PRESS RELEASE
2009 Presidential
Inaugural Law Enforcement and Public Safety Public Affairs
Subcommittee
Announces Joint Transportation Plan
January 7, 2009
JIC-01
Contact: District Department of Transportation, 202-671-3490
Virginia State Police, 804-674-2789
Maryland State Highway Administration, 410-545-0303
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 202- 962-1051
U.S. Capitol Police, 202-224-1677
U.S. Park Police, 202-619-7163
U.S. Secret Service, 202-406-5708
(Washington, D.C.) – Events and activities celebrating the 56th
Presidential Inauguration will take place beginning on Saturday,
January 17, 2009, through Wednesday, January 21, 2009, with the
swearing-in scheduled for Tuesday, January 20.
Security and transportation plans for the Inaugural have been developed
by a partnership of local, state and federal law enforcement and public
safety agencies, including the District Department of Transportation
(DDOT), the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency
Management Agency, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority,
the Virginia State Police, the Maryland Department of Transportation,
the United States Secret Service, the Washington D.C. Metropolitan
Police Department (MPD), the United States Capitol Police and the
United States Park Police.
This transportation plan provides the general outlines for road
closures, vehicular restricted zones, public transportation, charter
vehicles and pedestrian routes. Additional information is available
online for residents of the District, Virginia and Maryland, as well as
charter operators, through the websites listed at the end of this plan.
Additions to this plan may be made prior to the Inaugural and will be
updated on these websites. Specific questions regarding this
transportation plan should be directed to the participating agencies as
identified.
Access into Washington, D.C. will be limited on Tuesday, January 20,
2009. The following is a summary of routes and their status that day:
- 14th Street Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized
Vehicles Only
- Roosevelt Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized
Vehicles Only
- Memorial Bridge – Restricted to Pedestrians and Emergency
Vehicles Only
- Key Bridge – Restricted to Mass Transit Only
- Chain Bridge - Restricted to Authorized Vehicles and Mass
Transit Only, no charter buses.
- South Capitol Street Bridge – Restricted to Buses and
Authorized Vehicles Only
- Southeast/Southwest Freeway – Restricted to Emergency
Vehicles Only
- Rock Creek Parkway – Open to traffic from Beach Drive to
Virginia Avenue NW (Holiday traffic schedule in effect throughout the
park)
- Clara Barton Parkway operating under Holiday schedule (2
way traffic all day)
- 11th Street Bridges – Restricted to Buses and Authorized
Vehicles Only
- Sousa Bridge – Open to all traffic from east of the river
to security checkpoint in Capitol Hill; Barney Circle closed to all
vehicles
- East Capitol Street – Open to all traffic but roadways
around RFK will be filled with tour buses
- Benning Road – Open to all traffic
- New York Avenue – Open to all traffic
- 3rd Street Tunnel – Closed to all vehicular traffic and
restricted to pedestrian use only.
Authorized vehicles include taxicabs and limousines with valid licenses.
Washington, D.C. Vehicular Restrictions
Vehicle Restricted Zone:
Vehicular road closures in Washington, D.C. will be instituted by the
Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Park Police. Extensive road
closures and vehicle restricted zones will be established in
Washington, D.C. Beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday, January 19, through 7
a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, all of the following areas will be
posted as Emergency No Parking.
From 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, many of these areas will
be posted by law enforcement personnel and vehicular traffic will be
limited to residents with government issued identification (driver’s
license) or vehicle registration showing residency inside the
restricted area, or to vehicles conducting essential business within
the restricted area.
