Inauguration parking, traffic and transit nightmares

January 6, 1:23 PMDC Transportation ExaminerKatherine M. Hill

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Does anyone else feel as stressed out about the inauguration as I do? I'm not even leaving the house that day and I'm feeling very antsy about the traffic, detours, tourists and crowds. 

The date is two weeks away and the detours have already begun so Metrobus can eschew the Hay Adams Hotel where the Obama family is staying. (Daughters Sasha and Malia started school Monday and are staying in the historic hotel before moving to the pre-White House home, The Blair House.) The detours won't last through January 20; the family will move into Blair House next week. But until then, traffic and transit routes are, well, a mess. You can check your route online.

Metro is continuing to test eight car trains. Currently testing orange, blue and red lines, the trains are testing over non-peak hours in anticipation of inauguration crowds. Metro previously tested green and yellow lines, which must have been successful.

It's the parking and traffic making me queasy. Metro has made another announcement about its parking lots (emphasis mine):

Charter buses coming to the Washington Metropolitan area on Inauguration Day (Jan. 20) 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.

The Greenbelt, Morgan Boulevard and Van Dorn Street Metrorail station parking lots will be for charter buses only. No automobiles will be permitted to park at those three stations. 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.

There's more about where you can't park (emphasis mine) in case the above was not clear:

Automobile parking will not be available at the Greenbelt, Morgan Boulevard, Van Dorn Street and Minnesota Avenue Metrorail stations on Inauguration Day (Jan. 20). All Metrorail parking facilities will close promptly at midnight on Monday, January 19, and will be cleared of vehicles in preparation for Inauguration Day. Automobiles parked at Metrorail parking facilities after midnight on Monday, January 19, will be subject to ticketing and/or towing.

As a reminder, parking will not be free; parking will cost $4 per car and will require cash upon entrance, so bring four $1 bills to the lot with you. SmartTrip cards will not be allowed for parking payment.

Special Report: Inauguration Day 2009

• The Obama Administration at a glance
• Examiner.com Inauguration Roundup
• Examiner Coverage: Inauguration Day 2009
• Elections 2008 Examiner Coverage