Washington DC's Metro (transit system) preparing for Inauguration Weekend

[marmar]

Metro outlines preliminary plans for Inauguration Weekend

Metrorail to open at 4 a.m., and close at 2 a.m. on Inauguration night

Metrorail will operate rush hour service for 15 consecutive hours (4 a.m. to 7 p.m.), will stay open for two extra hours (until 2 a.m.), offer free parking at Metro-owned facilities and will be one important transportation alternative for people who are planning to attend the Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

“America's subway system will provide vital transportation services to and from all Inaugural activities in the region,” says Metro General Manager John Catoe. “We expect the crowds to be huge with hundreds of thousands of people expected to be in the nation's capital not only for Inauguration Day, but for the days preceding it, as well.”

Metro officials expect extremely crowded conditions on Inauguration Day. “We expect that our stations and trains will be packed as people head to the Inauguration, and we expect to see even tighter conditions afterward,” Catoe said. “People should expect to be waiting in long lines to get back into Metro stations after the Inauguration, perhaps for a half hour or more. People should consider staying downtown for lunch, for a movie, or to visit museums.”

Metro also is designing commemorative farecards, One-Day Passes and SmarTrip cards that riders will be able to purchase and use in the days leading up to, during, and after the Inauguration. The paper farecards are expected to be in vending machines by late December. The $10 commemorative SmarTrip card will be available in early January.

Metro will also introduce an Inauguration Web page on Friday, November 21, dedicated to providing information and updates leading up to Inauguration Weekend. People will also be able to sign up for special e-alerts, dedicated to the Inauguration, and will only be issued when Metro has news relating to service for the Inauguration, and, perhaps more importantly, when there may be service disruptions during the course of the four-day weekend.

The U.S. Secret Service has deemed the Inauguration as a special national security event and due to security measures, the Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter Metrorail station on Metro’s Green and Yellow Lines, will be closed all day on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20. In addition one of two entrances to the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange Lines will also be closed. The Smithsonian station entrance on the National Mall will be closed. The Independence Ave SW entrance will remain open.

Metro officials are well aware that there will be increased ridership throughout the weekend leading up to the Inauguration. Here is information that visitors will need to know.

Metrorail Service and Parking at Metrorail Stations

In anticipation of crowded trains, Metrorail will operate continuous rush hour service from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m., on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20, and have extra personnel on hand to help patrons get to and from the events. Off-peak fares will be charged all day.

Parking will be free at all Metrorail operated lots throughout Inauguration weekend, from Saturday, January 17 through Tuesday, January 20, 2009. Metro has nearly 59,000 parking spaces and they are expected to fill up. Reserved parking rules will not be in effect. ......(more)

The complete schedule and details on parking are at: http://www.wmata.com/about/MET_NEWS/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=2350

[liberal N proud]

1. On a normal day the Metro is the only common sense transportation in DC

I can only imagine what it will be like on 1/20

[MiniMe]

2. It's going to be ugly to get into town any other way

There will be road closings, etc, so driving will be a nightmare. The best thing is to get a ride to the metro if possible, because I would expect the parking lots to be jammed. One of the many reasons the Feds are off in DC on inaugeration day. Glad that parking is free though, parking at the metro is expensive.

[MiniMe]

3. Forgot to add, if you are coming to town and buying a metro farecard,

they will have special inaugeration cards. If you want to save it, put an extra nickel or so on the fare above the correct amount. If you put the exact fare on, the machine will keep the card when the amount reaches zero, so if you want a keepsake, but a little bit extra on it. It only takes a nickel to be able to keep it.

[marmar]

4. Or just buy one of those all-day visitors passes that will expire at the end of the day anyway.....

.... and will pay for itself with four rides.

[MiniMe]

5. Another good way, but only makes sense if you are taking more than one ride.