FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2009
Record crowds are expected to visit the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area as the nation celebrates the 56th Presidential Inauguration. On January 20, road and bridge closures and security restrictions around the U.S. Capitol and the Inauguration parade route will restrict car travel from Northern Virginia to Washington beginning at 2 a.m. The City of Alexandria urges all residents, whether they are attending the Inauguration, going to work or traveling within the City, to make plans and stay informed by visiting alexandriava.gov/inauguration.
The City of Alexandria urges residents to use public transportation. Here are some options when planning your travel arrangements:
By Rail
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) is the area’s primary source of public transportation. To plan your Metrobus or Metrorail trip, use Metro’s Trip Planner (www.wmata.com/getting_around/metro_events/inauguration.cfm).
By Bus
On January 20, all bus travel (Metro, DASH and Fairfax Connector) within Northern Virginia will be free to the public. For bus travel within Alexandria, visit the Alexandria Transit Company (DASH) Web site (www.dashbus.com), which will be operating on an enhanced Saturday schedule.
Metro is also running 23 special rapid bus corridors to take thousands of people to the National Mall on Inaugural Day. Passengers can purchase a special one-day pass on January 20 for $5, or can pay the regular rates with a SmarTrip card. In Alexandria, Metro’s rapid bus pathways will begin at Landmark Shopping Center and Skyline Center and end in Washington, D.C. at C Street, SW, between 14th and 12th Streets, SW. The 7S buses will service stops at Landmark Shopping Center, along Duke Street, Lincolnia Road and Beauregard Street, and at Shirlington Station before getting onto I-395 to cross the river to C Street, SW, 12th Street, SW, and Maine Avenue. 28S buses will also operate on George Mason Drive, Seminary Road and Leesburg Pike. For more information, visit www.wmata.com/getting_around/metro_events/inauguration_bus.cfm.
In Old Town, the Free King Street Trolley, which runs from the Metrorail King Street Station to the City’s Waterfront, will be operating on extended hours, running from 11:30 a.m. to midnight.
On Foot or Bicycle
People who wish to walk to the Inauguration from Alexandria have a number of options, including the Mount Vernon Trail. For trail access information, visit the City's bike trails map at alexandriava.gov/localmotion/info/default.aspx?id=11546. Additionally, the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority has produced a commemorative walking guide and map, located at www.wmata.com/getting_around/metro_events/inauguration.cfm.
Although bicycles will be allowed on Metro buses throughout the Inaugural weekend, they will not be allowed on Metrorail, beginning Saturday, January 17 through Tuesday, January 20. However, bicycling is an option for getting to the Mall on Inauguration Day. The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) will be operating two free bicycle valet parking areas on January 20, including one at the Jefferson Memorial. For more information including maps, bike rental information and valet tips, or to plan a route using online maps of bicycle routes from Alexandria and Arlington to the bicycle valet parking areas visit www.waba.org/events/inauguralbikevalet.php. For a regional bike path route finder, visit tdm.commuterconnections.org/mwcog/BikePathQuery.jsp.
For more travel options to, and within Washington, D.C., and other important information, please visit the following sites:
As federal, state and local agencies continue to develop plans for the Inauguration, information on road closures may change. Please visit alexandriava.gov for updates.
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