The Homeland Security Department has designated Barack Obama's Inauguration a National Security Event, placing the U.S. Secret Service in charge and prompting massive road and bridge closures across the region.

In sum, all of downtown will be closed to traffic and parking will be off limits. A slightly larger area will prohibit traffic to all but residents. All the bridges from Virginia into the District of Columbia are closed to private vehicles. Outbound bridge traffic -- heading toward Virginia -- will be allowed on the 14th Street (395), Roosevelt, Key and Chain bridges. Interstates 66 and 395 will be closed to inbound traffic on Inauguration Day. Outbound traffic -- heading toward the Beltway -- will be allowed.

Bridges and road closings in Virginia begin at 2 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.

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:

Beginning at 2 a.m.

• 14th Street Bridge – Inbound traffic restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only 
• Roosevelt Bridge – inbound traffic restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only 
• Memorial Bridge – all traffic -- both inbound and outbound -- Restricted to Pedestrians and Emergency Vehicles Only 
• Key Bridge – Restricted to Mass Transit Only 
• Chain Bridge - inbound traffic to 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 
• 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

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 
• 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

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.

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. The Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St Convention Center Metrorail station will close at 7:30 a.m., and the Judiciary Square Metrorail station will close at 4 p.m., due to their proximity to locations hosting Inaugural Balls. Both stations are scheduled to reopen at 5 a.m., on Wednesday, January 21.

Metro Parking

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:

• 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

Online Information
Additional information is available online for residents of the District, Virginia and Maryland, as well as charter operators, through the following Web sites:

• 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