Howard students won’t have class Tuesday, as the campus prepares for VP Kamala Harris’ election night visit. News4’s Adam Tuss reports.
UPDATE (Nov. 6, 2024, 2:25 a.m.): D.C. police have lifted the road closures in the 2000-2900 blocks of Georgia Avenue NW in both directions following Kamala Harris' election night watch party on the Howard University campus. All remaining street closures will stay in effect until further notice, police said on X.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Vice President Kamala Harris will hold her election night watch party at her alma mater Howard University on Tuesday night, making it a historic night for the university.
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Howard University President Ben Vinson III sent a campus-wide email Friday detailing how the university would operate, according to the university's student newspaper The Hilltop.
The university is gearing up for the Harris-Waltz campaign's visit by closing down Tuesday. Road closures, parking restrictions and security measures will be in effect on and around campus.
"They closed campus, so all my classes are online this week," Howard student Zerek Henderson said Monday. "Tomorrow, this whole school is closed — no class at all."
Vinson said this will be the first time a presidential election night event will be hosted on a college campus in "modern history," The Hilltop reported.
“We are incredibly proud of our alumna, Kamala Harris, who has already made history as the first woman of color and HBCU graduate to serve as our nation’s vice president,” Vinson said in the email. “We are also honored that she has chosen Howard as the place to potentially make history again.”
Beginning Monday at 7 p.m., there will be several impacts on traffic, pedestrians and public transportation. Here's a list of road closures and parking restrictions on and around campus.
"I know it's all for a good reason, to make sure that she’s protected and she’s safe while she's here back at home," Howard student Jaiden Thompson said.
Road closures
Starting Monday at 7 p.m., the following streets will be closed to all vehicle traffic:
- Gresham Place from 5th Street to Georgia Avenue NW
- Girard Street from Georgia Avenue to 6th Street NW
- Fairmont Street from Georgia Avenue to 6th Street NW
- Euclid Street from Sherman Avenue to Georgia Avenue NW
- Howard Place from Georgia Avenue to 6th Street NW
- Barry Place from Sherman Avenue to Georgia Avenue NW
- College Street from 6th Street to 4th Street NW
- 300 block of College Street NW
- Bryant Street from Georgia Avenue to 2nd Street NW
- W Street from 9th Street to 8th Street NW
- W Street from Georgia Avenue to 2nd Street NW
- V Street from Florida Avenue to Georgia Avenue NW
- 9th Street from Euclid Avenue to U Street NW
- 8th Street from Barry Place to V Street NW
- Georgia Avenue from Harvard Street to V Street NW
- 6th Street from Girard Street to W Street NW
- 5th Street from V Street to W Street NW
- 5th Street from Gresham Place NW to McMillan Drive NW
- 4th Street from V Street to McMillan Drive NW
Parking restrictions
Now through Nov. 10 at 6 a.m., the following streets will be designated as Emergency No Parking zones:
- Gresham Place from 5th Street to Georgia Avenue NW
- Girard Street from Georgia Avenue to 6th Street NW
- Fairmont Street from Georgia Avenue to 6th Street NW
- Euclid Street from Sherman Avenue to Georgia Avenue NW
- Howard Place from Georgia Avenue to 6th Street NW
- Barry Place from Sherman Avenue to Georgia Avenue NW
- College Street from 6th Street to 4th Street NW
- 300 block of College Street NW
- Bryant Street from Georgia Avenue to 2nd Street NW
- W Street from 9th Street to 8th Street NW
- W Street from Georgia Avenue to 2nd Street NW
- V Street from Florida Avenue to Georgia Avenue NW
- 9th Street from Euclid Street to U Street NW
- 8th Street from Barry Place to V Street NW
- Georgia Avenue from Harvard Street to Florida Avenue NW
- 6th Street from Girard Street to W Street NW
- 5th Street from V Street to W Street NW
- 4th Street from V Street to McMillan Drive NW
Restrictions may end earlier if the U.S. Secret Service no longer requires the security measures before Nov. 10.
Local traffic only restrictions
The following streets will be restricted to local traffic only beginning Monday at 7 p.m. Officers positioned at these traffic posts will allow drivers to enter the area upon request.
- Gresham Place from Georgia Avenue to Sherman Avenue NW
- Girard Street from Georgia Avenue to Sherman Avenue NW
- Fairmont Street from Georgia Avenue to Sherman Avenue NW
- W Street from Florida Avenue to 9th Street NW
- V Street from 9th Street to 8th Street NW
- 8th Street from V Street to Florida Avenue NW
- Georgia Avenue from V Street to Florida Avenue NW (access to the hospital)
- 5th Street from V Street to Florida Avenue NW
- 4th Street from V Street to Florida Avenue NW
- 3rd Street from Elm Street to Florida Avenue NW
- 2nd Street from Bryant Street to Florida Avenue NW
- Adams Street from 2nd Street to First Street NW
- W Street from 2nd Street to First Street NW
- Elm Street from 5th Street to 2nd Street NW
- V Street from 4th Street to First Street NW
- U Street from 2nd Street to First Street NW
- U Street from 3rd Street to Florida Avenue NW
- Thomas Street from 2nd Street to First Street NW
- T Street from Florida Avenue to First Street NW
Impacts on Metro and other transportation
Commuters who use Metro stations or bus routes around Howard University should allow additional travel time to account for detours and delays.
Metrorail doesn't have any scheduled service changes during this time.
Metrobus routes 70 and 79 will be detoured starting Monday at 7 p.m.
For MetroAccess riders, door-to-door service will not be available within the security perimeter and delays are possible due to road closures in the area.
The area around Howard University’s campus will be a No Ride Zone for Capital Bikeshare riders. The following Capital Bikeshare locations will be deactivated beginning Monday evening:
- 4th Street and College Street NW
- Georgia Avenue and Fairmont Street NW
