Inaugural Droppings - I

I have been selected to be an official Inaugural volunteer. I won’t know the details until I am handed a triple-sealed envelope marked “If you do not choose to accept this assignment …” next Monday night.

I do know from a brief conversation with my “handler” that I will be assigned somewhere on the Mall. How I, or anyone else will get there, could be the hardest part of the job. (But I will show up wearing my Obama “44th president” baseball cap I bought yesterday in a government building, no less, for a mere $5. You can guess where it was made.)

The other day, I got an e-mail missive from PIC (“presidential inaugural committee”) declaring:

“We're organizing the most open and accessible inauguration in our nation's history.”

Hah!!

Today, I got the following message from my employer: (It is lengthy, but gives you an idea pretty quickly that since people who live in Virginia, which shockingly voted for Obama, cannot drive into the District of Columbia, and since only the subway and foot traffic will be allowed, no one is getting anywhere quickly or efficiently from Jan. 19-21. Unlike every previous Inaugural I attended where you could wander freely near the parade route and salute with as many fingers as you wished.)

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:

o 14th Street Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
o Roosevelt Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
o Memorial Bridge – Restricted to Pedestrians and Emergency Vehicles Only
o Key Bridge – Restricted to Mass Transit Only
o Chain Bridge - Restricted to Authorized Vehicles and Mass Transit Only, no charter buses..
o South Capitol Street Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
o Southeast/Southwest Freeway – Restricted to Emergency Vehicles Only
o Rock Creek Parkway – Open to traffic from Beach Drive to Virginia Avenue NW (Holiday traffic schedule in effect throughout the park)
o Clara Barton Parkway operating under Holiday schedule (2 way traffic all day)
o 11th Street Bridges – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
o Sousa Bridge – Open to all traffic from east of the river to security checkpoint in Capitol Hill; Barney Circle closed to all vehicles
o East Capitol Street – Open to all traffic but roadways around RFK will be filled with tour buses
o Benning Road – Open to all traffic
o New York Avenue – Open to all traffic
o 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.
o K Street NW from Washington Circle to 12th Street NW
o Washington Circle from K Street NW to 23rd Street NW
o Pennsylvania Avenue NW from Washington Circle to the U S Capitol
o I Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 11th Street NW
o H Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
o G Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
o F Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
o E Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
o Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street NW to 2nd SW
o D Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 1st Street NW
o C Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
o Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street NW to 2nd Street NE
o Madison Dr. NW from 15th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
o Jefferson Dr.. SW from 15th Street SW to 3rd Street SW
o Independence Avenue from 23rd Street SW to 2nd Street SE
o C Street SW from 7th Street SW to 2nd Street SW
o D Street SW from 7th Street SW to 2nd Street SW
o E Street SW from 7th Street SW to 2nd Street SW
o Maryland Avenue SW from 7th Street SW to the U S Capitol
o 23rd Street from Washington Circle NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 22nd Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
o 21st Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
o 20th Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
o 19th Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
o 18th Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
o 17th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o Connecticut Avenue NW from K Street NW to H Street NW
o 16th Street NW from K Street NW to H Street NW
o Vermont Avenue NW from K Street NW to H Street NW
o 15th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 14th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o New York Avenue NW from 18th Street NW to 11th Street NW
o 13th Street NW from K Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
o 12th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 11th Street NW from K Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
o 10th Street NW from H Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
o 9th Street from H Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 8th Street NW from H Street NW to D Street NW
o 7th Street from H Street NW to E Street SW
o 6th Street from H Street NW to E Street SW
o 5th Street from H Street NW to D Street NW
o 4th Street from H Street NW to E Street SW
o 3rd Street from Massachusetts Avenue NW to E Street SW
o Henry Bacon Dr. NW from the Lincoln Memorial to Constitution Avenue NW
o Daniel French Dr. SW from the Lincoln Memorial to Independence Avenue SW
o Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue through West Potomac and East Potomac Parks
o Buckeye Drive in East Potomac Park
o West Basin Drive
o East Basin Drive
o Parkway Drive from Rock Creek Parkway to Lincoln Memorial Circle
o 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:
o Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 18th Street NW to the U S Capitol
o I Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
o H Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
o G Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
o F Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
