Detailed Inauguration Traffic, Parking, and Pedestrian Information

Map of Inauguration Transportation Plan (above). Image: Washington Post (click for larger image)

U.S. Secret Service Map of Road Closures and Public Entry Points (click for larger image)

Yesterday, the Presidential Inaugural Law Enforcement and Public Safety Public Affairs Subcommittee released its Joint Transportation Plan, which provides detailed traffic and parking restrictions related to the inauguration. The full plan can be download here, but I have edited the release to provide information that is particularly relevant to DC residents below (omitting MD and VA) and included some additional information on the parade route from the Secret Service. The Washington Post also reports on the extensive closures.

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Events and activities celebrating the 56th Presidential Inauguration will take place beginning on Saturday, January 17, 2009, through Wednesday, January 21, 2009, with the swearing-in scheduled for Tuesday, January 20.

This transportation plan provides the general outlines for road closures, vehicular restricted zones, public transportation, charter vehicles and pedestrian routes. Additional information is available online for residents of the District, Virginia and Maryland, as well as charter operators, through the websites listed at the end of this plan. Additions to this plan may be made prior to the Inaugural and will be updated on these websites.

Access into Washington, D.C. will be limited on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The following is a summary of routes and their status that day:

• 14th Street Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
• Roosevelt Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
• Memorial Bridge – Restricted to Pedestrians and Emergency Vehicles Only
• Key Bridge – Restricted to Mass Transit Only
• Chain Bridge - Restricted to Authorized Vehicles and Mass Transit Only, no
• charter buses.
• South Capitol Street Bridge – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
• Southeast/Southwest Freeway – Restricted to Emergency Vehicles Only
• Rock Creek Parkway – Open to traffic from Beach Drive to Virginia Avenue NW (Holiday traffic schedule in effect throughout the park)
• Clara Barton Parkway operating under Holiday schedule (2 way traffic all day)
• 11th Street Bridges – Restricted to Buses and Authorized Vehicles Only
• Sousa Bridge – Open to all traffic from east of the river to security checkpoint in Capitol Hill; Barney Circle closed to all vehicles
• East Capitol Street – Open to all traffic but roadways around RFK will be filled with tour buses
• Benning Road – Open to all traffic
• New York Avenue – Open to all traffic
• 3rd Street Tunnel – Closed to all vehicular traffic and restricted to pedestrian use only
  

Authorized vehicles include taxicabs and limousines with valid licenses.

Washington, D.C. Vehicular Restrictions

Vehicle Restricted Zone: Vehicular road closures in Washington, D.C. will be instituted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Park Police. Extensive road closures and vehicle restricted zones will be established in Washington, D.C. Beginning at 3 p.m. on Monday, January 19, through 7 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, all of the following areas will be posted as Emergency No Parking. From 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, many of these areas will be posted by law enforcement personnel and vehicular traffic will be limited to residents with government issued identification (driver’s license) or vehicle registration showing residency inside the restricted area, or to vehicles conducting essential business within the restricted area.