- K Street NW from Washington Circle to 12th Street NW
- Washington Circle from K Street NW to 23rd Street NW
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW from Washington Circle to the U S
Capitol
- I Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 11th Street NW
- H Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- G Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- F Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- E Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street NW to 2nd SW
- D Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 1st Street NW
- C Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street NW to 2nd Street NE
- Madison Dr. NW from 15th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- Jefferson Dr. SW from 15th Street SW to 3rd Street SW
- Independence Avenue from 23rd Street SW to 2nd Street SE
- C Street SW from 7th Street SW to 2nd Street SW
- D Street SW from 7th Street SW to 2nd Street SW
- E Street SW from 7th Street SW to 2nd Street SW
- Maryland Avenue SW from 7th Street SW to the U S Capitol
- 23rd Street from Washington Circle NW to Independence
Avenue SW
- 22nd Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 21st Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 20th Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 19th Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 18th Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 17th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- Connecticut Avenue NW from K Street NW to H Street NW
- 16th Street NW from K Street NW to H Street NW
- Vermont Avenue NW from K Street NW to H Street NW
- 15th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 14th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- New York Avenue NW from 18th Street NW to 11th Street NW
- 13th Street NW from K Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 12th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 11th Street NW from K Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 10th Street NW from H Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 9th Street from H Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 8th Street NW from H Street NW to D Street NW
- 7th Street from H Street NW to E Street SW
- 6th Street from H Street NW to E Street SW
- 5th Street from H Street NW to D Street NW
- 4th Street from H Street NW to E Street SW
- 3rd Street from Massachusetts Avenue NW to E Street SW
- Henry Bacon Dr. NW from the Lincoln Memorial to
Constitution Avenue NW
- Daniel French Dr. SW from the Lincoln Memorial to
Independence Avenue SW
- Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue through West Potomac
and East Potomac Parks
- Buckeye Drive in East Potomac Park
- West Basin Drive
- East Basin Drive
- Parkway Drive from Rock Creek Parkway to Lincoln Memorial
Circle
- Maine Avenue from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue
Vehicular Road Closures: In
addition to above listed Emergency
No Parking and vehicle restricted areas, from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m.
on Tuesday, January 20, the following roads will be closed and off
limits to vehicles without a law enforcement escort:
- Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 18th Street NW to the U S
Capitol
- I Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
- H Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
- G Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
- F Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
- E Street NW from 18th Street NW to 6th Street NW
- D Street NW from 18th Street NW to 6th Street NW
- C Street from 18th Street NW to 2nd Street NE
- Constitution Avenue from 17th Street NW to 2nd Street NE
- Madison Dr. NW from 15th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
- Jefferson Dr. SW from 15th Street SW to 3rd Street SW
- Independence Avenue from 14th Street SW to 2nd Street NE
- Maryland Avenue SW from 6th Street SW to the U S Capitol
- 17th Street from I Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- Connecticut Avenue NW from I Street NW to H Street NW
- 16th Street NW from I Street NW to H Street NW
- Vermont Avenue NW from I Street NW to H Street NW
- 15th Street from I Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 14th Street from I Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- New York Avenue NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
- 13th Street NW from I Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 12th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 11th Street NW from F Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
- 10th Street NW from F Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
- 9th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 8th Street NW from F Street NW to D Street NW
- 7th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 6th Street from F Street NW to Maryland Avenue SW
- 5th Street from D Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 4th Street from D Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
- 3rd Street from D Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
Capitol Hill: Road closures
on Capitol Hill will be instituted by the U.S. Capitol Police in
cooperation with the Metropolitan Police Department. Access to the
perimeter will be restricted to properly authorized and credentialed
personnel only. No public parking will be provided. The following
street closures will go into effect starting at 5 a.m. on Tuesday,
January 20, 2009:
- Louisiana Avenue between Columbus Circle and Constitution
Avenue NW
- Delaware Avenue between Columbus Circle and D Street NE
- First Street between Columbus Circle and D Street NE
- North Capitol Street NW between E Street and Louisiana
Avenue
- E Street between New Jersey Avenue and North Capitol Street
NW
- New Jersey Avenue NW between E Street and Louisiana Avenue
NW
- D Street between Louisiana Avenue NW and Second Street NE
- First Street NW between D Street NW and Louisiana Avenue NW
- C Street NW between First Street and Louisiana Avenue NW
- Second Street NW between C Street and Constitution Avenue NW
- Second Street NE between Massachusetts Avenue NE and C
Street SE
- C Street SE between Second Street SE and First Street SE
- First Street SE between C Street and D Street SE
- D Street between First Street SE and Washington Avenue SW
- Washington Avenue SW between D Street SW, and Independence
Avenue SW
- Independence Avenue SW between Second Street SW and Third
Street NW
- Third Street between SW Freeway and Constitution Avenue NW
- Constitution Avenue NW between Second Street NW and Third
Street NW
Streets will reopen once the parade concludes at 5 p.m.
