From the Desk of Former Mayor Malinda Miles

It has been two years since I decided to remove myself from the political scene in Mount Rainier, MD, Prince George's County, and the State of Maryland. Holding the lofty position of Mayor was such a great honor, but as the years flew by, I realized that it was time to do something else -- get a life.! I did, and still continue to provide resources to the residents through The Front Porch Ministries (TFPM). Real people pass through The Front Porch Ministries weekly. LIFE is good.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Inauguration Day Information re Transportation

Only 11 days until Inauguration day. Metro is preparing to transport hundreds of thousands of visitors on Inauguration Day 2013. As in past years, Metro is planning an increased level of service to accommodate the high ridership. As you make plans to travel on this historic day, please use the information below as a guide. Additional details, as well as important links (walking maps and a visitor’s kit), are listed in Metro’s Inauguration website: wmata.com/inauguration.

· METRORAIL: Metrorail will open at 4 a.m. and close at 2 a.m. Metrorail will provide 17 consecutive hours of rush-hour service -- from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. Peak fares will be in effect during that time.
Archives, Mt. Vernon Square and Smithsonian stations will be closed on Inauguration Day. Several downtown Metrorail station entrances will be designated as "entry only" or "exit only" to safely manage crowds. Some escalators will be intentionally turned off to regulate the flow of customers.

· METROBUS: Metrobus will operate weekday rush hour service in the morning, followed by an early rush hour in the afternoon. Many routes will operate on detours due to Inaugural events. Additional information about Metrobus service on Inauguration Day is posted online.

· PARKING: Normal weekday parking rates will apply at Metrorail parking facilities. Parking fees will be charged as you exit the garage and may be paid by SmarTrip® or credit card. Parking lots and garages at Metro stations will fill very quickly on Inauguration Day. If you plan to park at a station, have a backup plan if parking is full. Consider connecting bus service, carpools, taxi, biking or even walking if possible.
Only authorized buses, such as Metrobuses and other transit buses, may access the stations. Bus parking is strictly prohibited at Metrorail stations. Charter bus operators must follow instructions on the District of Columbia’s Inauguration website: inauguration.dc.gov.

· METROACCESS: MetroAccess will operate identical hours to Metrorail and Metrobus. MetroAccess customers are encouraged to plan extra time due to increased traffic throughout the service area.

· ALERTS: Sign up for Metro Inauguration Alerts by entering your email address and phone number on Metro’s Inauguration website, wmata.com/inauguration. By email and text message, you will recieve real-time updates of any service changes over Inauguration Weekend, as well as important news about traveling on Metro prior to the event. You can also follow the special Inauguration Twitter account, @MetroInaug or Metro’s main Twitter account @wmata.

· FARECARDS: Please purchase your farecard or SmarTrip® card in advance to avoid long lines on Inauguration Day. Each traveler age 5 or older needs his or her own card to enter and exit the Metrorail system. You can buy cards online at wmata.com, transit store or at any Metrorail station, Metro sales office or local CVS, Giant or Safeway stores. If you’re not using a One Day Pass, be sure to load enough value on your SmarTrip® or farecard for your entire trip - in advance - for each member of your group. If you use a paper farecard, a $1 surcharge applies for each Metrorail trip you take. Metrobus fares can be paid with cash (exact change) or with a SmarTrip® card. Visit the station information pagefor your origin station to determine your fare. Remember to add $1 to the fare for each trip if you use a paper farecard.

The 2013 Presidential Inauguration Commemorative SmarTrip Card is now available for purchase for $15 in all Metro sales offices as well as online. It comes with a One Day Unlimited Trip Metrorail Pass ($14 value, can be used on any date), and as an added bonus, the card can be used for free Metrobus travel on Monday, January 21.

· INAUGURATION DAY METRO RIDER GUIDE (PDF): This rider guide is also available in all Metrorail stations and on Metrobus. Includes detailed map information on Metrorail and Metrobus, recommended routes, walking directions to the National Mall, and important travel tips.

Mayor Malinda Miles

As a long-time resident of Mount Rainier and a homeowner, it is important to me that municipal government be inclusive of all of its residents. It is equally important that information be communicated through all possible channel so that residents can get involved. It is also important for residents to volunteer and serve on committees, commissions, boards and task forces. I truly believe that municipal government is the government closes to the people, and as such should be easily accessible. This BLOG is another effort to reach out to the residents of Mount Rainier.