• K Street NW from Washington Circle to 12th Street NW
• Washington Circle from K Street NW to 23rd Street NW
• Pennsylvania Avenue NW from Washington Circle to the U S Capitol
• I Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 11th Street NW
• H Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
• G Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
• F Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
• E Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
• Virginia Avenue from 23rd Street NW to 2nd SW
• D Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 1st Street NW
• C Street NW from 23rd Street NW to 3rd Street NW
• Constitution Avenue from 23rd Street NW to 2nd Street NE
• Madison Dr. NW from 15th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
• Jefferson Dr. SW from 15th Street SW to 3rd Street SW
• Independence Avenue from 23rd Street SW to 2nd Street SE
• C Street SW from 7th Street SW to 2nd Street SW
• D Street SW from 7th Street SW to 2nd Street SW
• E Street SW from 7th Street SW to 2nd Street SW
• Maryland Avenue SW from 7th Street SW to the U S Capitol
• 23rd Street from Washington Circle NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 22nd Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
• 21st Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
• 20th Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
• 19th Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
• 18th Street NW from K Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
• 17th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• Connecticut Avenue NW from K Street NW to H Street NW
• 16th Street NW from K Street NW to H Street NW
• Vermont Avenue NW from K Street NW to H Street NW
• 15th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 14th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• New York Avenue NW from 18th Street NW to 11th Street NW
• 13th Street NW from K Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
• 12th Street from K Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 11th Street NW from K Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
• 10th Street NW from H Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
• 9th Street from H Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 8th Street NW from H Street NW to D Street NW
• 7th Street from H Street NW to E Street SW
• 6th Street from H Street NW to E Street SW
• 5th Street from H Street NW to D Street NW
• 4th Street from H Street NW to E Street SW
• 3rd Street from Massachusetts Avenue NW to E Street SW
• Henry Bacon Dr. NW from the Lincoln Memorial to Constitution Avenue NW
• Daniel French Dr. SW from the Lincoln Memorial to Independence Avenue SW
• Ohio Drive from Independence Avenue through West Potomac and East Potomac Parks
• Buckeye Drive in East Potomac Park
• West Basin Drive
• East Basin Drive
• Parkway Drive from Rock Creek Parkway to Lincoln Memorial Circle
• Maine Avenue from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue

Vehicular Road Closures: In addition to above listed Emergency No Parking and vehicle restricted areas, from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, the following roads will be closed and off limits to vehicles without a law enforcement escort:

• Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 18th Street NW to the U S Capitol
• I Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
• H Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
• G Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
• F Street NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
• E Street NW from 18th Street NW to 6th Street NW
• D Street NW from 18th Street NW to 6th Street NW
• C Street from 18th Street NW to 2nd Street NE
• Constitution Avenue from 17th Street NW to 2nd Street NE
• Madison Dr. NW from 15th Street NW to 3rd Street NW
• Jefferson Dr. SW from 15th Street SW to 3rd Street SW
• Independence Avenue from 14th Street SW to 2nd Street NE
• Maryland Avenue SW from 6th Street SW to the U S Capitol
• 17th Street from I Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• Connecticut Avenue NW from I Street NW to H Street NW
• 16th Street NW from I Street NW to H Street NW
• Vermont Avenue NW from I Street NW to H Street NW
• 15th Street from I Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 14th Street from I Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• New York Avenue NW from 18th Street NW to 12th Street NW
• 13th Street NW from I Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
• 12th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 11th Street NW from F Street NW to Pennsylvania Avenue NW
• 10th Street NW from F Street NW to Constitution Avenue NW
• 9th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 8th Street NW from F Street NW to D Street NW
• 7th Street from F Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 6th Street from F Street NW to Maryland Avenue SW
• 5th Street from D Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 4th Street from D Street NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 3rd Street from D Street NW to Independence Avenue SW

Capitol Hill: Road closures on Capitol Hill will be instituted by the U.S. Capitol Police in cooperation with the Metropolitan Police Department. Access to the perimeter will be restricted to properly authorized and credentialed personnel only. No public parking will be provided. The following street closures will go into effect starting at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2009:

• Louisiana Avenue between Columbus Circle and Constitution Avenue NW
• Delaware Avenue between Columbus Circle and D Street NE
• First Street between Columbus Circle and D Street NE
• North Capitol Street NW between E Street and Louisiana Avenue
• E Street between New Jersey Avenue and North Capitol Street NW
• New Jersey Avenue NW between E Street and Louisiana Avenue NW
• D Street between Louisiana Avenue NW and Second Street NE
• First Street NW between D Street NW and Louisiana Avenue NW
• C Street NW between First Street and Louisiana Avenue NW
• Second Street NW between C Street and Constitution Avenue NW
• Second Street NE between Massachusetts Avenue NE and C Street SE
• C Street SE between Second Street SE and First Street SE
• First Street SE between C Street and D Street SE
• D Street between First Street SE and Washington Avenue SW
• Washington Avenue SW between D Street SW, and Independence Avenue SW
• Independence Avenue SW between Second Street SW and Third Street NW
• Third Street between SW Freeway and Constitution Avenue NW
• Constitution Avenue NW between Second Street NW and Third Street NW

Streets will reopen once the parade concludes at 5 p.m.

