By: Melanie Flores

The WTS DC Chapter Transportation You committee, in partnership with WMATA and DDOT, hosted a field trip for high school sophomores and teachers from McKinley Technology DC Public High School on May 17, 2024. The 23 students and 2 teachers met DDOT and WTS chaperones at Union Station and were split into two groups to conduct the site visits.

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One group accompanied by DDOT personnel boarded the DC Streetcar at Union Station and rode it to the DC Streetcar, Car Barn Training Center, where they were given briefings on the history of streetcars in Washington D.C. and how the environmentally friendly fleet of electric streetcars is operated, maintained, and controlled. They also received a tour of the LEEDS-certified Gold facility by RATP DEV staff.

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The other group boarded one of the new WMATA Zero Emission Battery Bus to visit the WMATA Sheperd Parkway LEED Silver certified Bus Division, where they toured the facility that houses close to 200 buses, including the electric fleet. During the tour, the students had an opportunity to learn about Metro’s zero-emissions electric bus program and see the battery charging infrastructure, learn about the ins and outs of bus maintenance, and speak with operations staff at the facility who encourage them to consider WMATA and the transit industry as they go on to college and enter the workforce.

After the tours concluded, students, teachers, and the WTS chaperones returned to Union Station. There, they were treated to lunch at Pizzeria Uno, where they got a chance to share with each other what they had learned that day.

The students, most of whom are interested in being electrical engineers, enjoyed hearing about the real-life application of tasks and systems that connect our communities. They talked about  their experiences with teachers and fellow students later that afternoon in their classes and are looking forward to the next outing.