Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 21, 2005

Metro moves masses for inauguration events

On the day before and the day of the 55th Presidential Inauguration, area residents and visitors to the region made Metro their preferred mode of transportation, and Metro came through when the area’s roadways could not.

Metrorail moved 575,069 people yesterday, on Inauguration Day, when approximately 100 square blocks of downtown Washington, DC, were closed for security. However on Wednesday, January 19, the day before the inauguration, 748,900 took Metrorail-the fifth highest ridership day in Metrorail history. On that day the Federal government released workers early on a staggered schedule due to Inauguration-related events. It was also the same day that the region saw its first snowfall of the season and icy roadways made for slow-moving traffic.

Service was extended until 3 a.m. on both Wednesday and Thursday. "The snow on Wednesday coupled with the street closures on both Wednesday and Thursday caused even more people than usual to turn to Metro, and we came through for them as the most reliable and convenient way to get around the region," said Metro General Manager and CEO Richard White. "We had dedicated employees working overtime until 3 a.m. both nights to ensure people got where they needed to be." Metro officials operated 18 eight-car trains on Inauguration Day to help ease the crowding. Eight of the eight-car trains were in use on the Red Line, seven on the Orange Line and three on the Blue Line.

Metrobuses navigated the detoured roadways on a Saturday schedule. In addition, 78 Metrobuses were used to assist with street closures as they were used to barricade the roadways from oncoming traffic.

The expected high number of visitors combined with the usual mix of commuters headed to and from work resulted in crowded trains that moved relatively smoothly. Metro had no significant service disruptions during the two-day festivities. The only unusual incident in the rail system was caused by some leaves that had come to rest on the electrified third rail, causing smoke in a tunnel near the Pentagon station. Trains single-tracked around the incident.

The Smithsonian and Archives-Navy Memorial Metrorail stations were closed from 5 a.m. until the parade passed and the parade security was lifted. The Smithsonian Metrorail station reopened at 5:15 p.m.; the Archives-Navy Memorial Metrorail station reopened at 5:20 p.m. The Mt. Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center Metrorail station, which was scheduled to close from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. due to inaugural ball-related security, was closed 25 minutes early by U.S. Secret Service to prepare for the inaugural balls taking place above the station at the Convention Center, from 2:35 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Metro Transit Police beefed up security in the Metrorail system, partnering with the Transportation Security Administration and other police agencies from across the country who came in to assist with explosive detection equipment that was used to quickly respond to unattended items that were reported in the system and explosive ordnance detection canine teams, respectively. No security incidents took place in the Metrorail system during the week.

Presidential Inauguration Metrorail Ridership

News release issued on January 21, 2005.