Inauguration Day

The DC traffic restrictions planned for Inauguration Day are listed below.  It would have been much less confusing if they just said "We are closing down the entire city to traffic for the day" because that's essentially what they are going to be doing.  Husband just forwarded me an email sent to him by a friend announcing a rumor that Bruce Springsteen is plannng a free concert in Obama's honor on the mall on Saturday . What a circus this is going to be:

 

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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.   

 

 

 

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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 

 

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 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 

 

 

 

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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 

 

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 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 

 

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 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.  

 

 

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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 

 

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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.  

 

 

 

 

 

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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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Comments

[Schvach]

Gail: With all the traffic, visitors may be backed up all the way to your house. Hang out a shingle - you could make a bundle.

[Gail]

On a lark, we actually put our basement up for rent on Craig's list, along with dozens of others in our area. We asked a ridiculous price for it and have received no takers so far.