The US Capitol Police Public Information Office has issued the following press release:

“On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address will take place in the U.S. Capitol at approximately 9:00 p.m.

Restricted Access – Capitol Square

The Capitol Square will be restricted to event credentialed and authorized pedestrians only beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

Street Closures

The U.S. Capitol Police will put the following street closures affecting vehicular traffic into effect on January 24, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. and will lift these street closures when this event has concluded:

North Side of Capitol Square

• D Street, NE between 2nd Street, NE & Louisiana Avenue, NW
• C Street, NE between 2nd Street, NE & Louisiana Avenue, NW
• Constitution Avenue between 2nd Street, NE & Louisiana Avenue, NW
• Delaware Avenue between Columbus Circle & Constitution Avenue, NE
• New Jersey Avenue, NE between Louisiana Avenue, & D Street, NE
• Pennsylvania Avenue between 1st Street, & 3rd Street, NW
• East Capitol Street between 2nd Street, & 1st Street, NE/SE
• 1st Street between Columbus Circle, NE & C Street, SE
• 1st Street between Louisiana Avenue, NW and Washington Avenue, SW

South Side of Capitol Square

• Maryland Avenue, SW between 1st Street, & 3rd Street, SW
• Independence Avenue between 2nd Street, SE & Washington Avenue, SW
• C Street between 1st Street, SE & Washington Avenue, SW
• Delaware Avenue between Washington Avenue, SW & C Street, SW
• New Jersey Avenue between Independence Avenue, & D Street, SE
• South Capitol Street between Independence Avenue & D Street, SE/SW

Capitol Tours

Public and staff-led tours will be suspended at noon on January 24, 2012. The Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) will also close at noon. Tours will resume on a normal operational schedule on Wednesday, January 25.

Tour Bus Rerouting

Tour buses will be rerouted from First Street between Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW to Third Street, between Constitution Avenue, NW and Independence Avenue, SW for passenger drop off and pick up for this event.

If there are any questions about these events or security procedures, please contact the United States Capitol Police Public Information Office at 202-224-1677.”

United States Capitol Police
Chief Phillip D. Morse, Sr
Public Information Office
119 D Street, NE
Washington, D.C. 20510

Prepared by:
Sergeant Kimberly Schneider
United States Capitol Police
Public Information Officer

Sunday January 22, 2012

The National Weather Service Has Issued A Freezing Rain Advisory Which Is In Effect Until 6 am EST Monday.

• Precipitation Type: Freezing Rain And Freezing Drizzle.
• Accumulations: A Trace To Less Than A Tenth Of An Inch.
• Timing: Late This Afternoon Through Early Monday Morning.
• Temperatures: Upper 20s To Lower 30s.
• Winds: Northeast Up To 5 Mph.
• Impacts: Light Icing On Roadways And Elevated Surfaces Will Make Traveling Hazardous.

PRECAUTIONARY ACTIONS: A Freezing Rain Advisory Means That Periods Of Freezing Rain Or Freezing Drizzle Will Cause Travel Difficulties. Be Prepared For Slippery Roads. Slow Down And Use Caution While Driving.

The following press release is from Metro:

“Over the three-day Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, Metro will advance major track work on the Blue and Orange lines, along with single tracking on the Red Line. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday night and continue through system closing on Monday, January 16.

On the Blue and Orange lines, Metro personnel will install new “Guarded #8″ switches near Federal Center SW, an NTSB safety recommendation. On the Red Line, crews will continue to advance NTSB-recommended track circuit replacement, a critical key step toward restoring automatic train operations, as well as cable installation and station platform rehabilitation.

Blue/Orange Lines

Beginning shortly before 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Monday, free shuttle buses will replace Blue and Orange line trains between L’Enfant Plaza and Eastern Market, making intermediate stops at Federal Center SW and Capitol South stations.

Two stations — Federal Center SW and Capitol South — will be closed.

Blue Line trains will operate every 16 minutes in two segments: between Franconia-Springfield and L’Enfant Plaza, and between Eastern Market and Largo Town Center.

