779,787 people rode the Metro on Inauguration Day this year, reports Metro authorities, no where close to the numbers seen for President Barack Obama’s first Inauguration in 2009. At about 70% of the all time record high 1.2million Metro riders in 2009, still, it is a lot of people. Metro officials cite the fact that in 2009, many people were also commuting to work on Inauguration Day, whereas this year the event fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when many people did not have to work. Second Inaugurations usually draw fewer people.
Transit authorities and city officials had been warning residents and visitors of high traffic volume and additional road closures, urging people to use public transportation while traveling to and from the festivities on Monday.
