"Crush-Level" Inaugural Crowds Forecasted By Congressional Committee

Political Hotsheet:

Late yesterday, the Congressional Inaugural Committee issued an "Inaugural Advisory" for those planning to attend Barack Obama's swearing in ceremony in Washington D.C. on January 20th. And the unspoken message seems to be: Stay home.

Otherwise, here's what you're in for: "Street closures throughout Washington, D.C., will make traveling by car or taxi very difficult. Bridges from Virginia crossing the Potomac River into Washington, D.C., as well as major roadways from Maryland into Washington, D.C., may be closed to all but bus traffic."

Prefer the subway? "D.C.'s subway system will be running 'rush-hour' service all day, but is expecting 'crush-level' crowds. Be prepared to wait for space on a train for long periods of time, during which you will have to stand in close proximity to several thousand people. Many Metro escalators will be closed due to crowding and individuals will need to climb Metro stairs or wait to utilize the small number of elevators at Metro stations."

Read the whole story: Political Hotsheet

Comments

[SailawayJane]

My husband and I have our tickets, our plane reservations, our rooms reserved, ready to brave the crowds, the madhouse, and witness history up close and personal. Well, as up close and personal as we can get. Can hardly wait!

[tigerregis]

Please? Forecast is already past. Forecasted is inexcusable and popped up on spellcheck as soon as it was keyed in.

[bubbuh]

Oh, goody, a spelling monitor. Don't forget to clap the virtual chalk erasers together on you way out.

[ggmome]

Is this meant to 'curb' the crowds expected? That is not going to happen! The attendance will exceed any Presidential Inaugration attendance records!

[BarackstarObama]

Absolutely, LBJ's 1.2 million person crowd will be dwarfed by PE Obama.