Orange Line trains will operate every 16 minutes in two segments: between Vienna and L’Enfant Plaza, and between Eastern Market and New Carrollton.

At stations served by both Blue and Orange line, trains will operate every eight minutes in each direction.

The last Orange Line train from New Carrollton will depart 15 minutes earlier than normal — at 2:22 a.m. on Saturday night (early Sunday) and at 11:22 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. The last Orange Line train from Vienna will depart at its normal time.

The last Blue Line train from Largo Town Center will depart 10 minutes earlier than normal — at 2:16 a.m. on Saturday night (early Sunday) and at 11:16 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. The last Blue Line train from Franconia-Springfield will depart at its normal time.

On Friday night, the last trains to operate through the work zone before bussing are:

• Depart New Carrollton at 9:33 p.m., Eastern Market at 9:50 p.m., L’Enfant Plaza at 9:56 p.m. and arrive at Vienna at 10:30 p.m.
• Depart Vienna at 9:12 p.m., L’Enfant Plaza at 9:46 p.m., Eastern Market at 9:52 p.m. and arrive at New Carrollton at 10:09 p.m.
• Depart Largo at 9:22 p.m., Eastern Market at 9:40 p.m., L’Enfant Plaza at 9:46 p.m. and arrive at Franconia-Springfield at 10:26 p.m.
• Depart Franconia-Springfield at 8:59 p.m., L’Enfant Plaza at 9:39 p.m., Eastern Market at 9:45 p.m. and arrive at Largo at 10:03 p.m.

Customers traveling through the work zone should allow 20-30 minutes of additional travel time.

Red Line

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Monday, Red Line trains will single track in two areas: between Dupont Circle and Van Ness-UDCto allow for NTSB-recommended track circuit replacement, as well as rail and fastener renewal, and between Takoma and Forest Glen to allow for fiber optic cable installation and platform rehabilitation. Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Glenmont every 24 minutes. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, additional trains will operate between Fort Totten and Farragut North. Customers should allow additional travel time.

No track work is scheduled on the Green or Yellow lines this weekend.”

Metro News Release:

“Metro will continue to advance rebuilding efforts over the weekend of January 6-8, 2012, with trains sharing the same track along portions of the Red, Blue, Orange and Green lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday night.

Red Line

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Red Line trains will single track in two areas: between Dupont Circle and Friendship Heights to allow for NTSB-recommended track circuit replacement — a key step in restoring automatic train operations — and rail and fastener renewal. In addition, trains will single track between Takoma and Forest Glen to allow for fiber optic cable installation and platform rehabilitation. Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Glenmont every 30 minutes. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Fort Totten and Farragut North.

Blue/Orange Lines

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Blue and Orange line trains will single track between Smithsonian and Eastern Market to allow for rail fastener improvements. Orange and Blue line trains will depart endpoint terminals every 26 minutes, resulting in trains every 13 minutes at stations served by both lines.

Green Line

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Green Line trains will share one track in two areas: between Georgia Ave-Petworth and Fort Totten to allow for rail maintenance and between Naylor Road and Branch Ave to allow for fastener renewal. Green Line trains will operate every 15 minutes.

Yellow Line trains will operate every 15 minutes to align schedules with Green Line trains.

Metro is advancing a six-year, $5 billion Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that is focused on safety and bringing the Metro system into a state of good repair. In FY2012, the CIP includes projects to replace escalators; retrofit track; replace critical track circuitry and equipment along the right of way; rehabilitate third-rail power systems, running rail and track pads; modernize 12 stations; replace 100 Metrobuses and the rehabilitate 100 more; renovate three bus garages; and install 30 new track turnouts.

The Trip Planner on Metro’s website will not reflect the impact of this work on schedules. For more information on traveling by Metrobus or Metrorail, customers may call 202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780, or visit wmata.com.”

The Following Press Release was provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority:

“Metro will perform 2011′s final weekend of track work over the weekend of December 16-18, with trains sharing the same track along portions of the Red, Orange, Blue and Yellow lines. There will be no scheduled track work during the Christmas or New Year’s holiday weekends.

