Metro News Release
For immediate release: January 17, 2009
Metro reminds customers to bring four essentials for Inauguration travels
"Metro Must Haves" all fit in one pocket
If you’re planning to take Metro to the National Mall on Inauguration Day, the transit agency is advising you to bring some essentials to make your trip less stressful.
Before heading out the door, Metro urges riders to bring a free Metro commemorative inauguration guide to help plan alternative ways to get you where you want to go; cash to pay for bus fare or parking in Metro lots; a farecard and a mobile phone that receives Metro inauguration-related text messages. All these “Metro Musts” fit conveniently into one pocket.
Metro’s free commemorative inauguration pocket guide will help riders navigate their way around the nation’s capital and inaugural activities. It features a walking map complete with directions; rail stations and bus drop-off and pick-up stops. It includes a Metrorail map and bus route information. Riders also are urged to map out alternative ways to getting where they want to go. The maps can be found on buses, at rail station kiosks or online.
Parking at Metrorail stations is $4 cash only which will be collected on entry. Metrobus passengers may purchase an unlimited all-day pass for $5 only on buses or they may pay $1.35 cash or with a SmarTrip® card. Buses servicing Metrorail stations in Northern Virginia are free of charge.
Metro urges passengers to have enough money on a regular farecard for a round trip fare and buy them in advance of Inauguration Day. Passengers also can purchase commemorative One-Day Passes, which allow unlimited travel on the rail system per day or a specially made Barack Obama SmarTrip® card. The cards can be purchased at Metro sales offices located at Metro Center and the Pentagon station and select CVS stores. Fare cards and all day passes can be purchased at any Metrorail stations or sales offices.
Passengers are urged to sign up for Metro’s special inaugural text messages to keep informed about rail and bus updates in real time. Sign up for them at www.wmata.com/inauguration.
As a reminder, riders will not be allowed to bring bicycles onboard Metro trains an Inauguration Day due to crowding.
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 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.
Large coolers are prohibited, and restroom availability will be extremely limited. Due to the heightened security, Metro’s restrooms will be closed on January 20. One hundred and fifty portable restrooms will be placed outside of some Metrorail stations. Outdoor portable restrooms also will be located around the capitol grounds.
Metro also will have more than 300 Inaugural Ambassadors who will be available to help riders find their way or answer Metro-related questions.
To view a video about Metro travel musts on Inauguration Day, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP0P8aNWcVc.
News release issued at 2:51 pm, January 17, 2009.