Public Transportation

Public transportation to all Inaugural events is encouraged as many streets in and around the Capitol and the Mall area and bridges into/out of the city will be closed to private automobiles for much of the day.

Metrorail will operate rush hour service for 17 consecutive hours on January 20, from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will operate on a non-rush hour schedule for two extra hours until 2 a.m. As Metrorail will be operating rush-hour service, it will charge peak fares throughout the day. Due to security measures, the Archives-Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter Metrorail station on Metro's Green and Yellow Lines and the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines, will be closed all day on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20.

Metro’s commemorative One-Day Pass with a special Inauguration design is currently being sold for $10 online or $7.80 at Metro sales offices and fare vending machines. The cost of the passes will be $10 at all sales locations on January 20. People should purchase their farecards, One-Day Passes or SmarTrip cards in advance of Inauguration Day if possible to avoid the lines.

Metro has about 60,000 parking spaces in 29 lots and 22 garages throughout the Washington region for private motorists to park on Inauguration Day. Metro will charge $4 cash only for motorists as they pull in to park in its lots. The Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station parking lot is closed to the public and is only available for Metro employees who will be working on Inauguration Day.

Metrobus will be operating on a modified Saturday schedule from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Inauguration Day. However, with street closures around the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue for the parade, all Metrobuses will be prepared for detours. Bus riders are encouraged to plan significant extra time to travel through these areas.

MetroAccess will operate identical hours to Metrorail and Metrobus during Inauguration Weekend and through Inauguration Day. MetroAccess customers are encouraged to plan significant extra time to travel due to increased traffic throughout the service area. Street closures around the National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue for the Inauguration and parade on Inauguration Day will mean that MetroAccess vehicles will only be able to drop off customers several blocks from the Inauguration and parade route. MetroAccess vehicles will not be permitted access to streets that are closed. All MetroAccess users should be prepared for detours. MetroAccess customers must reserve their trips by 4:30 p.m. the day prior to travel.

People planning to use Metro during the four days of Inaugural activities can sign up for special e-alerts on Metro’s Web site at www.wmata.com/inauguration. E-alerts will be issued when Metro has news relating to service for the Inauguration and when there may be service disruptions.

Pedestrian Routes
The following access points have been identified as pedestrian-only routes to the National Mall:

• E Street NE from Massachusetts Avenue NE to 3rd Street NW
• 7th Street SW from D Street SW to Independence Avenue SW
• 19th Street NW from K Street NW to DuPont Circle NW
• 3rd Street Tunnel (I-395) from New York Avenue NW to SE/SW Freeway
• Arlington Memorial Bridge from Virginia, around Lincoln Circle to Independence Avenue SW
• East Capitol Street NE to North Carolina SE to New Jersey Avenue SE to I Street SE

The following access points have been identified as pedestrian-only routes to the Inaugural Parade:

• 6th Street NW from K Street NW to P Street NW
• 13th Street NW from K Street NW to Logan Circle NW
• East Capitol Street NE to Massachusetts Avenue NE
• Arlington Memorial Bridge from Virginia, around Lincoln Circle to Henry Bacon Drive NW

Bicycle Parking
Free valet bicycle parking will be provided in designated areas north and south of the event perimeter. Additional information may be found at www.gettingthere.dc.gov.

Inaugural Balls
There will be 10 official Inaugural balls, hosted at the Washington Convention Center, the National Building Museum, Union Station, the D.C. Armory and the Washington Hilton. Emergency No Parking zones and some road closures will be in effect near each of these locations.

Parade Route Entry Points
The following 13 public entry points will open at 7:00 a.m. on January 20, 2009, and will remain open until the parade route can no longer accommodate additional people. A map detailing entry point locations can be viewed here.