This weekend’s work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday night.

Red Line

The most significant work of the weekend will take place on the Red Line, where crews will advance efforts to stabilize a water main that runs through the mezzanine level of Farragut North Station. The heavy construction work requires that one Red Line track be taken out of service between Dupont Circle and Judiciary Square for the safety of workers and customers.

• Red Line trains will operate every 20 minutes through the work zone, with service between Shady Grove and Glenmont.
• Additional Red Line service will operate on Saturday and Sunday between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 9 p.m., with trains departing every 10 minutes from Shady Grove and Glenmont. However, every other train from Shady Grove station will turn back at Dupont Circle; every other train from Glenmont will turn back at Union Station.
• The last train departing Glenmont station will leave 11 minutes earlier than usual — at 2:26 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 11:26 p.m. on Sunday.
• Customers should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time and expect crowding conditions.

Orange Line

• Orange Line trains will share one track between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for fiber optic cable installation.
• Orange Line trains will depart every 20 minutes from Vienna and New Carrollton.
• Stations served by Orange and Blue line trains will have service every 10 minutes.

Blue Line

• Blue Line trains will share one track in two sections: between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road for repairs to floating slabs underneath the rails, and between Reagan National Airport and Braddock Road for rail and tie renewal.
• Throughout the weekend, Blue Line trains will depart every 20 minutes from Franconia-Springfield and Largo Town Center.
• Stations served by Orange and Blue line trains will have service every 10 minutes.

Green/Yellow Lines

• Yellow Line trains will share one track between Reagan National Airport and Braddock Road for rail and tie renewal.
• Throughout the weekend, Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq. only; customers traveling to/from stations north of Mt .Vernon Sq. should use Green Line trains to complete their trip.
• Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend service levels, with minor schedule adjustments due to single tracking between College Park and Greenbelt for track inspection. Every other train will turn back at College Park station during daytime hours.”

The Following Press Release was provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority:

“Metro will continue to advance rebuilding efforts over the weekend of December 9-11, 2011, with trains sharing the same track along portions of the Red, Blue, Orange and Green lines. The work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and continue through system closing on Sunday night.

Red Line

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Red Line trains will share one track in two areas: between Van Ness and Friendship Heights to allow for rail and fastener renewal, and between Takoma and Forest Glen to allow for fiber optic cable installation and platform rehabilitation. Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Glenmont every 24 minutes. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Van Ness and Takoma only, providing service every 12 minutes through the Downtown core.

Blue/Orange Lines

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Blue Line trains will share one track between Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery and Orange Line trains will share one track between Foggy Bottom and Clarendon to allow for rail, joint and fastener renewal. Orange and Blue line trains will depart endpoint terminals every 20 minutes, resulting in trains every 10 minutes at stations served by both lines.

Green/Yellow Lines

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Green Line trains will share one track between U Street and Georgia Ave-Petworth to allow for rail maintenance. Green Line trains will operate at normal weekend service levels with minor delays through the work zone. Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq. only; customers traveling to/from stations north of Mt .Vernon Sq. should use Green Line trains to complete their trip.”

If you are planning to attend Christmas Eve services at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington DC, passes are now available. Due to popularity, passes are required to attend the 6 pm Carols by Candlelight and the 10 pm Festival Holy Eucharist services on Christmas Eve, Saturday December 24, 2011. To obtain passes, visit the National Cathedral web site. Each of these services will also feature a live web telecast.

UPDATE:

“Advance passes are no longer available for the 6 PM Christmas Eve service, but we may be able to accommodate a limited number of additional worshippers. Please click the “I’d like to attend” button to sign up for the 6 PM waiting list. Please note that passes are still available for the 10 PM Christmas Eve service, and that the Carols by Candlelight service on December 23rd does not require passes.”

For more information on the Washington National Cathedral visit our information page.

The following press release is from Metro:

“Metro will advance major track work on sections of the Green, Yellow and Orange lines over the three-day Columbus Day weekend.

