WASHINGTON — Busy days on Metro could mean major headaches for D.C. public school students trying to get to and from class.
Concerns about large transit crowds and major road closures during Pope Francis鈥� visit have already caused several D.C. charter schools to close on Wednesday, the day of the papal parade and mass.
The pope arrives 4 p.m. Tuesday and leaves 4 p.m. Thursday.
Still, Mayor Muriel Bowser says the city鈥檚 public schools will not close because of the pope鈥檚 visit.
鈥淲e want the kids to have access to learning,鈥� Bowser said, 鈥渟o the schools will be open.鈥�
Bowser said it鈥檚 up to families to 鈥減lan ahead鈥� to get students to school. However, neither the mayor鈥檚 office nor the D.C. school system have offered specifics on what planning ahead would entail for students who take Metro.
Officials have said to budget extra time, but getting somewhere on time could prove especially tricky with Metro warning of significant crowding on trains and in stations, and extensive bus detours and service adjustments.
