Inauguration Day Crowd Estimate Reduced by Half

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Washington Post, Page One

Officials are casting doubt on an early projection that 4 million to 5 million people could jam downtown Washington on Inauguration Day, saying it is more likely that the crowd will be about half that size.

D.C. authorities said the earlier estimates, provided by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), were based on speculation surrounding the historic nature of the swearing-in of Barack Obama as the nation's first African American president. After weeks of checking with charter bus companies, airlines and other sources, they're reassessing.

"It's more of an art than a science," City Administrator Dan Tangherlini said. "The fact is, earlier it was speculation. Now we're beginning to flesh it out and what the physical capacities of the system are."

The Secret Service has dismissed the high-end estimates of 4 million to 5 million people. But there is universal agreement among security officials and planners that massive numbers of people will flock to the swearing-in of Obama (D), who had drawn huge campaign crowds.

Turnout could easily reach 2 million, officials said, far outstripping the 400,000 who attended the 2005 inauguration of President Bush. Although it is possible that 5 million people will descend on the area in the days leading up to the inauguration, it appears unlikely that trains and local roads could get them all to the Mall and parade route Jan. 20, officials said....

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/21/AR2008122102224_pf.html

[Merlot]

1. How about "Inaugration Crowd Estimates 5 times larger than bush's"

They're making it sound likne no one is coming because their initial estimates were pulled out of their anatomy.

[gcomeau]

2. All they're saying is...

..."oops, we don't even think we can FIT 4-5 million people so no, it probably won't be that many." The transit system won't be able to transport that many people to the place. I don't read it as coming across as suggesting people aren't bothering to come. They're saying they're going to be packed to capacity but capacity is smaller than their first guess.

[pjt7]

3. I hope it's a good time & Obama

serves the people well.

But the "hype" about this event is a little too much, with so much work to be done..

& you know Bush & Cheney are going to pull a stunt the day of the inauguration, when all eyes are off them.

[Winterblues]

4. The more of Obama's "moderate" appointments and people such as the Preacher he picked

to give the prayer for his Administration's beginning the less people are enthused and willing to show up..

[tom_paine]

5. Sadly, I agree and I am one of those who might've gone who has lost their taste for it.

n/t

[slackmaster]

6. Nobody really wants to go there

It will be too crowded.