Escalators? Nope. Plan to hoof it on Jan. 20

[Are_grits_groceries]

WASHINGTON -- Plan on taking Metrorail to the inaugural ceremonies on Jan. 20? Be ready to hit the stairs.

The transit agency says it expects to shut down and lock numerous escalators at high volume stations on the day of the inauguration. That means riders may have to walk up or down some of Metro's notoriously long escalators as they enter and exit stations.

"If there are a huge amount of people entering the station at one time, it is not unusual for the escalators to be turned off, and this is for (people's) own safety," says Metro spokesperson Candace Smith.

Metro has intentionally "locked" escalators for past events like the 4th of July and sporting events.
http://wtop.com/?nid=598&sid=1538858

There are some looooooooooooooooong elevators there. Be prepared!

[Captain Hilts]

1. They do that for football games, protests, etc. It can really suck. nt

[MaineDem]

2. That's really good for the mobility impaired

:eyes:

[high density]

3. Aren't there elevators for those people?

Escalators aren't a good mode of transportation for the mobility impaired in my opinion.

[katandmoon]

4. Metro's elevators are often out of service. I wouldn't count on them to be working either.

As far as Metro is concerned, if you're mobility-impaired, you're screwed.

[elleng]

10. There are elevators;

some here think they're not reliable. They're worth a try.

[Neshanic]

5. What's that station? HUGE escalators...DuPont Circle?

[Shakespeare]

6. Probably won't be DuPont--more likely smithsonian and federal triangle stops.

I'm pretty sure it's the stations directly on or very near the mall that will be affected by this.

[elleng]

9. Smithsonian is on the Mall;

Federal Triangle is a block away; Archives is a block away; McPherson is 2 blocks away; L'enfant is 3 blocks away.

[Shakespeare]

14. Uh, yes, I know that....

That's why I said stops on the mall or near the mall (and not, most likely, DuPont). :shrug:

(I used to live on Capitol Hill, so I have a pretty good grasp of Metro).

[elleng]

25. That's nice, but the inaugural visitor

who first wrote probably didn't know all this.

[Jay Landsman]

13. I haven't seen anything official, but they might close some stations

I know for the 4th of July, they close the Smithsonian Station because it's inside the security perimeter set up by the police. I'd bet the same thing would happen for the inauguration since they are opening up the entire Mall to accommodate the huge crowds.

Also, it sucks for many people that the escalators won't be on. But it really makes sense from a safety perspective. A massage bottleneck at the top of the escalators could cause people to get trampled.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

34. I thought they were completely closing those stops.

Basically, anything immediately close to the mall is supposed to be shut down, if I heard right.

[Mike Daniels]

35. The Mall metro entrance will definitely be shut down as it opens into the security zone.

There is another exit from the Smithsonian metro that could be open although one would think they'd shut that stop down altogether.

[Shakespeare]

36. Yup. The Independence Ave. entrace will still be open.

I think Metro's website has more info up now.

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. Absolutely frightening, those escalators...

...I used to shut one eye going down the ones at DuPont Circle. The sensation of being pitched forward was extraordinary.

[rvablue]

15. Glad I'm not the only one.....

yikes.....:scared:

[DemBones DemBones]

18. You got that right. I'm usually afraid of falling

backward on escalators but there are some in D.C. that scare me in both directions.

In London, do not take the escalator to the tube at the St. Pancras station; it's the same deal.

[AspenRose]

24. You're not alone

That's why I avoid them when I can.

SERIOUS vertigo....

[elleng]

8. Yes, DuPont has the very long escalator.

.

[Captain Hilts]

16. Bethesda's are longer, but since they aren't downtown, they'll probably be in service. nt

[seemunkee]

31. That one is my morning work out.

[Captain Hilts]

32. They need to make the 'up' escalators go faster. Particularly on the train level...

to get people off the platforms sooner. Stupid that they go so slowly.

[Mike Daniels]

29. Dupont's not likely to be a major get-off point - but yes, it's one of the long and steep ones.

However, the "really" steep one is at the Dupont North exit. The one on Q street/Dupont South is much more reasonable and is the one that would likely be used by most people.

Again, I just don't see Dupont as being a stop most people use given it's distance from where everything is happening.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

11. this is just common sense

escalators are conveyor belts. there is limited space on the station platforms.

