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The Washington region’s cherry blossom season could propel Metro to its busiest day since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“If all goes to plan, we’re hoping for our first combined one-million-trip day since the onset of the pandemic,” Paul Smedberg, first vice president of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, said March 6.

Speaking at a Northern Virginia Transportation Commission board meeting, Smedberg said Metro’s ridership recovery has continued for 46 months. Stronger ridership and fare revenue are also improving the transit system’s outlook for the fiscal year beginning in July.

The Trump administration’s return-to-office directive for many federal employees could further increase ridership, although the effects of mass federal layoffs remain uncertain.

Cherry blossom season traditionally brings large crowds to the Tidal Basin. With limited parking nearby, many residents and tourists use Metro to reach the area.

The National Park Service expects peak bloom around March 28-31, when 70% of the Yoshino cherry blossoms surrounding the Tidal Basin are open. Weather will determine the precise timing.

Over the past century, peak bloom has arrived as early as March 15, in 1990, and as late as April 18, in 1958.

The trees trace their history to a 1912 gift from the people of Japan. After Tokyo was devastated during World War II, the National Park Service supplied budwood from its trees in 1952 to help restore the Japanese capital’s original grove.

Metro ridership generally reaches its highest levels during spring and fall. In 2019, the final full year before the pandemic, especially busy days generated more than 700,000 rail trips and roughly 400,000 bus journeys.

Ridership remained below those levels after the pandemic but rose 12% year over year in 2024. Metro recorded 128 million rail journeys and 123 million bus trips during the year.

The system’s busiest day remains Jan. 20, 2009, when Barack Obama’s inauguration helped produce 1.12 million rail trips and 423,000 bus journeys.

More major events are approaching. WorldPride will take place in Washington for the first time from May 17 through June 9, and additional visitors are expected when the country celebrates its 250th anniversary next year.

Del. Paul Krizek, who represents southeastern Fairfax County and sits on the transportation commission, encouraged Metro officials to capitalize on the anniversary.

“I remember the Bicentennial [in 1976] and the cool Metro cards,” Krizek said, suggesting that Metro begin “the hoopla” now.

Smedberg said preparations are already underway, with “a whole team” working on the celebration.