To advance NTSB-recommended safety improvements, three stations on the Green/Yellow lines — Shaw, U Street and Columbia Heights — will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday through system opening Tuesday. Shuttle buses will operate between Mt. Vernon Square and Georgia Avenue stations, making stops outside each of the closed Metrorail stations. During this time, Metro personnel will install new “Guarded #8″ switches outside U Street Station.

On the Orange Line, buses will replace trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church as work continues on the Dulles rail extension project.

Customers traveling to the Army 10-Miler: The Metrorail system will open one hour early (at 6 a.m.) on Sunday, October 9. Shuttle bus service will also begin at 6 a.m. Customers on the Orange Line may wish to travel from East Falls Church or stations east to avoid additional travel time associated with shuttle bus operations.

Customers should take note of the following service impacts:

Green and Yellow Lines – 10 p.m. Friday through closing on Monday (Columbus Day)

• From 10 p.m., Friday, October 7, through closing on Monday, October 10, the Shaw, U Street and Columbia Heights stations will be closed as Metro installs new track switches outside U Street station, which is part of a National Transportation Safety Board recommendation.
• Green Line trains will operate in two sections, between Greenbelt and Georgia Avenue and between Branch Avenue and Mt. Vernon Square.
• Free shuttle buses will operate between Mt. Vernon Square and Georgia Avenue.
• Customers on the northern end of the Green Line may wish to travel via the Red Line between Fort Totten and downtown to avoid the work zone. Red Line service will operate normally throughout the weekend.
• The last train will depart Greenbelt 30 minutes earlier than usual—at 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights and at 11 p.m. on Sunday and Monday nights.
• Customers using shuttle buses should allow 20 minutes of additional travel time.
• Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square.
• Normal rail service will resume on Tuesday, October 11.

Orange Line – 10 p.m. Friday through closing Monday (Columbus Day)

• From 10 p.m., Friday, October 7, through closing on Monday, October 10, buses will replace trains between the East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations to allow for construction associated with the Dulles rail extension.
• Free shuttle buses will operate between East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations.
• East Falls Church and West Falls Church stations will remain open for transfers between trains and buses.
• The last train will depart Vienna 17 minutes earlier than usual—at 2:08 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights and at 11:08 p.m. on Sunday and Monday.
• Between Vienna and West Falls Church stations, trains will operate every 20 minutes and share one track while personnel replace cross ties and insulators.
• Customers traveling through the work zone should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.

Normal rail service will resume on Tuesday, October 11.”

The following road closures will also be in effect from 8 p.m. Friday until 3 a.m. Tuesday:

• Pennsylvania Avenue, NW will be closed from 9th Street to 14th Street
• 10th Street, NW will be closed from E Street to Constitution Avenue
• 11th Street, NW will be closed from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue
• 12th Street, NW will be closed from E Street to Constitution Avenue
• 13th Street, NW will be closed from E Street to Pennsylvania Avenue

The Washington National Cathedral has issued the following press release:

“Washington, D.C.—Washington National Cathedral announced today its plans to reopen on Saturday, November 12, 2011, for the first time since August’s earthquake. That day, the Rev. Dr. Mariann Edgar Budde will be consecrated as the ninth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington at the Cathedral. The reopening will include a week of events providing the Cathedral with the opportunity to welcome back and thank the community for its support during this difficult time.

Also today, the Cathedral confirmed that early estimates of total restoration costs would rise to the tens of millions of dollars. The Cathedral hopes to continue an aggressive fundraising effort to raise at least $25 million to offset the costs of the early restoration work and to help support its operations through the end of 2012. The short-term priorities are around stabilizing the building, re-opening the Cathedral, and continuing its operations and mission. The overall restoration of the Cathedral is expected to take numerous years, and the effort will seek contributions large and small from across the country.”

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial dedication that was postponed due to Hurricane Irene has been rescheduled. The dedication is now set to take place on Sunday, October 16, 2011.