Charter Bus Parking Zones: Tour
bus parking is available at RFK Stadium and designated zones within the
District. Specific zones and road closures are posted on the District’s
Inauguration web site at www.gettingthere.dc.gov. Streets around the
bus parking areas will be closed to private automobile traffic and will
be posted as
Emergency No Parking zones
beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday January, 19, 2009. Generally, these areas
include:
- RFK Stadium
- 12th Street NW to 22nd Street and K Street NW to P Street NW
- First Street NE to 6th Street NW and New York Avenue to H
Street NW
- Designated areas in Southwest and Southeast
Virginia Vehicular Restrictions
All vehicular road restrictions will be coordinated between the
Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Transportation and
local jurisdictions. On January 20, 2009, personal vehicles will not be
permitted into Washington, D.C., from Virginia.
- I-395 north will be closed to general traffic. As a result,
northbound I-95 traffic will be diverted onto I-495 North (Inner Loop)
or I-495/I-95 East (Outer Loop) at
- the Springfield interchange.
- Eastbound I-66 lanes east of the Capital Beltway/I-495 will
be closed to general traffic. Eastbound traffic on I-66 will also be
diverted onto I-495
- Only authorized vehicles – emergency vehicles, buses, taxis
and for-hire limos - will be permitted on I-395 North and I-66 East
within the Beltway.
- Memorial Bridge will be open to pedestrian traffic only. No
motor vehicles will be permitted to cross the bridges.
- Key Bridge is restricted to mass transit only
- Chain Bridge is restricted to authorized vehicles and mass
transit only, no charter buses.
- The Woodrow Wilson and the American Legion bridges will
have no traffic restrictions.
- North Washington Street at Montgomery Street (City of
Alexandria City) to Reagan National Airport will be closed.
U.S. Park Police Closures
The following vehicular road closures will be coordinated by the
U.S. Park Police. On January 20, 2009:
- The George Washington Memorial Parkway will be closed in
both directions from I-495 to the 14th Street Bridge.
- Buses and authorized vehicles traveling to Washington
Reagan National Airport via I-395 may exit onto southbound George
Washington Memorial Parkway for the airport only. All other traffic
will need to use Route 1 or mass transit to access the airport.
- Buses and authorized vehicles will be allowed to exit
Washington Reagan
- National Airport onto northbound George Washington Memorial
Parkway to enter the District of Columbia via the 14th Street Bridge.
All other traffic will be allowed to exit the airport via Route 1 or
southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Maryland Transportation Information
While there are no anticipated road closures or restrictions in
Maryland, officials are discouraging individuals from driving into the
District and encouraging the use of mass transit. The Maryland
Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration is
supporting Inaugural activities by:
- Conducting extended emergency traffic patrols along
interstate and primary highways approaching the National Capital Region
- Providing real time traffic public information by means of
Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), Highway Advisory Radios (HAR), and CHART
(Coordinated
- Highways Action Response Team) on the Web Assisting motorists and
removing abandoned and disabled vehicles from travel lanes and
reporting on travel conditions
- Providing traffic control support to conduct ramp closures
and other operations warranted to maintain traffic
Log onto www.marylandtransportation.com for transit and travel
information
Public Transportation
Public transportation to all Inaugural events is encouraged as many
streets in and around the Capitol and the Mall area and bridges
into/out of the city will be closed to private automobiles for much of
the day.
Metrorail will operate rush hour service for 17 consecutive hours on
January 20, from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will operate on a non-rush hour
schedule for two extra hours until 2 a.m. As Metrorail will be
operating rush-hour service, it will charge peak fares throughout the
day. Due to security measures, the Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter
Metrorail station on Metro's Green and Yellow Lines and the Smithsonian
Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines, will be closed all day
on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20.
Metro’s commemorative One-Day Pass with a special Inauguration design
is currently being sold for $10 online or $7.80 at Metro sales offices
and fare vending machines. The cost of the passes will be $10 at all
sales locations on January 20. People should purchase their farecards,
One-Day Passes or SmarTrip cards in advance of Inauguration Day if
possible to avoid the lines.
