Officials plan for massive Inaugural turnout

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: December 12, 2008
Officials plan for massive inaugural turnout
By Terry Frieden

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal and local officials are bracing for an expected massive turnout for the January inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, but say predictions of 4 or 5 million visitors to Washington are too high. However, authorities from several law enforcement and transportation agencies declined to offer an alternative estimate for the January 20 swearing-in and parade.

"We continue to check on expected planes and buses and hotel rooms, and I can say there's just nothing to suggest 4 million. But if it happens we'll be prepared to deal with that," said Malcolm Wiley, a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service.

For crowd control, the Metropolitan Washington Police Department has arranged for 4,000 police from departments outside Washington to match the 4,000 Washington police officers assigned exclusively to the inauguration.

Planners are looking for parking for an expected 10,000 tour buses from outside the Washington area. That's about 10 times the number of tour buses that flood the nation's capital annually for the Cherry Blossom Festival. So far, officials have found about 75 percent of needed bus parking, but space is becoming precious. Shuttle arrangements to sports stadium locations in Maryland are under consideration....

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Lots of patience and comfortable shoes will be crucial for surviving the Obama inaugural.

"If you're within one to two miles of the festivities, just walk," said Lisa Forestein, a spokesperson for Washington's Metro subway system. "Otherwise you'll just stand there watching full train after full train go by." Forestein admitted the subway system is one part of the system that will be utterly overwhelmed....

Although the National Mall is officially open around the clock, officials said they will not allow visitors to camp overnight. They will allow visitors to the National Mall as early as 4 a.m., when the region's Metro subway system begins to run.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/11/inauguration.plans/index.html#cnnSTCText

[Captain Hilts]

1. They bring in police from MD and VA for the state of the union also. nt

[Virginia Dare]

2. Can you say Charlie Foxtrot?

just the other day the National Christmas Tree lighting caused major gridlock downtown. Pack some comfortable shoes and some warm clothes if you're coming, you'll be doing a lot of hoofing it, and likely as not it will be snowy and cold. It was down in the 'teens for one of Reagan's.