AROUND D.C., INAUGURATION

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 1:50 PM

Fenty, Governors, Secret Service Address Inaugural Logistics

By AMY HARDER

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, along with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D), addressed security, transportation and other logistical questions this morning at what is likely to be the last major press conference addressing public safety before the inauguration.

All the officials stressed the historic nature of Barack Obama's inauguration. Fenty said they were "almost pinching ourselves at this enormous, amazing event that is about to happen in our region one week from today."

"Over my 25-year career, this is the biggest event I've been a part of," said Sullivan, speaking on behalf of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff (who could not attend due to an event at the White House).

Attendees received handouts on inaugural logistics, such as Jumbotron locations and bus parking registrations. (Note: Per the mayor's office, the road closure handouts available at the conference were inaccurate and will be updated later today.)

The District has issued more than 744 licenses and 1,500 badges to street vendors. More than 2,000 buses had registered for parking spaces by the time the press conference started. Not even a half-hour later, Fenty said that number had jumped to 3,000, which "way exceeds anything the city has seen before" (though it is considerably lower than estimates offered last month at a similar press conference hosted by the Secret Service).

The two governors fielded questions primarily related to transportation. In Virginia, all major bridges leading to D.C. will be closed to private traffic in the early hours of Jan. 20 through the evening. Kaine said visitors coming in from the state should use public transportation or drive in before the bridges close. What drivers should not do, he said, is go around the Beltway and add to the gridlock in Maryland.

While the estimated number of visitors has decreased -- from 4-5 million to 1-2 million -- how to maneuver among such a large crowd is something O'Malley said attendees need to plan out meticulously.

"This is not your typical day in our country's history; this is not a typical crowd," O'Malley said. "This is not like throwing your family in the van and heading down to a visit at the Air and Space Museum. You need to have a plan. You need make yourself and the people traveling with you aware of the logistical challenges so you can navigate them safely."