Getting Around During Papal Visit
Here is some advice about traffic hot spots during the pope's visit to Washington, which begins during this afternoon's rush and ends Friday morning.
-- Worst Bet: Expecting events to begin and end at the scheduled times.
-- Best Bet: Getting to your seat for the 10 a.m. papal mass at Nationals Park by 8:30 a.m.
-- The worst congestion is likely to occur tomorrow and Thursday.
-- Avoid Massachusetts Avenue NW around Observatory Circle all week. That's the neighborhood where the pope will be staying. Commuters can try Wisconsin Avenue, Connecticut Avenue and 16th Street NW as alternatives or take Metro's Red Line. Crosstown traffic could use Garfield Street, Cleveland Avenue and Calvert Street.
-- The streets around North Capitol Street and Michigan Avenue NE are likely to be congested tomorrow and Thursday as the pope attends events in Brookland.
-- Popemobile Procession: Noon tomorrow from the White House, west on Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Washington Circle, then winding north to Massachusetts Avenue and Observatory Circle.
-- Thursday Commute: Morning travelers who usually use the Douglass Bridge on South Capitol Street near Nationals Park could use the 11th Street Bridge instead.
-- Here's a link to the rest of The Post's coverage of Pope Benedict XVI's visit.
What are your suggestions or concerns about getting to see the pope or just getting around the congestion?
By |
April 15, 2008; 8:16 AM ET
Congestion
Previous: Parkway Paving Postponed |
Next: Officials Warn of Congestion
Posted by: Rich | April 15, 2008 8:57 AM
Gotta love whiners from the burbs...pay nothing; complain, complain, complain
Posted by: TheCapitalist | April 15, 2008 9:42 AM
TheCapitalist, you missed a step, it's:
pay nothing, benefit from all the city offers, complain, complain, complain.
Posted by: Close, but not quite... | April 15, 2008 10:34 AM
I've read that South Capitol Street is going to be closed on Thursday. Is that just cars or pedestrian traffic too?
Posted by: Peg | April 15, 2008 11:16 AM
What do they make their barriers out of, styrofoam?
Posted by: Anonymous | April 15, 2008 11:18 AM
Dr. G., do you know what the rules are in terms of parking enforcement, residential parking enforcement, rush hour lanes, and reversible lanes (on roads like Connecticut Ave) in light of the fact that tomorrow is a holiday in DC (Emancipation Day)?
Posted by: Woodley Park | April 15, 2008 11:19 AM
What exactly does this city offer? Traffic? Crime? Dysfunction? Mismanagement? High Prices? Minimal Culture? Politicians?
Posted by: Jobo | April 15, 2008 11:22 AM
it's because of whiners like y'all that I pack my lunch every day and spend no money in the district. I don't want to support a city of corrupt lazy whiners any more than I have to.
Posted by: fukcDC | April 15, 2008 11:22 AM
minimal culture? we bring the world marionberry!
Posted by: DC united! | April 15, 2008 11:37 AM
Never mind, answered my own question:
http://newsroom.dc.gov/show.aspx/agency/dpw/section/2/release/13357
Posted by: Woodley Park | April 15, 2008 11:49 AM
Does anyone other than the DC "government" take Emancipation Day off?
Posted by: Anonymous | April 15, 2008 12:09 PM
Can anyone explain, please, what traffic I have to watch out for _today_? Where is the Pope going to be today? And when?
Posted by: A DC Wonk | April 15, 2008 12:18 PM
In light of the link "Woodley Park" posted, Dr. Gridlock may want to add something to his blog--it would appear that Canal Road would be TWO-WAY tomorrow based on what is said in that link. That's a recipe for head-on collisions, since most people have never heard of this silly "holiday."
Posted by: Rich | April 15, 2008 12:34 PM
Silly holiday? The only way you could be more racist is to say Barack Obama's middle name out loud.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 15, 2008 1:07 PM
You mean Hussein?
Posted by: Bob | April 15, 2008 1:15 PM
Is Canal Road DDOT maintained or NPS maintained? That makes a big difference since it is not a Federal holiday, but a District holiday, therefore roads maintained by Federal agencies should still have rush hour lane configurations in place.
I fully expect everyone on Connecticut to drive in the normal 4 lanes in the rush hour direction/2 lanes the other way pattern tomorrow. However they will probably have to merge out of the right lane when they get to my car parked in it :)
Posted by: Woodley Park | April 15, 2008 1:20 PM
Pennsylvania Avenue is already NO PARKING from Tuesday - > ?? Police have set up crowd control barriers from 17th Street heading west (not sure where they are now). There is a cop parade of cars, motorcyles and dozens and dozens of bicycles. Probably best to avoid if possible.
Posted by: Andrew | April 15, 2008 1:49 PM
The Pope's flight is due to arrive at Andrews AFB at 4:00 this afternoon. The media have reported that he's going into the city via motorcade. Dr. G, could you please advise as to where and when we might expect road closures? (I know I'm trying to get home in time for the Capitals' playoff game on TV.)
Posted by: Rich | April 15, 2008 2:13 PM
From Dr. Gridlock: The pope's route from Andrews this evening has not been made public. But he's going to wind up at the Vatican Embassy on Massachussetts Avenue NW around Observatory Circle. DDOT predicts some congestion in that vicinity late in this evening's rush period.
Posted by: Robert Thomson | April 15, 2008 2:27 PM
Thanks for that.
Posted by: Rich | April 15, 2008 2:37 PM
Anonymous trolls playing the race card on a transportation blog. Sighs. In the space of a single post, Rich, you have been attacked twice. This is why I've reverted to being a lurker instead of an active commenter on this blog. The trolls have ruined it.
Posted by: CyanSquirrel | April 16, 2008 1:12 PM
stay away, coloredrodents haven't been emancipated yet
Posted by: Anonymous | April 17, 2008 10:49 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Lisa Baden reported this morning that a jersey barrier, set up for security purposes on Massachusetts Avenue where it joins Observatory Circle, had fallen over and was blocking a southbound lane. Gotta love traffic management in the District of Columbia!