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Metro opened its doors this week to middle school students from across the D.C. region, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at how America’s Metro System keeps hundreds of thousands of daily riders moving.
The new Discovery Day program ran July 20-24, bringing students from community organizations in Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. into Metro facilities to meet transit professionals, explore career paths, and see firsthand how public transportation operates.
Inside the Command Center
Students toured Metro’s Integrated Command and Communications Center, where staff coordinate rail, bus, and emergency operations across the entire system in real time. The visit showcased the technology and split-second decision-making required to keep trains running safely.
“Metro Discovery Day helps students connect what they learn in the classroom to real-world careers and community impact,” said Sarah Meyer, executive vice president and chief customer officer. “By partnering with outstanding youth-serving organizations, we introduce the next generation of transit advocates to the people, professions, and public service that keep our region moving.”
Partner Organizations Lead the Way
Three community groups brought students into the program for its inaugural run:
- City Kids Wilderness Project from D.C.
- Liberty’s Promise, serving Virginia, Maryland, and D.C.
- George Washington University’s Changemakers program with Elliott Hine Middle School in D.C.
Participants spent time learning about environmental benefits, accessibility features, and economic opportunities tied to public transit. The hands-on activities and guided experiences aimed to spark interest in future careers at Metro while building connections between young people and the system many of them ride daily.
Metro officials said the pilot reflects the agency’s broader push to invest in future customers and employees while strengthening ties to the communities it serves.