For information about the inaugural events, see A Guide to the Presidential Inauguration 2009
Maps of Viewing Areas and Security Access Points
Metrorail Plans for Inauguration Weekend
Metro is gearing up for the big event and has announced the following preliminary plans. Due to the changing nature of this event and heightened security, all information is subject to change.- Metrorail will open at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 and close at 2 a.m. Metro will charge rush-hour fares and $4 parking fees on Inauguration Day to help offset the cost of providing the extra service. Rush hour service will be in effect (more frequent trains) from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. Extra personnel will be on hand to help patrons get to and from the events.
- Hours for the weekend will be: 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday, 7 a.m. to midnight on Sunday and 5 a.m. to midnight on Monday.
- Parking spaces are expected to fill up. Reserved parking rules will not be in effect.
- On Jan. 20, charter buses coming to the Washington Metropolitan area will be allowed to park at only six Metrorail stations -- Greenbelt, Shady Grove, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU, West Falls Church-VT/UVA, Morgan Boulevard and Van Dorn Street. Metro is no longer taking any more requests for charter bus parking.
- No automobiles will be permitted to park at The Greenbelt, Morgan Boulevard and Van Dorn Street Metrorail station parking lots. They will be used for charter buses only. The Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station parking lot will also be closed to the public because that lot is reserved for use by Metro employees only. Shady Grove, Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and West Falls Church-VT/UVA Metrorail station parking lots will park a combination of charter buses and automobiles.
- The U.S. Secret Service has deemed the Inauguration as a special national security event and due to security measures, the Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter Metrorail station and the Smithsonian Metrorail stations will be closed on Inauguration Day.
Metrobus Service
Metrobus will operate on a normal Saturday schedule. However, with the anticipated street closures around the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue for the parade, all Metrobuses will be prepared for detours. Bus customers are encouraged to plan significant extra time to travel through these areas. No vehicular traffic, including buses, is expected to be able to pass close to the U.S. Capitol, nor will vehicles be able to cross Pennsylvania Avenue.Commuter Rail Service
MARC trains begin service at 5 a.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Visit www.commuterpage.com for more information.Virginia Railway Express commuter train service begins at 5:05 a.m. Trains will not make stops at Franconia/Springfield, Alexandria or Crystal City. Special tickets must be bought in advance. Regular VRE tickets will not be accepted. Visit www.vre.org for exact schedules and to purchase tickets.
Water Taxi from Alexandria, Virginia
The U.S. Coast Guard has approved The Potomac Riverboat Company to offer water taxi service with a capacity to transport 3,000 from Virginia to DC. The water taxi departs from Alexandria City Marina at Union and Cameron streets in Old Town and arrives at the SW Waterfront, Pier 4, 600 Water Street, Washington, DC. This is a one mile walk to the closest security entrance to the National Mall. The water taxis depart for DC between 6 and 9:15 a.m. and return to Alexandria from 6 to 11 p.m. Cost: $90 round trip or $50 one way. Timed tickets go on sale on Monday, January 12 at www.InauguralWaterTaxi.com.Walking to the Inaugural Events
If you are staying within 2 miles of the U.S. Capitol, walking to the swearing-in ceremony will be the most reliable method of getting to the inaugural events. Please note that you will only be able to cross the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route at designated points.Bicycling to the Inauguration
While bicycles will be prohibited within the security perimeter, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) will operate 2 bike valet stations near the swearing-in ceremonies and parade route. The bike valets will be located on the south side of the Jefferson Memorial and on 16th Street, NW, between I and K Streets. Both sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The sidewalks on all bridges over the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers will be open to bicyclists and pedestrians, and the Memorial Bridge will be dedicated to bicyclists and pedestrians. In the event of extreme weather, the valets will be closed, but the unattended bike parking racks will still be available for use. Visit www.waba.org for more information.Inauguration Security
A security perimeter will be established around the U.S. Capitol and the parade route. Metro stations, bus stops, and streets within that perimeter will be closed. Street closures throughout Washington, DC will make traveling by car or taxi very difficult. Bridges from Virginia crossing the Potomac River into Washington, DC as well as major roadways from Maryland into Washington, DC may be closed to all but bus traffic. More details to be announced. Read more about Inauguration Security.See details about restricted roadways and street closures on page 2.