Metro has about 60,000 parking spaces in 29 lots and 22 garages
throughout the Washington region for private motorists to park on
Inauguration Day. Metro will charge $4 cash only for motorists as they
pull in to park in its lots. The Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station
parking lot is closed to the public and is only available for Metro
employees who will be working on Inauguration Day.
Metrobus will be operating on a modified Saturday schedule from 4 a.m.
to 9 p.m. on Inauguration Day. However, with street closures around the
National Mall and
Pennsylvania Avenue for the parade, all Metrobuses will be prepared for
detours. Bus riders are encouraged to plan significant extra time to
travel through these areas.
MetroAccess will operate identical hours to Metrorail and Metrobus
during 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. Street closures
around the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue for the Inauguration
and parade on Inauguration Day will mean that MetroAccess vehicles will
only be able to drop off customers several blocks from the Inauguration
and parade route. MetroAccess vehicles will not be permitted access to
streets that are closed. All MetroAccess users should be prepared for
detours. MetroAccess customers must reserve their trips by 4:30 p.m.
the day prior to travel.
People planning to use Metro during the four days of Inaugural
activities can sign up for special e-alerts on Metro’s Web site at
www.wmata.com/inauguration. E-alerts will be issued when Metro has news
relating to service for the Inauguration and when there may be service
disruptions.
Charter Vehicles
Transportation and security planners anticipate up to 10,000
private buses carrying 500,000 participants to Washington, D.C., for
the Inaugural events. DDOT has
designated parking zones for buses throughout the metro area. From
these areas, riders will be able to walk, take Metro or, in limited
cases, take shuttle buses to the Inaugural events. Charter buses will
not be able to park and/or drop off passengers at any Metro station in
Washington D.C., Virginia, or Maryland.
All those who plan to travel the District of Columbia during
Inauguration Week via chartered buses, motor carriers, etc., must
obtain a Trip Permit from the District
Department of Motor Vehicles and must sign up for a parking pass at
designated parking sites. Registration for permit and parking for
charter buses must be completed no later than Thursday, January 15,
2009. No registrations will be accepted after this date.
Additional information and registration is available at www.bus.dc.gov.
Pedestrian Routes
The following access points have been identified as
pedestrian-only routes to the National Mall:
- E Street NE from Massachusetts Avenue NE to 3rd Street NW
- 7th Street SW from D Street SW to Independence Avenue SW
- 19th Street NW from K Street NW to DuPont Circle NW
- 3rd Street Tunnel (I-395) from New York Avenue NW to SE/SW
Freeway
- Arlington Memorial Bridge from Virginia, around Lincoln
Circle to Independence Avenue SW
- East Capitol Street NE to North Carolina SE to New Jersey
Avenue SE to I Street SE
The following access points have been identified as pedestrian-only
routes to the Inaugural Parade:
- 6th Street NW from K Street NW to P Street NW
- 13th Street NW from K Street NW to Logan Circle NW
- East Capitol Street NE to Massachusetts Avenue NE
- Arlington Memorial Bridge from Virginia, around Lincoln
Circle to Henry Bacon Drive NW
Bicycle Parking
Free valet bicycle parking will be provided in designated areas north
and south of the event perimeter. Additional information may be found
at www.gettingthere.dc.gov.
Inaugural Balls
There will be 10 official Inaugural balls, hosted at the
Washington Convention Center, the National Building Museum, Union
Station, the D.C. Armory and the Washington Hilton. Emergency No Parking zones and some
road closures will be in effect near each of these locations.
Online Information
Additional information is available online for residents of the
District, Virginia and Maryland, as well as charter operators, through
the following websites:
- DDOT – www.gettingthere.dc.gov
- Maryland Department of Transportation –
www.marylandtransportation.com
- Virginia State Police –
http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Inauguration_2009.shtm
- Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority –
www.wmata.com
In addition, Inaugural information is available on the following sites
to help those planning to attend the inaugural events:
- Presidential Inaugural Committee – www.pic2009.org
- D.C. Presidential Inaugural Committee –
www.inauguration.dc.gov
- Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies –
www.inaugural.senate.gov
- Armed Forces Inaugural Committee – www.afic.northcom.mil
- United States Secret Service – www.secretservice.gov
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