Virginia officials are giving bus riders a break on Inauguration Day by footing the bill for bus service.
The buses that run to Metrorail stations and to pedestrian entry points at local bridges will be free Jan. 20, said Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer Pickett. And even Metrobus will offer free service from Virginia into the District — then back after the ceremonies end.
Loudoun County Commuter Buses, for example, will offer a special free service to the West Falls Church Metro station. The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission will run buses between commuter lots near Manassas, Dale City and Lake Ridge, and Metro stations.
The free bus service comes as a olive branch to those who planned to come from the commonwealth into the city on Tuesday for the historic swearing-in of Barack Obama as president.
Officials were criticized almost immediately after they announced last week that bridges leading from Virginia into the District would be closed to passenger vehicles that day. Meanwhile, Amtrak tickets had already sold out. Virginia Railway Express officials expect to sell out by today.
But the move to free bus service is a big switch, especially for Metro.
Initially Metro officials had said the transit agency would offer free parking and charge non-rush-hour fares for Metrorail service on Jan. 20, as is typical for a holiday. Then, they decided to charge for parking and seek rush-hour fares for 17 hours of rush-hour train service that day to recoup higher-than-usual costs for what they expect to be record-breaking service.
For the buses, though, Virginia will reimburse Metro for the free service, said Metro spokeswoman Angela Gates. State officials in turn, with Maryland and D.C. officials, are seeking reimbursement from federal officials.
Virginia officials already have said they expect to spend $7.1 million for transportation for the inauguration. Gordon Hickey, Gov. Tim Kaine’s spokesman, said that amount includes the cost of the free bus and shuttle service.