• 2nd Street NW and C Street NW
• 3rd Street NW and C Street NW
• Indiana Avenue NW between 6th St NW and 7th St NW
• 7th Street NW and D Street NW
• 10th Street NW and E Street NW
• 12th Street NW and E Street NW
• E Street NW just east of 13th Street NW
• 13th Street NW just North of E Street NW
• 14th Street NW just North of E Street NW
• 12th Street NW between Constitution Avenue. and Pennsylvania Avenue
• 10th Street NW between Constitution Avenue. and Pennsylvania Avenue
• 7th Street NW between Constitution Avenue. and Pennsylvania Avenue
• Constitution Avenue between 6th Street NW and 7th Street NW

NOTE: Access to the parade route from south of Pennsylvania Avenue, including the National Mall area, will only be available via 14th Street NW or 12th Street NW at Constitution Avenue.

All parade route security screening entry points will be able to accommodate persons with disabilities. There are additional screening entry points for the ticketed seating at the U.S. Capitol and the White House viewing areas. Details for the swearing-in at the Capitol are available at www.inaugural.senate.gov.

Individuals attending the Inaugural parade may enter at any of the designated entry points on the north or south side of Pennsylvania Avenue. Between 7 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., the following intersections will be open to the general public as crossover points:

• 3rd Street between Constitution Ave and Pennsylvania Avenue
• Pennsylvania Ave between 6th Street NW and 7th Street NW
• Pennsylvania Ave between 11th Street NW and 12th Street NW

Online Information
Additional information is available online for residents of the District, Virginia and Maryland, as well as charter operators, through the following websites:

• DDOT
  
• Maryland Department of Transportation
  
• Virginia State Police
  
• Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority
  

In addition, Inaugural information is available on the following sites to help those planning to attend the inaugural events:

• Presidential Inaugural Committee
  
• D.C. Presidential Inaugural Committee
  
• Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
  
• Armed Forces Inaugural Committee
  
• United States Secret Service
  

Inauguration Closures

Here's some information I received on the inauguration plans:

This year’s Presidential Inauguration is sure to be historical in nature and turnout. Many sources report upwards of four million attendees, enhanced security and long lines at Metro or access to the secured parade route.

Metro will provide rush hour service from 4AM well into the evening on Tuesday, January 20. Anticipate pedestrian inspection centers. Vehicles are likely to be prohibited up to four blocks from the White House, Capitol and the parade route itself. Certain roads shall have restrictions as well. Turns that require crossing over an on-coming stream of traffic, such as left turns, shall be restricted on certain streets, such as I Street from 14th Street continuing through 18th Street. These sorts of restrictions could commence on the evening of the 19th and continue through late evening on the 20th.

The Inauguration parade route, which is open to the public, runs from 14th Street, NW, to 1st Street, NW. Authorities may choose (and it is likely) to stop admittance into the secured areas should the crowd grow too large or for social disturbances. If you plan to try to enter the secured area surrounding the parade, be prepared to arrive early. There will likely be enhanced security measures such as bag inspections - plan to pass through a metal detectors.

Authorities will likely conduct visual and canine inspections of properties, garages, and exteriors located within four blocks of the White House in the early morning hours on Tuesday (20th). Garages around the White House and parade route will be required to close Monday (19th) afternoon around 5 PM. Autos remaining in these garages shall not be released until late on Tuesday (20th). Traffic is sure to be at a standstill - or prohibited altogether in some areas. One example, traffic shall be prohibited south of I Street–to–Constitution Avenue and from 14th Street continuing to 18th Street. These restrictions shall commence at 5 PM on Monday (19th) and finish late afternoon on Tuesday (20th).

The above map area that will be barricaded-off to all vehicular traffic (except emergency vehicles and placarded official vehicles) is bounded by:

• I (Eye) Street to the north between 12th and 18th.
• 12th Street to the east then along F Street east to Union Station and 2nd Street, NE.
• 18th Street to the west - the area west of 18th Street will experience some traffic restrictions, as well.
• Independence Ave to the south.

