Metro is rolling out new, hand-held maps at all of the transit system’s 117 station mezzanines that show customers where they are, how they can move among stations and bus lines, and how long it will take to do so.

The maps will be tailored to individual stations and will show a “You Are Here” icon as well as pinpoint station exits and all of the bus stops and bus routes in the immediate area, officials said.

“If there’s some sort of major delay and passengers are leaving the station, these maps will help give them an idea of where to go to get some alternate service,” Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato said.

The maps will list nearby Metro stations and provide walking directions and estimated walking time to the stations.

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Each station mezzanine will get 5,000 copies of the maps, with the busiest downtown stations receiving theirs first at the end of June, officials said.

Metro’s board of directors also approved on Thursday replacing the neighborhood maps in stations with ones that include the bus service information for the area.

The changes are part of a program adopted by the board in 2004 to improve service information, including the details of bus-to-rail and rail-to-bus transfers.

tluntz@dcexaminer.com