Washington, DC will observe Indigenous People’s Day on Monday, October 13, with modified schedules across public transportation, government offices, and community services. The annual holiday honors the history, culture, and resilience of Indigenous American peoples. While many essential services will continue to operate, residents can expect changes to transit schedules, parking enforcement, and city department hours.
Transportation services will operate on adjusted holiday schedules. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) announced that Metrorail will run on a holiday schedule beginning at 5 a.m. and closing at midnight. Trains on the Blue, Silver, and Orange Lines will arrive every 12 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes after 9:30 p.m. The Yellow and Green Lines will run every eight minutes throughout the day. Metrobus services will follow a Saturday supplemental schedule, and normal weekday fares will apply for all Metro and bus routes.
MetroAccess will cancel all subscription trips on Monday. Riders who wish to travel during the holiday are required to make separate reservations through the customer service line or the online booking system. WMATA encourages passengers to plan their trips ahead of time and allow extra travel time due to the reduced frequency of trains and buses.
Parking enforcement will also be affected. The DC Department of Transportation announced that parking enforcement will be suspended for Indigenous People’s Day, except for Streetcar ticketing and towing operations. Regular enforcement will resume on Tuesday, October 14. The DC Streetcar will continue to operate on its standard weekday schedule, with up-to-date route information available online.
Emergency shelter access remains available for residents experiencing homelessness. All low-barrier shelters, including the New York Avenue Men’s Shelter, 801 East Men’s Shelter, Adams Place, Emery, and Pat Handy Women’s Shelter, will remain open 24 hours. The Harriet Tubman Women’s Shelter and the Living Life Alternatives LGBTQ+ Shelter will also continue operations throughout the holiday. Individuals and families needing transportation to shelters can contact the DC Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 between 8 a.m. and midnight or call 311 at any time.
The Downtown Day Services Center at 1313 New York Avenue NW will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis. Zoe’s Doors Youth Drop-In Center on Rhode Island Avenue NE will remain open 24 hours, offering a safe space for youth in need. The DC Department of Behavioral Health will also remain operational, providing mental health and substance use support through the 988 crisis line, which connects callers to trained counselors and, if necessary, mobile crisis teams.
Additional support services will be available at the DC Stabilization Center at 35 K Street NE for adults facing substance use crises, and the emergency psychiatric clinic at 1905 E Street SE for immediate mental health care. The Community Response Team will provide on-the-spot assistance and transportation for adults and youth facing psychiatric or substance use emergencies.
Outdoor facilities under the Department of Parks and Recreation will remain open, including parks, athletic fields, and playgrounds. However, recreation centers, indoor pools, and offices will be closed.
Among the major closures on October 13 are DC Public Schools, the Department of Human Services Economic Security Administration, and all Department of Motor Vehicles offices. Several youth drop-in centers, including those operated by Sasha Bruce and the Latin American Youth Center, will also close for the day. The DC Health and Wellness Center, the Vital Records Division, and the Licensing and Renewal Division will suspend in-person services, though online portals for license applications will remain available.
City officials urge residents to check specific agency websites for updates on hours and services before traveling. As Washington honors Indigenous People’s Day, most essential services will continue uninterrupted, but non-urgent travel and government visits should be postponed until normal operations resume on Tuesday.