o E Street NW from 18th Street NW to 6th Street NW
o D Street NW from 18th Street NW to 6th Street NW
o C Street from 18th Street NW to 2nd Street NE
o Constitution Avenue from 17th Street NW to 2nd Street NE
o Madison Dr. NW from 15th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
o Jefferson Dr. SW from 15th Street SW to 3rd Street SW
o Independence Avenue from 14th Street SW to 2nd Street NE
o Maryland Avenue SW from 6th Street SW to the U S Capitol
o 17th Street from I Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o Connecticut Avenue NW from I Street NW to H Street NW
o 16th Street NW from I Street NW to H Street NW
o Vermont Avenue NW from I Street NW to H Street NW
o 15th Street from I Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 14th Street from I Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o New York Avenue NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
o 13th Street NW from I Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
o 12th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 11th Street NW from F Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
o 10th Street NW from F Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
o 9th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 8th Street NW from F Street NW to D Street NW
o 7th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 6th Street from F Street NW to Maryland Avenue SW
o 5th Street from D Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 4th Street from D Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
o 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:
o Louisiana Avenue between Columbus Circle and Constitution Avenue NW
o Delaware Avenue between Columbus Circle and D Street NE
o First Street between Columbus Circle and D Street NE
o North Capitol Street NW between E Street and Louisiana Avenue
o E Street between New Jersey Avenue and North Capitol Street NW
o New Jersey Avenue NW between E Street and Louisiana Avenue NW
o D Street between Louisiana Avenue NW and Second Street NE
o First Street NW between D Street NW and Louisiana Avenue NW
o C Street NW between First Street and Louisiana Avenue NW
o Second Street NW between C Street and Constitution Avenue NW
o Second Street NE between Massachusetts Avenue NE and C Street SE
o C Street SE between Second Street SE and First Street SE
o First Street SE between C Street and D Street SE
o D Street between First Street SE and Washington Avenue SW
o Washington Avenue SW between D Street SW, and Independence Avenue SW
o Independence Avenue SW between Second Street SW and Third Street NW
o Third Street between SW Freeway and Constitution Avenue NW
o 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:
o RFK Stadium
o 12th Street NW to 22nd Street and K Street NW to P Street NW
o First Street NE to 6th Street NW and New York Avenue to H Street NW
o 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.
o 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.
o 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
o 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.
o Memorial Bridge will be open to pedestrian traffic only. No motor vehicles will be permitted to cross the bridges.
o Key Bridge is restricted to mass transit only
o Chain Bridge is restricted to authorized vehicles and mass transit only, no charter buses.
o The Woodrow Wilson and the American Legion bridges will have no traffic restrictions.
o 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:
o The George Washington Memorial Parkway will be closed in both directions from I-495 to the 14th Street Bridge.
o 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.
o 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:
o Conducting extended emergency traffic patrols along interstate and primary highways approaching the National Capital Region
o 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
o Assisting motorists and removing abandoned and disabled vehicles from travel lanes and reporting on travel conditions
o Providing traffic control support to conduct ramp closures and other operations warranted to maintain traffic
o 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:
o E Street NE from Massachusetts Avenue NE to 3rd Street NW
o 7th Street SW from D Street SW to Independence Avenue SW
o 19th Street NW from K Street NW to DuPont Circle NW
o 3rd Street Tunnel (I-395) from New York Avenue NW to SE/SW Freeway
o Arlington Memorial Bridge from Virginia, around Lincoln Circle to Independence Avenue SW
o 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:
o 6th Street NW from K Street NW to P Street NW
o 13th Street NW from K Street NW to Logan Circle NW
o East Capitol Street NE to Massachusetts Avenue NE
o 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:
o DDOT – www.gettingthere.dc.gov
o Maryland Department of Transportation – www.marylandtransportation.com
o Virginia State Police – http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Inauguration_2009.shtm
o 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:
o Presidential Inaugural Committee – www.pic2009.org
o D.C. Presidential Inaugural Committee – www.inauguration.dc.gov
o Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies – www.inaugural.senate.gov
o Armed Forces Inaugural Committee – www.afic.northcom.mil
o United States Secret Service – http://www.secretservice.gov/

Now don't let this stop you from coming. We will be happy to meet and show you around. In fact, all the scare stories about 4 million people showing up, and all the stories about residents trying to rent their houses for thousands of dollars, could turn D.C. into that famous Italian restaurant that Yogi Berra referred to when he said, "It's so crowded no one goes there anymore."