Street Closures, Parking Restrictions, Media Parking for President Ford Funeral Procession - Releases

The public and the news media are advised of traffic restrictions that will be in place on Tuesday, January 2, 2007, for the expected route for President Gerald R. Ford’s funeral procession from the United States Capitol to the Washington National Cathedral. In addition, the following street closure will be in effect beginning this weekend:

Third Street, NW, will be closed from Independence Avenue, SW, to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, beginning at 5 pm on Saturday, December 30, 2006, to 7 am on Tuesday, January 2, 2007.

On January 2, the funeral procession is expected to leave the United States Capitol at approximately 9:15 am. The procession will proceed along the following route:

West on Constitution Avenue, NW
West on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
North on 15^th Street, NW
West on Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, passing in front of the White House
North on 20^th Street, NW
Northwest on Massachusetts Avenue, NW
North on 34^th Street, NW
West on Woodley Road, NW
South on South Road, into the National Cathedral

No traffic will be permitted on these streets or allowed access from intersecting streets beginning at 8 am on Tuesday, January 2, 2007, until the completion of the procession. Woodley Road, NW, from 34^th to 38^th Street, NW, will be closed beginning at 7 am.

Upon leaving the Cathedral grounds at the conclusion of the service, the procession will proceed along the following route:

South on Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Southeast on Massachusetts Avenue, NW
South on Waterside Drive, merging onto Rock Creek Parkway
East on Independence Avenue, SW
South on Maine Avenue, SW
East on the Southeast/Southwest Freeway
South on Interstate 295
South on Suitland Parkway to Suitland Road and the main gate of Andrews Air Force Base

No traffic will be allowed onto this route until the procession has passed through intersecting streets.

No parking will be permitted from 4 am until 1 pm, on Tuesday, January 2, 2007, on the following streets:

Wisconsin Avenue, NW, from Garfield Street to Newark Street, NW
Massachusetts Avenue, NW, from Garfield Street to Idaho Avenue, NW
Garfield Street, NW, from 38^th Street to Cleveland Avenue, NW
Woodley Road, NW, from 34^th Street to 38^th Street, NW
Cathedral Avenue, NW, from 38^th Street to Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Lowell Street, NW, from Wisconsin Avenue to 34^th Street, NW
34^th Street, NW, from Woodley Road to Garfield Street, NW
35^th Street, NW, from Woodley Road to Macomb Street, NW
36^th Street, NW, from Woodley Road to Macomb Street, NW

No news media or other vehicles will be allowed to park on these streets or on streets along the procession route. (See below for more details on media parking.)

The MPDC advises the public that the street closures and the times they are in effect are subject to change with little or no advanced notice. Individuals traveling in these areas on Tuesday, Janaury 2, are encouraged to use Metro. The Department wishes to thank the public for their understanding and cooperation during this occasion.

News Media Parking

Members of the news media will be allowed to park vehicles, while space exists, on the immediate park area on the southeastern corner of Wisconsin and Massachusetts Avenues, NW. Parking will be on a "first come" basis. Members of the media may also utilize any existing spaces on Wisconsin Avenue, NW, that are south of Massachusetts Avenues, NW. Media vehicles should be in place by 7 am on Tuesday, January 2, 2007.

The Metropolitan Police Department wishes to thank the news media for its understanding and cooperation during this event. Members of the media with questions or concerns may contact the MPDC's Command Center at (202) 724-5003; the Command Center will in turn contact the Public Information Officer.