DC's Metro is banking on the future with its latest display of innovation - a sneak peek of the next-generation trains and buses, which the public can explore on the National Mall from March 20 to April 3. At the Fleet of the Future Expo, visitors are invited to step inside a mock-up of an 8,000-series rail car, experiencing a preview of commutes to come, as reported by NBC Washington.

Despite the exhibit is not full-size, it aims to give attendees a genuine feel for the future of public transit, and Metro is eager to hear their feedback on the design. Adding to the fleet, Metro is set to introduce new battery-electric buses that boast zero tailpipe emissions, a significant drop in noise, and markedly reduced vibrations compared to the buses currently in use. "Overwhelmingly, people like this idea," Metro General Manager and CEO, Randy Clarke, pointed out in a statement obtained by DC News Now.

Emphasizing practical improvements, the additional space on these buses and trains promises more comfortable journeys. Clarke shared insights on efficiency, "People crowd onto trains, and if we can spread them out. [Riders can] board a train faster, and then it helps move to crowd across. By also doing that you create a little bit more space," in a conversation with DC News Now.

This isn't Metro's first rodeo with futuristic displays; a prototype train graced the National Mall back in 1968, before Metrorail's grand opening in 1976. This historic event, including a tour by then-President Lyndon Johnson, paralleled the current exhibit in the aspiration to modernize mass transportation - a recap of which was provided by WJLA. With initiatives like the Fleet of the Future Expo, Metro continues its storied tradition of seeking to redefine the daily commute for the citizens of the DC metro area, learning from past forays and surging ahead with technological advancement.