*This area may be expanded as they deem necessary. There will be a vehicular entry point at 13th and I Streets for official vehicles that have been pre-registered and swept for explosives. Several other access points to the east and west of this site are expected. Vehicles will not be permitted into the secured areas, unless credentialed by the USSS and authorized before December 15th.

Concrete ‘jersey’ barricades will begin to be set across intersections early as 3PM on Monday, January 19, 2009. As noted above, vehicles parked in private garages may be allowed to leave the area, but this will cease early in the evening on the 19th.

Pedestrian access will not be restricted until a block (or two) of the parade route. Again, magnetometers will be set up at various locations. Backpacks and bags will not be permitted along the parade route.

As a note, many, actually most, of the law enforcement officers at the checkpoints and along the parade route will NOT be DC/MPD officers.

An area for protestors has been designated on Freedom Plaza -- 1300 block of Pennsylvania Ave: in 2005, this is where chemical munitions were used, an area to avoid and to prepare your engineers in the event they have to shut down their HVAC system.

Metro will be overwhelmed, but is still considered the best option of movement. Again, Metro will open at 4AM on Tuesday (20th) and close at 2AM (21st).

The Inauguration is anticipated to begin around 2PM, and the Inauguration parade will step-off at 2:35PM and is scheduled to end at 5:30PM, but could end as late as 6PM on Tuesday. Barricades will begin to be removed later Tuesday evening. Pennsylvania Avenue and several north-south streets may not reopen until early morning on the 21st (Wednesday).

Police rest/warming site: The DC agency is looking to identify such locations and say only several officers at a time would be in the site at any one time.

As for the Chinatown, Gallery Place and Verizon Center area, on Monday (19th), ‘jersey’ barriers are planned to be arranged by 3PM with street closures to traffic. Monthly parkers will be able to get out of their buildings after 3PM on Monday (19th) in most buildings; however to reenter the area, parkers will have to go through a security checkpoint and will have to be on the checkpoint's list through Tuesday (20th). Drivers may be required to submit their name, date of birth, and social security to their respective property management group. Please check with your respective property management team for further detailed instructions as guidelines could vary building to building (across the City as well).

On Tuesday (20th), security checkpoints for vehicles and pedestrians open on 8th and F Streets, USSS has suggested that people arrive before 7AM in anticipation of very long lines accessing designated checkpoints. The only way to access most of this area will be through the aforementioned security checkpoint.

Archives Navy Memorial Metro Station and Smithsonian Metro Station will be closed all day Tuesday. Therefore, plan for the Gallery Place Verizon Metro Station to be extremely overcrowded. And, the areas around this station to be very busy.

The average high for January 20th, provided by the Washington Post, is 37 degrees. President Ronald Reagan holds the record for both the coldest and warmest Inauguration Ceremonies: 7 degrees (1985) and 55 degrees (1981). Here is a chart of weather conditions during the Inaugurations. The DC Government also provides information on the Inauguration.

Butt Out!

Official Press Photographs from websites of Senators Feinstein and Bennett

A few days ago, I questioned the DC Council's abruptly allowing all-night drinking during inauguration week without adequately considering the public safety implications for neighborhoods. Well, this week, Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Bill Bennett (R-Utah) weighed in, sending a letter to Mayor Fenty and Council Chair Vincent Gray urging them to reverse course. The action signals that Congress might not permit the law to take effect. I agree with them, but stay out of our business!

To the respected senators, in DC, as in the states you represent, we're allowed to enact dumb or simply unwise laws without your involvement. According to several internet sources (Disclaimer: I have not taken the time to verify these laws), in Senator Feinstein's hometown of San Francisco, just for example:

• Elephants may not stroll down Market Street unless they are on a leash.
• It is illegal to wipe one’s car with used underwear.
• Persons classified as “ugly” may not walk down any street.
• One may not pile horse manure more than six feet high on a street corner.

