Downtown Traffic For Tree Lighting

Here's what you need to know from D.C. police about the downtown traffic situation for this afternoon's lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse:

There is no parking until 7 p.m. at these locations:

-- 15th Street NW from Constitution Avenue to E Street NW
-- 17th Street NW from Constitution Avenue, to E Street NW
-- Constitution Avenue NW from 15th to 17th streets NW
-- E Street, NW from 15th to 17th streets NW

These streets will be closed to traffic from about 2:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.:

-- Constitution Avenue between 14th Street and 18th Street NW
-- 17th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Constitution Avenue NW
-- 15th Street between New York Avenue and Constitution Avenue NW
-- Pennsylvania Avenue between 14th Street and 15th Street NW
-- E Street between 17th and 18th streets NW
-- E Street between 14th and 15th streets NW
-- F Street between 14th and 15th streets NW
-- G Street between 14th and 15th streets NW
-- New York Avenue between 14th and 15th streets NW

Metro will detour some of its buses around the area of the White House and Ellipse, and suggests that late afternoon passengers plan to board and exit the buses outside of that area. These are the affected routes:

-- 13 on Constitution Avenue
-- 30 line on 15th Street
-- H1, L1, P1, and X1 leaving Potomac Park