Thirteen DC subway stations will close this weekend and reopen next Thursday, Jan. 21 after the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, local transit officials said.
Starting Friday, trains will pass by select stations without stopping “to accommodate the expanded security perimeter that will be in effect for the Inauguration,” the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority said in a statement.
The closures include every station in the immediate vicinity of the Capitol, which was ransacked by a mob of pro-Trump rioters last Wednesday. DC locals are being urged to stay away from the downtown security zone.
On Friday, Metro will shutter 10 downtown stations plus Arlington Cemetery station across the river in Virginia, officials said. Twenty-six bus routes will also be detoured around the security zone.
Two more downtown stations — Metro Center and Gallery Place — become no-go zones on Saturday, officials said.
“We are working closely with our regional and federal partners to keep the public safe during this National Special Security Event and to discourage travel within the secure zone,” Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld said in a statement.
“While we are supporting law enforcement plans to enhance security, we are also keeping essential services in place for our residents who need to get to work, to medical appointments, and to grocery stores.”
Biden’s inauguration is set for Jan. 20, but the FBI has warned about armed protests in the lead-up to the event.
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