[DrPresident]

12. DuPont Circle, Rosslyn, Medical Center

those three have loooooooooooooooooooooong elevators. There are others but I can't remember them right now. But you just know that everybody's gonna be using the elevators.

[DCBob]

17. The ones near the mall are not that bad. I am more worried about the Metro trains.

They often go out of service unexpectedly. The system is starting to show its age and maintenance/operations is not the best. Hopefully it all holds together. Fingers x'd!

[whistler162]

19. Oh come on just because they are in 3 time zones....

it doesn't mean that some of the DC subway escalators are long!;)

[LibertyLover]

20. In 1993 the law firm I worked at on Pennsylvania Avenue & 7th Ave

decided to have a reception for its clients. Staff were told that they had to come in for the reception even though we technically had the day off. As a consolation prize, we were allowed to bring a guest. I brought my mom who was 83 at the time and fortunately, in good health and active. We got to the Archives/Navy Memorial station and had to walk up. It took her a few minutes, but she made it. I was not happy at all. I believe that the elevators were working but there were long lines. Metro is a pain in the ass with its escalator policy - the ones at my station have been out for weeks, allegedly under repair, but you never see any workers.

[rainbow4321]

21. OMG..I remmber being at the top of one and there was no bottom in site

til you were actually on it and 3/4's of the way down it. Crap.

This could get messy. I'm sure they have elevators for the disabled but let's remember "disabled" can include those with non-visible disabilities (cardiac or respiratory problems, chronic back pain, etc...). Or people who have no real disability diagnosis but are elderly who can't manage steps let alone THOSE steps.
Wouldn't want to be the official in charge of monitoring the elevator to keep those who are phyisically able to climb/go down the non moving escalators from crowding out the ones who are unable. Also add those with strollers, etc.. who will need to use the elevators.

Ugh. Hope they work out the kinks before Januuary 20th.

[Balderdash]

22. The one at Wheaton Metro is way long and scary but

the real problem is the number of people coming and the wait for trains is going to be hours rather than minutes. It will be hell coming and going. I'm sure that whole week is going to be awful if you work anywhere off the Metro system, I do and I'm not looking forward to it.

[Mike Daniels]

30. I'm not looking forward to the morning commute. Fortunately...

I'm at one the earliest stops on the blue line and my commute takes me away from the real hub of activity so hopefully it won't be too bad.

I'm presuming the reverse commute in the evening will be about the same.

[CTyankee]

33. When I lived in NoVa and worked in D.C. the offices all closed on Inauguration Day.

Don't they still do that?

I worked in for nonprofits then, not government.

[Mike Daniels]

37. Government offices may close - I've never had a day off for inauguration

and lots of other businesses won't have it either. Those that haven't had days off in the past probably aren't likely to make an exception this year as that could probably led to some problems.

[Glimmer of Hope]

23. Woodley/National Zoo/Adams Morgan will give you a good workout too.

[seemunkee]

26. Some stations to be CLOSED

The U.S. Secret Service has deemed the Inauguration as a special national security event and due to security measures, the Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter Metrorail station on Metro’s Green and Yellow Lines, will be closed all day on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20. In addition one of two entrances to the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange Lines will also be closed. The Smithsonian station entrance on the National Mall will be closed. The Independence Ave SW entrance will remain open.

http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/faqs/preview.cfm?faqID=51

I wouldn't attempt to use the Smithsonian stop. I'll probably just walk from Metro Center or Gallery Place.

[MiniMe]

27. Another bit of advice on the trains, when the doors close, the doors close

They are not like elevator doors where if you stick your hand in the door will open up. The door will pin whatever you stick into the door, and it will hurt. Add to that, it tends to break the doors of the subway, and they have to offload the train. Another train comes along within 5 minutes, wait for the next one.

I've been riding the subway for almost 20 years, and I have seen it happen over and over again.

[Mike Daniels]

28. The really long escalators aren't anywhere near the inauguration area

I think the longest/steepest escalator in the general downtown DC area is Dupont Circle and I don't see that as being a primary "get off" point for most attendees. Most of the others that will be servicing that area are pretty reasonable although I think the Gallery Place escalator dumping in front of the Verizon Center may be a bit of a hike.

That said, the elevators aren't guarateed to be all that reliable although I would imagine there will be a concentrated effort to get the ones in stations closest to the activities up and running by the 20th.