METRO BARRIERS ERECTED

Barriers designed to prevent homeless people from spending the night at Metro rail stations were completed and installed at four downtown stations early yesterday, Metro officials said.

"It's a security measure," said Metro spokeswoman Beverly Silverberg. "This is intended to permit the authority to continue to provide a clean and safe transit environment for riders and employees."

Metro officials placed temporary grates at the entrance to the Farragut West station last year, sparking protests and sit-ins by homeless activists. The chicken-wire grates there have been replaced by a permanent barrier, an electronic garage-type door and bars. The new barriers also were installed at Metro Center, Farragut North and McPherson Square stations.

"I think it's absolutely revolting," homeless activist Mitch Snyder told The Associated Press. "I'm ashamed of them all. What they've done is to drive a fair number of people away from those cracks and corners where they found a little bit of warmth."

Articles appear as they were originally printed in The Washington Post and may not include subsequent corrections.