A reminder that holiday cheer may make commutes longer on Thursday evening as the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting closes some downtown streets and reroutes some buses.
D.C. officials urge commuters to consider taking transit or alternative routes to avoid the annual holiday gridlock.
From 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, parking will be limited on:
• 15th Street Northwest, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue
• 17th Street Northwest, from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue
At 4:30 p.m. Thursday until the event ends, the following streets will be closed:
* 15th Street Northwest will be closed from Pennsylvania Avenue/E Street to Constitution Avenue
* 17th Street Northwest will be closed from New York Avenue to Constitution Avenue
Also, Metro warns that it will be rerouting the following buses from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m.:
* Routes 32, 36, 37 and 39 westbound will detour using 13th Street NW to I Street and eastbound using K Street to 13th Street.
* Routes 42, S2 and S4 eastbound will detour using K Street NW to 11th Street.
* Route 13 service will be split, with 13A getting to and from Virginia Avenue and 19th Street by Constitution Avenue and Memorial Bridge, and 13B getting to and from Federal Triangle Metrorail station by Independence Avenue and the 14th Street Bridge.
* If it becomes necessary to close Constitution Avenue during the event, buses will go north on 18th, 20th or 22nd street to K Street or south on 17th Street to Independence Avenue.
* H1, L1 and N3 will start at Virginia Avenue and 19th Street NW
* P1 and X1 will start at 10th Street terminal
* L2 will start at Farragut Square
* 11Y, G8, P17-19, W13 and X2 will start at Franklin Square
* Some S2 and S4 buses will turn around at Franklin Square
