SCO's Inauguration survival guide

Millions are expected to turn out on Tuesday, Jan. 20, to see President-elect Barack Obama be sworn in. SCO brings you a guide of what to see, where to go and when to get there.

Inaugural Parade route

The Inaugural Parade for President-elect Obama will proceed from the White House to the steps of the Capitol Building via Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Watching the parade is free and there will be 13 public entry stations along the parade route where people can enter to watch. Although there is no official start time for the parade, the public will be allowed to enter the viewing section at 7 a.m. on Inauguration Day. The parade and inauguration will also be shown on giant screens stationed around the National Mall.

Public Transportation

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will provide public transportation to the Inauguration in downtown D.C. via Metrorail and Metrobus. Metro officials expect huge crowds downtown on trains on buses, so factor in extra travel time on Tuesday.

Metro

Metro will run trains at rush hour rate from 4 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Jan. 20. Trains will continue to run until 2 a.m. on Jan. 21. The Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station on the Yellow/Green lines will be closed on Inauguration Day as well as the Orange/Blue line Smithsonian station exit on the National Mall. Judiciary Square station on the Red line and Mt. Vernon Sq/7th St Convention will close early at 4 p.m. on Tuesday as well.

Metrobus

Metrobus service will be running on a "modified" Saturday schedule starting at 4 a.m. on Inauguration Day. Bus customers are advised to plan for travel delays due to expected high volumes of riders and downtown street closures. There will 23 bus routes running on key streets towards downtown D.C. From the Blair area, Metrobus route S4 will go from the Silver Spring Metro station to L St and 15th St NW, and Metrobus route 54 will go from Silver Spring to H St and 6th St NW. Bus transfers cost $1.35 in cash or $1.25 with a SmartTrip Card, and full-day bus passes cost $5.

Parking

Parking will be free at all Metro parking lots from Jan. 17 - 19. WMATA will charge $4 parking at Metro station lots on Inauguration Day and spaces are expected to fill up quickly.

For more information, visit the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority website

Link: http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/metro_events/inauguration.cfm

Biking into the city

A great alternative to gridlock traffic downtown and crowded Metro trains and buses is biking downtown to the Inauguration. The Washington Area Bicyclist Area (WABA) has outlined suggested bike corridors into downtown D.C. From the Blair area, WABA suggests that riders either go via Rock Creek Parkway or via Piney Branch Rd to 14th St NW. Bicycles will not be allowed on Metro trains on Inauguration Day. Bicyclists are required to walk their bikes within the green dotted zone on the Secret Service map and bicycles are not allowed within the black outlined zone. WABA will provide a free bike valet service at 16th St and K St NW unless there is heavy rain or snow on Inauguration Day.

Weather

As of Jan. 17, the forecast for Inauguration Day is a high of 30 degrees, low of 20, according to the Weather Channel. There is a 10 percent chance of precipitation, and it is expected to be mostly cloudy.

For more information, visit the Washington Area Bicyclists Association website

Link: http://www.waba.org/events/inauguralbikevalet.php