Congratulations WMATA!

Inauguration-bound throngs, like these riders in Vienna, packed trains and shattered the record for ridership Metro had set a day earlier. Photo Credit: By James A. Parcell For The Washington Post. (For larger version click here.)

Final numbers aren't in (see the press release "Metrorail sets new record for highest ridership day of all time" which gave a number greater than 973,000 as of 7 pm, and this article, "Crowded but Moving Toward the Mall," subtitled "Despite Glitches, Traffic Mostly Controlled; Metro Sets Ridership Record" from the Post) but it is clear that subway ridership yesterday exceeded 1 million people.

Too bad that the system faces serious service cuts due to budgetary problems... (See "Metro Facing Layoffs, Cutbacks: Ridership Up Amid A Record Deficit " from the Post.)
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For another perspective, see "Inauguration Crowds Overwhelm D.C. Transit" from the Wall Street Journal. My understanding (I was out of town for most of the day) is that outside of the core, and suburban subway stations, traffic was pretty light. At least on the Maryland, upper northwest DC side of "the diamond." The Baltimore Sun says things worked pretty well, in "Transportation system passes biggest stress test." I can't wait to hear the final numbers...