★★★★☆

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (METRO)
www.wmata.com

metro.jpg The Metro had very good wheelchair access plus elevators at each station. The Metro elevator was located right outside my hotel (Marriott at The Metro). I would take the elevator down to the Metro and the had access to all the sites in Washington DC. I had no problem getting to all the sites I wanted to see thanks to the Metro. The Metro was very accessible to me. I did have to get help to get through the gates to get to the trains and the staff was very courteous to me and very helpful with directions to the sites in DC. Once when getting through the gates to leave the Metro, a metro employee thought we were trying to get a free ride but we explained he needed to use this gate as his wheelchair couldn’t fit though the regular gates. He was a bit angry at first but did understand after it was explained to him. This was the only time we had any problems with the Metro. We used the Metro daily and most days several times though out the day on our trip to Washington DC and All the employees were VERY helpful, courteous and pleasant with me with the only one exception I mentioned.

washington.jpgThe Metro was very accessible and elevators were conveniently located in most areas where I wanted to visit. The Metro helped make my stay in Washington DC very enjoyable.

The only thing the metro could improve on is they need to make it easier for all wheelchairs to fit though the gates or have one at each stop. At night when they had less staff on I needed help to get though the gates to leave the metro and if I were alone I don’t know if I could have gotten through. There is a help button to get help but that takes time as I did use it once at night when I had trouble getting though and I did get help from a very courteous employee but if alone I may have found being stuck a little scary but thankfully for me I had my friends with me.

I give the metro FOUR STARS and they could earn FIVE STARS if they made it easier for all wheelchairs to get though the gates without needing help.