Headline: DC Mayor Urges San Francisco to Free Elephants, Reduce Health Hazard of High Horse Manure, Eliminate Requirement of Using New Underwear to Clean Car; Mary Cheh Introduces Legislation.

It doesn't get any better in Utah. In Senator Bennett's hometown of Salt Lake City, no one may walk down the street carrying a paper bag containing a violin. Sounds like an ABC single sales restriction targeting drunk musicians. Utah has a whole mess of ridiculous laws. Its restrictive alcoholic beverage regulations are not exactly mainstream. In fact, during the 2002 Winter Olympics, Utah relaxed its alcoholic beverage law enforcement, and when no catastrophe occurred, it adopted a new set of regulations that moved toward normalcy in 2003.

Utah is a place that until recently limited drinks to no more than an ounce of alcohol. Bars got around the rule by offering “sidecars,” an extra half ounce served separately that the customer could pour into the drink himself. Restaurants got mad, since they had to serve weak drinks. So now, you can get a drink with an ounce and a half of alcohol in Utah, and sidecars are prohibited, unless, of course, you would like a side shot of a different type of alcohol with your drink. In order words, you can order a vodka tonic and a shot of tequila, but don’t try ordering a vodka tonic with a shot of vodka for your friend. Huh? Most Utah ABC licensees are located in Senator Bennett's hometown. Did he raise a stink when they relaxed restrictions during the Olympics, is he urging reform of his own state’s oddball ABC laws, or does he only butt into DC's business?

Perhaps DC Council action is in order: "The Bringing Rationality to Utah’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws Emergency Resolution of 2008."

Keeping Bars Open All Night

Ok, I hail from the City-that-Never-Sleeps and I'm used to having restaurants, bars, and clubs open all night. But I'm concerned about the DC Council's abrupt legislation authorizing them to stay open 24 hours and sell alcohol until 5am between January 17 and 21 for the inauguration. Why?

1. When legislation is enacted essentially in the middle of the night, with no public input, you can guarantee it's not the citizens of the District of Columbia who are calling the shots. The manner in which the Council passed the bill is reminiscent of the West End Library sale debacle. In this case, however, it's not a politically-connected developer that pushed it through, but the powerful restaurants and bar owners/lobby who generously contribute to councilmember campaigns.

2. I don't live in Adams Morgan or Georgetown, so for me, personally, it is not about the loss of parking or noise. It is, however, about safety, not just in nightlife heavy areas, but my own neighborhood as well. Inauguration week is already going to be "all hands on deck" with police resources stretched incredibly thin. Now our overworked police officers will be trying to control what is predicted to be as much as a quadrupling of the District's workday population all through the night, after trying to keep order during the day. You can bet that the increased bar activity will siphon what is left of neighborhood police resources to the club zones.

The police union, which was not consulted when the DC Council extended hours, is concerned:

"With our resources stretched so thin that weekend to provide security at the inauguration, we're going to be at the bare bones out in the districts," Kristopher Baumann, chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 1, which represents D.C. officers, said, referring to the seven police districts whose officers respond to neighborhood crime. . . . "If you're going to have the bars operating beyond a capacity they're operating under usually, we don't know what kind of manpower needs we're going to have."

My neighborhood had a shooting last Monday night, a murder on Wednesday, an apparent mugging Friday night, and a serious domestic dispute last night. Will police be available to respond?

But really, how much?

By now, everyone has heard or read an article about the astronomical prices at which DC area residents are offering their homes for rent during inauguration week. The going rate on Craig's List seems to be about $2,000 per night for a 2-bedroom condo in the city, but some are listed for substantially more. There's a bit of randomness to the amounts - with some places well outside DC charging just as much or more as similar homes or apartments in the downtown area.

I've read enough about what people are offering. I'm more interested in knowing -- is anyone actually paying these prices?

If you posted a listing on Craig's List or somewhere else - sound off. Is your e-mail box full and you are sorting through references? Or did your ad go into oblivion, vanishing silently into the depths of the internet?