Excitement over D.C.’s high-profile new residents has been dampened by increased traffic congestion in the city with the nation’s second-longest commute.
While the Obama family is living at the Hay-Adams Hotel, the Secret Service has closed down streets around the historic building at 16th and H streets Northwest. The streets will remain closed until Jan. 15 when the first family-elect leaves for Blair House, before moving into the White House five days later.
Some streets along the route Obama’s children take to elite Sidwell Friends School in Northwest will also remain closed to traffic until midnight on Jan. 15.
“You may need to take alternative transportation if that’s an area you use to get to work,” Karyn LeBlanc, a spokeswoman for the D.C. Department of Transportation said.
Street closures include a section of 16th Street near the Hay-Adams between I and H streets, a section of Connecticut Avenue between I and H streets, and a section of H Street between 17th Street and Vermont Avenue. In addition, parking will be restricted on I Street between 14th and 17th streets.
Busses, which have been rerouted to accommodate the closures, are also experiencing some delays.
“We recommend that people go to the Metro Web site and check the bus alerts,” Metro spokeswoman Candace Smith said. “They can also sign up to receive mobile RSS feeds regarding related service disruptions”
The best plan for avoiding traffic will include riding a train into the heart of the city, especially for those lacking a guaranteed parking spot.
If public transportation isn’t an option, avoid H Street and use K Street and Constitution Avenue for driving parallel to the White House.
For example, if you are driving from the direction of Montgomery County on 16th Street in the direction of the Hay-Adams, take a right on K Street to 19th Street. Then take a right on 19th Street and a right on Pennsylvania Avenue to 17th Street. To get around the vicinity of the White House, 17th Street can be taken down to Constitution Avenue, a two-way street that runs parallel to the president’s home.
Parking alternatives to I Street include 18th Street between K and H streets and parking garages, which charge between $10 and $16 per day.
