highway. Others boarded the Metro for a ride packed with people.
"Metro is like, more crowded than a Georgetown basketball game. It's crazy," said one rider.
Still, riders say it was smooth sailing.
"We were in Glenmont 35 minutes ago and we're getting ready to get off," said another rider.
As of 1 p.m., an hour after the Mass ended, the rail system had carried about 387,000 people. That's about 33,000 more people than it carried over the same period Wednesday.
One train had to be emptied and taken out of service in the morning because of people holding the doors.
The transit agency operated at peak service until 7 p.m. Metro also ran extra shuttle buses from the stadium area to the blue and orange lines.
The Pope made his way to Catholic University Thursday afternoon. He met with members of Catholic colleges and universities across the country.
He also met with superintendents from 195 Catholic dioceses. The Pope discussed the importance of Catholicism in education.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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