March anniversary could snarl city traffic

WASHINGTON – Festivities on the National Mall to mark the 50th anniversary of The March on Washington will likely bring throngs of people from around the county to the nation’s capital.

It could also mean tough travels around the city.

Metro trains may be the best bet to move about the downtown area. Saturday, Aug. 24, the “Realize the Dream” rally will take place at the Lincoln Memorial at 8 a.m. and be followed by a march to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

Metro train service will start that morning at 7 and run through 3 a.m. Sunday.

Rally organizers will provide shuttle buses to transport disabled train riders from the Foggy Bottom station to access points near the Lincoln Memorial, according to the Washington Post.

Access to the Mall near the Memorial will be restricted to both sides of 17th Street near the World War II Memorial.

On the actual anniversary – Wednesday, Aug. 28 – a march will convene at the Georgetown University Law Center at 8 a.m. and make its way to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

President Obama is expected to deliver remarks there at the culmination of the march.

There will likely be rolling road closures throughout the morning rush hour, which could make riding the bus a bit of a headache. Metro trains will operate on their normal weekday schedule.

Charter buses – with permits – that bring people to events will have parking access at RFK Stadium and Pentagon.

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