Uber, Lyft set to capitalize on D.C. Metrorail's 29-hour shutdown

WASHINGTON, March 16 (UPI) -- A 29-hour safety inspection shutdown of the Metrorail in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday is expected to boost ride-sharing services Uber and Lyft.

Both companies are encouraging customers to use their less-expensive car-pooling services, respectively named uberPOOL and Lyft Line, to match passengers traveling in similar directions and to maximize use of all vehicles. Wait times for pick-up are expected to increase significantly.

Local drivers have been alerted by the companies about what is expected to be a very busy day for business. Both companies are also holding a promotion for first-time riders in which new customers can gain $20 with Lyft and $25 with Uber when they sign up.

Uber will cap the price of service at 3.9 times the normal rate. The ride-sharing giant uses a controversial fare model based on demand. Last May, Uber users paid nearly five times the normal fare when Washington, D.C., Metro services were suspended.

The emergency inspection of about 600 electrical cables shut down the Metrorail after midnight on Tuesday. Services will reopen at 5 a.m. Thursday. The cables can set fires, including one that occurred on Monday that led to a partial service shutdown and another that led to a smoke incident in January 2015 that left one person dead.

The Capital Bikeshare service is offering free 24-hour memberships throughout the region, and the D.C. Circulator bus will be free on Wednesday.

Many Metrorail users in the region used humor to cope with the news of the shutdown:

Minor crowds expected for taxis and ubers tomorrow with #wmata shutdown. pic.twitter.com/IEomOAxCbH

— Alex Morash (@AlexMorash) March 15, 2016

Three hours into the #wmata shutdown: pic.twitter.com/R2kT026X9Z

— Alex Fitzpatrick (@AlexJamesFitz) March 15, 2016

#WMATA, we got this. pic.twitter.com/dhLcx7PNGb

— Tony DeFranco (@TonyDeFranco) March 15, 2016