Officials begin releasing security details for a crowded Inauguration

WASHINGTON - Security planners said Thursday that they are prepared to handle a crush of visitors for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration despite the expected overloading of the city's transit system.

Estimates of the number of people expected to be on hand Jan. 20 when Obama takes the oath of office have ranged between 1 million and 4 million.

At a news conference Thursday, officials would not give a precise number. But U.S. Secret Service special agent Malcolm D. Wiley Sr. said he expected the actual number of attendees will not fall on the high end of that estimate spectrum.

"There has been nothing to suggest there will be 4 million people here," he said.

Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, warned riders will be packed on Metro trains like sardines Jan. 20. The transit agency expects to carry just under 1 million riders that day, she said.

"We are expecting extremely, extremely tight conditions," she said.

Farbstein suggested people within a two-mile radius of the Capitol walk to the event.

"We're not going to be able to handle it all," she said.

Officials stressed that their security plan is still evolving. They said it was based on previous inaugurations and other large events such as the annual July 4th activities on the National Mall.

"We do not have the entire picture today," Wiley said.

Obama's swearing in will feature a larger law enforcement presence than at previous inaugurations.

The Washington Metropolitan Police Department will double its ranks during the inauguration to 8,000, using officers from 96 departments throughout the country. That's about 1,000 more than previous inaugurations, officials said.

Though the entire National Mall from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial will be open during Obama's swearing in, officials said to expect some sort of security screening to gain entry.

"We're working on a security plan to make it open and secure," said Sgt. Robert Lachance, a spokesman for the U.S. Park Police. "What we do not want people to do is come and camp over night."

Officials recommended that visitors get to the Mall no earlier than 4 a.m., when the Metro system opens. The sidewalks along the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue will not open until at least 7 a.m., and possibly later depending on security concerns.

"We have to ask that people use common sense," said Bill Line, a spokesman for the National Park Service.

Just as important as security may be the number of bathrooms available to participants.

Kevin Griffis, a spokesman for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, said the number of portable bathrooms has not been determined, but the committee is addressing the issue.

Griffis said he hoped a spirit of community prevails as it did at large Obama events throughout the country during the campaign.

"These are folks gathered together in a sense of common purpose," he said. "We do think people will look out for one another."

Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com