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Why you shouldn't compare DC Metro traffic for Trump's inauguration with March for Life traffic
A President Donald Trump supporter rides the metro toward the National Mall for Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images/Jessica Kourkounis)

Why you shouldn't compare DC Metro traffic for Trump's inauguration with March for Life traffic

Reports show that Friday's Metro traffic in Washington, D.C., during the March for Life is shaping up to be greater than the traffic last Friday for President Donald Trump's inauguration — but the comparisons might not be fair.

During large events, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority will release traffic numbers twice — once around 11 a.m. with a morning total and an updated total for the entire day the following morning, according to a WMATA spokesperson.

As thousands of anti-abortion activists flocked to the District for the annual March for Life, WMATA said approximately 237,000 people used public transportation Friday morning. That number is about 40,000 higher than it was at 11 a.m. for Trump's inauguration.

But a spokesperson for WMATA told TheBlaze that it isn't necessarily fair to compare the two events' public transportation traffic as federal employees did not work during Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. Many other employees were also given the day off.

"You wouldn't use Jan. 20 as an average work weekday," a spokesperson said.

When comparing the March for Life's public transportation traffic to Thursday's public transportation traffic, it falls short as WMATA said 258,000 people took public transportation as of the 11 a.m. mark.

On average, 639,000 people take public transportation per weekday.

The historic Women's March, however, did cause an uptick in public transportation for WMATA.

By 11 a.m., 275,000 people took public transportation — a figure that is eight times the normal traffic for a Saturday and greater than some weekdays, WMATA said.

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