Inauguration: Metro's 'most challenging day'

"On Thursday, I will be asking the board of directors to charge peak hour fares from 4 a.m. until later in the afternoon into the evening," said Metro General Manager John Catoe on WTOP's Ask Metro program Tuesday.

"The reason for that is these are going to be very high expenses for the Metro system."

If 1 million people were to use the transit system on inauguration day, charging peak fares for rail service could amount to an additional $3 million for the transit agency.

Catoe says even with peak fares, all of Metro's anticipated costs for the subway and bus system would not be covered.

"It is going to be the most challenging day in the history of Metro," Catoe said.

Catoe says Metrorail should be able to move up to 1 million people on Jan. 20.

"A million and a half is not a number that we can physically move. We will carry what we can."

While the number of people expected for the inauguration is not known, some estimates have predicted 3 million to 5 million people.

Another 600,000 people can be transported on buses.

"I would recommend if you are in the District of Columbia that you take the bus system."

Catoe says you should anticipate delays systemwide.

Metro's 450 officers will work 12-hour shifts on inauguration day. Additionally, other East Coast transit agencies, including those in N.J., Boston and Atlanta, are expected to send another 100 to 150 officers to help out. Those officers will be in their own uniforms, not in Metro uniforms.

Catoe recommends that anyone who has to come to work that day leave one hour earlier than normal. Metro will open at 4 a.m.

Expect Metro's parking lots to fill up quickly, especially since about 20,000 of the 60,000 spaces will be used for charter bus parking. About 1,200 of an expected 10,000 charter buses will be parked at various Metro locations.

Catoe plans on Thursday to recommend to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's board of directors that Metro charge its normal fares for parking.

Initial plans had Metro allowing non-tour buses to park for free on Jan. 20. The transit agency is also looking to hire a firm to handle payment issues at parking lots on Inauguration Day. However, people with SmarTrip cards would be able to use them to leave Metro parking lots on Jan. 20.

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