FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Media Contact: Monica Hernandez at 202-671-2261, monica.hernandez@dc.govv
***TRAFFIC ADVISORY***
Independence Day Travel Advisory
Road Closures and Parking Restrictions
Transit Service
Capital Bikeshare Corrals
“Operation Fast Forward” After the Fireworks
(Washington, D.C.) In preparation for the Independence Day holiday, The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is advising participants to please take notice of the following street closures and related advisories that will impact travel in the city on Wednesday, July 4.
Due to the extremely heavy pedestrian crowds associated with these events, motorists are encouraged to exercise extreme caution when traveling in these areas. In addition, those wishing to attend these events are encouraged to use public transportation.
July 4 Celebration Road Closures
The Metropolitan Police Department provided the following information about road closures for the Independence Day festivities that will take place in the District of Columbia on Wednesday, July 4. In conjunction with these events, there will be numerous street closures and parking restrictions that motorists should take into consideration:
A Capitol 4th – Celebration on the National Mall:
No Parking Restrictions 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
· 3rd Street, from Independence to Constitution Avenue, NW
· 4th Street, from Independence to Constitution Avenue, NW
· 7th Street, from Independence to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
· 14th Street, from Independence to Constitution Avenue, NW
· 15th Street, from Constitution to E Street, NW
· 17th Street, from Constitution to E Street, NW
· Constitution Avenue, both sides, from Pennsylvania Avenue, west to 23rd Street, NW
· 10th Street, NW, between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW
· 14th Street, NW, between Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues, NW
· C Street, NW, from 17th to 18th Streets, (Both Sides)
· Virginia Avenue, NW from Constitution Avenue to 21st Street, NW
Streets Closed from approximately 6 a.m. until approximately 11 p.m.
· 4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW
· 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW
· 15th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue, NW to Maine Avenue, SW
· 17th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to E Street, NW
· 19th Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue
· 20th Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue
· 21st Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue
· 22nd Street, NW from C Street to Constitution Avenue
· 23rd Street, NW from Independence Avenue, SW to C Street, NW
· Virginia Avenue, NW from 18th Street to 20th Street
· Constitution Avenue, NW from 14th Street to 23rd Street
· Independence Avenue, SW from 14th Street to 23rd Street
Streets Closed from approximately 11:30 a.m. until approximately 11 p.m.
- 14th Street from Independence Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
- 3rd Street from Maryland Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Streets Closed from approximately 11:30 a.m. until approximately 3 p.m. (for the Parade)
The parade route will begin at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW and end at 17th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW. The following streets will remain closed during the parade:
· 9th Street Tunnel from Pennsylvania Avenue to the SE/SW Freeway
· 12th Street Tunnel from the SE/SW Freeway to Pennsylvania Avenue
Motorists should be advised that the 14th Street Bridge and the Roosevelt Bridge will remain open throughout the day. Motorists are reminded that there is no parking or stopping on the bridges. Any vehicles that stop on the bridge will be immediately ticketed and towed.
National Archives July 4th Declaration of Independence Reading:
From 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Constitution Avenue, NW between 7th and 9th Streets will closed for this event.
Palisades Annual July 4th Parade:
The parade begins at Whitehaven Parkway and MacArthur Boulevard NW., and proceeds Northwest on MacArthur, left on Edmunds Place, left on Sherier Place, and a right into the Palisades Recreation Center. Road closures begin at 12 p.m. and conclude at approximately 1:30 p.m. MacArthur Boulevard will be closed from Reservoir Road to Arizona Ave. for this event. There will be rolling street closures during this event.
Capitol Hill July 4th Parade:
The annual parade on Capitol Hill will form at 8th and I Streets, SE at 8 a.m. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 12 p.m. at the Eastern Market Metro Plaza. The parade will proceed north on 8th Street, and west on D Street, SE. to the park at 7th and D Street, SE where it will disband. There will be rolling street closures during this event.
For more information about Independence Day events on the Mall, visit nps.gov/foju/roadclosures.
For information about July 4 activities and road closures in Arlington, please visit www.arlingtonva.us.
Parking Restrictions
Please note, parking throughout the area around the National Mall will be extremely limited on July 4.
DDOT has begun posting emergency no parking signs on the affected streets. Residents, workers and visitors can park at these locations until the restrictions begin, but please do not remove the temporary signs. Even if the signs are removed, the no parking restrictions will be enforced on the 4th.
Transit
Residents and visitors are encouraged to take public transportation on the 4th. Metro will be adding additional service. Metrobus will operate on a Sunday schedule and some routes will be detoured. For more information visit http://www.metroopensdoors.com.
The DC Circulator bus routes will remain the same and operate under regular weekday service hours. For more information visit www.dccirculator.com.
Capital Bikeshare
On July 4, Capital Bikeshare will be providing a bike corral at the 10th St and Constitution Avenue, NW station to handle the large number of riders expected to use the system to visit the National Mall. The corral will be made available from noon to until one hour after the fireworks are over.
With the large number of road closures in the DC area on July 4, rebalancing vehicles will likely experience delays. Also, with the expected heavy use of Capital Bikeshare during the evening on Wednesday, July 4, bike availability may be an issue during the morning rush hours on Thursday, July 5. For more information visit http://capitalbikeshare.com.
Operation Fast-Forward
In coordination with its regional transportation and public safety partners, DDOT will once again run “Operation Fast Forward” on July 4. This annual exercise allows the participating agencies to expedite and manage the flow of traffic after the fireworks, while they test their emergency evacuation plans.
On five select evacuation routes, traffic signals will be retimed to provide longer green lights for traffic exiting the city. The operation is slated to begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the fireworks and run for 60 minutes.
The Operation Fast Forward emergency routes are:
· Northbound 7th Street, NW/Georgia Avenue F Streets, NW to Eastern Avenue
· Eastbound Pennsylvania Avenue from South Capitol Street to Southern Avenue, SE
· Northbound Connecticut Avenue from 17th Street, NW to Oliver Street, NW
· Southbound 14th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to C Street, NW
· Westbound K Street from 17th Street, NW to the Whitehurst Freeway, Canal Road, NW and the Chain Bridge, NW
Safety
DDOT and its regional partners remind pedestrians and motorists to obey all traffic laws, including crossing at designated crosswalks and following the directions of Metropolitan Police and other law enforcement personnel. DDOT will deploy Traffic Control Officers (TCOs) to assist with the flow of traffic and pedestrian movements around the Mall.
Safe Haven - Should a severe weather event such as a thunderstorm occur during the celebration on the National Mall the U.S. Federal Protection Agency will open selected federal buildings for the sole purpose of allowing people to seek shelter. In the event that Safe Haven is implemented information will be broadcasted through public address systems and deployable mass notification units.
Tips for Motorists:
- Always obey the directions of police officers and TCOs at intersections.
- When leaving parking garages or lots near the Mall after the fireworks, be prepared to stop and yield to people on the sidewalk. They have the right of way and there will be many of them.
- Drive slowly and cautiously on streets near the Mall after the fireworks. The sidewalks are not large enough to accommodate the number of pedestrians exiting the Mall and people will be walking in the street for several blocks in near the Mall.
- Remember that drivers turning right or left at intersections must stop and give right of way to pedestrians legally in the crosswalk. Under DC Law, failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk is punishable by up to a $250 fine and 3 points on your license.
Tips for Pedestrians:
- Always obey the directions of police officers and TCOs at intersections.
- Wait for the Walk signal and watch for turning vehicles.
- Obey the pedestrian signals rather than the vehicle signals. There may be a turn arrow for drivers.
- Cross at signal controlled intersections whenever possible.
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