The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is advising residents, workers and visitors that the following special events and construction work scheduled for this weekend could impact traffic and transit services in the District.  In particular, on Sunday, October 11, 2009, there are multiple events that could add to travel times in the downtown area.

Metro Station Closures

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has announced

Two Metro stations and part of a third will be closed for the entire Columbus Day weekend.

The Waterfront-SEU and Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Metrorail stations will be completely closed, and there will be no Green Line service at the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station, from 10:30 pm on Friday, October 9 through Monday, October 12.

The Blue and Orange Lines at the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station will not be affected. Service will resume at all Metrorail stations on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Metro will provide free direct shuttle bus service all weekend between the Anacostia, Navy Yard and Gallery Place-Chinatown stations.  For more information please visit www.metroopensdoors.com.

For north-south travel in the downtown area, residents and visitors can also use the Convention Center-SW Waterfront route of the DC Circulator

Bike for the Heart

This event is scheduled for Sunday, October 11.  Abe Pollin Way (F Street, NW between 6^th and 7^th Streets) will be closed from 4 am to 5 pm.  In addition, there will be rolling closures along the route which includes:

·         7^th Street, NW

·         Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

·         15^th Street, NW

·         Constitution Avenue, NW/NE

·         1^st Street, NE

For more information about this event please visit www.bikefortheheart.org.

National Equality March

This event is scheduled to take place at noon on Sunday, October 11.  The March will begin at McPherson Square and reach the west side of the U.S. Capitol at approximately 2 pm.

The planned route is south on 15^th Street, NW, West on H Street, south on 17^th Street, east on Pennsylvania Avenue, to 3^rd Street, NW.  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) plans to implement rolling street closures along the march route.

For additional information about the event visit www.equalityacrossamerica.org.

Taste of Georgetown

This event is scheduled to take place from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday, October 10.  The 1000 block of Wisconsin Avenue, NW, between M and K Streets, will be closed from 12 am to 8 pm.

Garage Parking is available in Georgetown.  Participants can also use public transportation.  The DC Circulator bus runs every ten minutes between Union Station and Georgetown, and the Georgetown Metro Connection provides bus service to and from the Rosslyn Metro Station (Orange and Blue Lines) and the Dupont Circle Metro Station (Red Line).  The Metro Connection will be free for attendees from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday.

For more information please visit the event’s website at www.tasteofgeorgetown.com.

Festival of the Building Arts

This event is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, from 10 am to 4:30 pm.  F Street, NW between 4^th and 5^th Streets, will be closed from 8 am to 6 pm.

For more information about the event please visit the National Building Museum’s website at www.nbm.org.