Metro News Release
For immediate release: November 20, 2008
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 eAlerts, 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.
| Dates | Metrorail Hours | Special Metrorail Service | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 | 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. | Regular Saturday Schedule | Free |
| Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009 | Regular Sunday Schedule | Free | |
| Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday) | 5 a.m. to midnight | Saturday Holiday Service | Free |
| Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 (Inauguration Day) | 4 a.m. to 2 a.m. | Rush-Hour Service Through 7 p.m. | Free |
Metrobus Service
Metrobus will operate on a normal Saturday schedule. However, with the anticipated street closures around the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue for the parade, all Metrobuses will be prepared for detours. Bus customers are encouraged to plan significant extra time to travel through these areas. No vehicular traffic, including buses, is expected to be able to pass close to the U.S. Capitol, nor will vehicles be able to cross Pennsylvania Avenue.
| Dates | Special Metrobus Service |
|---|---|
| Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009 | Regular Saturday Schedule |
| Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009 | Regular Sunday Schedule |
| Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 (Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday) | Regular Weekday Service (service plan may change) |
| Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 (Inauguration Day) | Saturday Service (expect major delays downtown) |
MetroAccess Service
MetroAccess will operate identical hours to Metrorail and Metrobus over the Inauguration Weekend and through Inauguration Day. MetroAccess customers are encouraged to plan significant extra time to travel due to increased traffic throughout the service area. With the anticipated street closures around the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue for the parade on Inauguration Day, all MetroAccess users should be prepared for detours. MetroAccess customers are reminded to reserve their trip by 4:30 p.m., the day prior to travel.
Station Closures Due To Security
To accommodate security precautions related to the Inauguration, the parade, and inaugural balls on Inauguration Day, the following Metrorail station entrances will be closed:
- Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter (Green/Yellow Line) Metrorail station.
- Smithsonian (Blue/Orange Line) Metrorail station Jefferson Drive SW entrance only. The Independence Ave SW entrance will be open.
Metro Transit Police Security Initiatives
The Metro Transit Police Department and the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are collaborating to enhance security at Metrorail stations and on trains and buses during Inauguration Weekend. The TSA will provide Metro with additional teams of TSA officers with canines to patrol stations and trains to supplement Metro’s team of explosive ordnance detection officers and canines.
“We are taking precautionary measures to assure our customers that we are doing everything we can to ensure they can use our system without incident,” said Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Taborn. “Our customers are likely to see members of our special response teams of officers carrying additional weaponry with a canine accompanying them and they are likely to see uniformed TSA officers with their canine teams on patrol as well.”
The Metro Transit Police strongly recommend that customers bring as little as possible with them when traveling through the Metrorail system to cut down on the possibility that items are left behind, resulting in the need for Metro or TSA officers to respond to reports of unattended items.
On Inauguration Day, all Metrorail station restrooms will be closed for security reasons.
Customers are encouraged to report any suspicious behavior, unusual activity or unattended items to a uniformed Metro employee, police officer, or by calling the Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121.
Customer Tips, Reminders
Metrorail riders should purchase either a One-Day Pass or be sure to have enough fare value on their SmarTrip cards or farecards to make a round trip so as not to have to stand in line to add fare more than once. Each passenger must have his/her own fare card or SmarTrip card.
Metro will sell the commemorative fare media prior to Inauguration Weekend. Metro’s One-Day Pass, available for $7.80 each day, will be valid throughout the four-day Inauguration Weekend. If possible, customers should purchase their farecards in advance.
Metro will publish a commemorative walking guide and map illustrating the closest locations of various Metrorail stations to the inaugural swearing-in ceremony and Presidential Parade. This brochure will be available at all Metrorail stations and will be posted on the Metro Web site. Metro officials will be seeking sponsorship from private companies interested in advertising inside the commemorative walking guide. One million copies of the walking guide will be printed.
Tickets for the Inauguration are expected to be coded in a way that will advise ticket-holders to use designated Metrorail stations to get to their seating/viewing location. Once that information is available, it will be posted on Metro’s Web site.
Passengers will not be allowed to carry any signs or placards that are more than 18" by 18" or are affixed to a pole due to expected crowded conditions. People with large signs should roll them, fold them, or bring them in pieces no larger than 18" square if they would like to bring them into the Metro system.
Customers should expect that many rail station escalators will be turned off to help meter large crowds for safety.
Due to the changing nature of this event and heightened security, all information is subject to change. As more information becomes available, it will be updated on Metro’s Web site.
Presidential Inauguration Metrorail Ridership History
| Date | Presidential Inauguration | Metrorail Ridership |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 | Barack Obama Inauguration | ? |
| Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005 | George W. Bush’s Second Inauguration | 583,803 |
| Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001 | George W. Bush’s First Inauguration | 601,839 |
| Monday, Jan. 20, 1997 | Bill Clinton’s Second Inauguration | 454,918 |
| Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1993 | Bill Clinton’s First Inauguration | 811,257 |
News release issued at 1:55 pm, November 20, 2008.