Language Assistance

Individuals who have a limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English are Limited English Proficient (LEP). The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is committed to ensuring meaningful access to programs and activities by persons who are LEP.

Upon request, language assistance is provided free of charge to help LEP persons ride Metrobus, Metrorail, and MetroAccess. Interpretation services are provided for approximately 85 languages and are available by calling Metro's Office of Customer Service at 202-637-7000. Press 1 for Spanish translation or press 88 and then press 5 for all other languages.

Customer service hours are:

  • Monday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
  • Friday from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
  • Saturday from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
  • Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Resources Available in Multiple Languages

  • The Metro Visitor's Kit is the definitive guide for help in using Metro to get around the Washington, DC metropolitan area and is translated into ten languages.
  • The Metro video, "Your Safe and Easy Ride," is available in the following languages:

    English
    Korean - Korean
    Spanish - Como Utilizar el Metro
    Vietnamese - Vietnamese

  • All Metrobus timetables are produced in an English/Spanish bilingual version.
  • The Metro website contains a machine translator service that enables users to translate the most vital materials into six languages: Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, and German. While machine translations are imperfect, this service provides basic understanding of Metro website content. Translations are literal and may misrepresent names and idiomatic expressions.

For further information on Metro's language assistance plan, please contact:

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Office of Civil Rights Language Coordinator, 7G-03
600 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-962-1082


© 2009 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority