More Summit Questions Answered

Related Links More Q & A: Part 1 | Part 2 Send In More Questions Street and Office Closings Map

By John P. Martin
Washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 21, 1999

Your questions keep coming. And coming. We'll continue answering them, but you might want to check the previous two installments before sending along new questions. (Hint, hint.) Here's the latest on HOV lanes, the Pentagon, demonstrations, museums and more:

Q: Will Tourmobile be operating on Friday and Saturday? –John M.

A: The recognizable shuttle tour will cancel its Mall and Mount Vernon tour buses Friday. "We just think it's going to be too much traffic," said operations assistant Linda Doyle.

Q: We were planning a weekend visit from New York with our three young children. Are tourist sites closing this weekend? – D.P.

A: All the monuments and most museums will be keeping normal hours. The White House has canceled tours this weekend and the Capitol will begin to restrict public access at 4 p.m. Thursday and fully close at 2 p.m Friday for a NATO event. Doors will reopen at 4:45 p.m.

Q: What will happen with HOV [lanes] in Virginia? Will HOV be "open" that day due to the federal government being closed? –Kathy

A: Regular HOV restrictions will remain in effect on Friday, according to Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Joan Morris. "This is precisely the kind of day you want them in effect," she said.

Q: Is there anything of interest open to the public as part of this summit? – Jim J.

A: Depends on what thrills you. Like motorcades? Said National Park Service spokeswoman Toni Carroll: "That's all there will be to see."

Q: Is D.C. Superior Court open Friday? – Lewie

A: Only for arraignments and new referrals. So don't get arrested.

Q: How will BWI, Dulles, and National airports be affected by the NATO conference on both Friday and Sunday? – Jon M.

A: Airport officials expect no problems for passengers and say travel routes should not be affected. Most summit attendees will arrive Wednesday and Thursday and depart Sunday or Monday, but you won't see them strolling through the terminals.

Q: For some of us [federal workers] Friday will be our official day off. If "all federal employees" who work within the boundaries of the shaded area of your map will get administrative leave that day, does that mean that if Friday is my "compressed day off," I can change it to Thursday so I can enjoy the administrative leave, too? – Michele S.

A: Sorry. You can't switch your schedule to take advantage of the day off. The Post's Mike Causey explained some of the most common questions for federal workers in this recent column.

Q: Will the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum be open on Friday? – Ben K.

A: The museum will operate on normal hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., a spokeswoman says.

Q: I'm still waiting to hear that the Pentagon will let its employees have the day off considering that its employees will have a bear of a time getting around the gridlocked traffic to get there. What's the word on that? – Beverly F.

A: Stop waiting. Says a Pentagon information officer, "We're going to be working here."

Q: What demonstrations are planned during the NATO summit?
– Steve K.

A: As of noon Wednesday, the Park Service had issued permits for four NATO-related gatherings:

• 11 a.m. Friday in Lafayette Park – the National Albanian American Council in support of NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia
• Friday on the northeast grounds of the Washington Monument, no time specified – a group called Fourth Freedom Forum protesting NATO policy
• 6 p.m. Friday outside the National Air and Space Museum – the Schiller Institute opposing NATO strikes in Yugoslavia
• Saturday in Lafayette Park, no time specified – St. Luke's Serbian Orthodox Church in opposition to NATO's attacks in Yugoslavia

Q: If we were insane enough to go downtown to try and see some attractions such as the Air and Space Museum, which [Metro] stop would you suggest using? – Levine family

A: The Smithsonian, of course. Go nuts!

Q: My family is supposed to visit me on Saturday. I would be meeting them at the Smithsonian Metro stop. Will this still be possible, or does the NATO summit pretty much ruin my hopes for reunion? – A homesick college student

A: Not a problem. While you're there, say hello to the Levine family.

Q: Was there ever an explanation why the national Capitol area did not get a day off, other than liberal leave? – Diana C.

A: Ivonne Cuņarro, a spokeswoman for the Office of Personnel Management, said planners consulted with transportation experts, labor leaders, government executives and security officials before choosing which areas to close. "What we tried to do is to strike a balance between the success of the summit and the important business of the federal government," she said.

Q: I had my car serviced on New York Avenue. They told me the Third Street tunnel would be closed. Is that true? – Dave L

A: No such closures have been announced. And it's unlikely the Secret Service would announce them first to muffler experts in Northeast Washington.

Q: Will much of the mess be gone by Sunday morning? – James S.

A: No. The conference won't close until midday Sunday and dignitaries will leave Sunday night and Monday.

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