Freedom 250 Grand Prix crowds are coming and Metro has advice

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix returns with major transportation impacts around Washington, D.C.’s National Mall. The race takes over streets in front of the U.S. Capitol and along the National Mall on the weekend of Aug. 22–23, and Metro is urging attendees to plan carefully because road restrictions are increasing. Construction continues, but within days barriers will define the 1.7-mile, seven-turn course; a rack of tires has already been staged along Constitution Avenue to help absorb impact if a car leaves the track. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected. Metro says the best station depends on the ticket type: “Stripes” holders can use Archives, Federal Center SW, L’Enfant Plaza, Judiciary Square, Gallery Place, or Metro Center, while “Stars” ticket holders are steered toward Federal Triangle or Smithsonian. The event may also affect air traffic: the FAA says flights at Reagan National Airport will be paused for three hours Sunday, Aug. 23, currently 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., though it could change. Organizers say the race will cover event production costs and any street damage, and simulations indicate cars will average about 185 mph on Pennsylvania Avenue, legally.