For those attending the Jan. 20 inauguration — or anyone riding Metrorail that day — plan on using the bathroom before joining the crowds and be prepared to hike lots of stairs on stopped escalators.

Metro is planning to close all station bathrooms systemwide, instead posting 150 portable toilets outside stations. And the system may shut down escalators to help control crowds, especially in the busiest stations at the end of the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Barack Obama.