Planners of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration confirmed yesterday that he will speak at Baltimore's War Memorial Plaza on Saturday, even as officials doled out conflicting advice on how to get to the 4:15 p.m. event.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the event, part of a whistle-stop train trip from Philadelphia to Washington, but transportation downtown is likely to be complicated Saturday because of extensive road closures - including a large portion of the Jones Falls Expressway. And plans to offer shuttle bus service to people parking at Camden Yards were scuttled yesterday because of the cost, according to the Maryland Stadium Authority.
Instead, the Presidential Inaugural Committee recommended that people who park in the stadium lots take the light rail to Baltimore Street and walk the estimated 12 minutes to the plaza across from City Hall.
But Maryland Transit Administration officials said there are likely to be better transit alternatives, such as city buses, for people who want to attend the speech.
MTA spokeswoman Jawauna Greene said agency officials had just been given details of plans for the event and were scrambling to change bus routes to avoid streets closed for security reasons. She said the MTA and city officials will meet this morning to discuss street closings and to work out specific route changes.
Mayor Sheila Dixon released a statement late yesterday afternoon saying that space will be limited at the plaza, where access will be limited to a few checkpoints.
Dixon said the city is cooperating with the inaugural committee, the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security on arrangements for the event. "We are working at all levels of city government to ensure the visit by the president-elect is a memorable day for the city of Baltimore," she said.
Officials said gates to the plaza will open at 1 p.m. at Baltimore Street and Guilford Avenue. Those who attend must pass through a metal detector and permit their bags to be searched.
Temperatures that day are expected to drop into the teens, prompting city officials to issue warnings to dress warmly.
Certain items will not be allowed on the plaza grounds, including firearms, ammunition, explosives, weapons, aerosols, supports for signs and placards, packages, coolers, thermal or glass containers, backpacks, oversize bags, laser pointers, bicycles and animals other than guide dogs. Signs must be made of cardboard, poster board or cloth and be no wider than 3 feet, no longer than 20 feet and no more than a quarter-inch thick.
