Metro has opened its doors to its first outside business after years of efforts, bringing retail to riders and revenues to the transit agency. Old Town Trolley Tours started selling tickets to its sightseeing tours out of the Smithsonian Metro station on Friday — just in time for the influx of visitors coming to see the region’s blooming cherry trees.
The firm doesn’t have ticket booths yet but its hawkers are allowed to sell tickets inside both entrances, unlike the people selling flowers, umbrellas and other knickknacks around the system.
It’s the agency’s first foray into adding retail to its stations, but officials say more is on the way. This summer Metro riders will be able to rent DVDs from vending machines at 10 stations.
Both deals are expected to bring in an estimated $880,000 to the agency over eight years, though Metro estimates made last June had put the total at about $928,000.
The sightseeing tours and DVD rentals could lead to additional options, said Nat Bottigheimer, Metro’s assistant general manager for planning and development.
“We want to get experience with these first ones and base any future solicitations for retail in our stations on this early experience,” he told The Washington Examiner.
| Renting a video on the way home |
| Metro plans to add DVD vending machines in the following 10 stations this summer: |
| Farragut North |
| Farragut West |
| Foggy Bottom-GWU |
| Gallery Place-Chinatown |
| L’Enfant Plaza |
| Metro Center |
| New Carrollton |
| Rosslyn |
| Shady Grove |
| Union Station |
The transit system had been considering adding retail to its subway system for years. In 2006, the board approved adding vendors as long as food was not sold. Only three vendors applied and they failed to meet the agency’s requirements.
In 2009, Metro staffers tried again, seeking permission for permanent or mobile kiosks selling pre-packaged food and drinks that tend to be the most lucrative items for vendors. But board members nixed that idea, worried that it would confuse riders about the system’s ban on food. They asked for other non-food-related businesses instead.
Then in June, Metro found willing vendors and business plans that they could agree upon after receiving only six bids, including the movie rentals and sightseeing tours.
