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Yesterday, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) began accepting online orders for commemorative SmarTrip® fare cards for the January 2013 inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Featuring a photo of Obama, the reusable card is pre-loaded with a one-day pass for unlimited travel on WMATA's Metrorail on the day it's first used. Riders can reload the commemorative card and use it like any standard SmarTrip card, WMATA officials said.

Each card costs $15, and can be used as a "flash pass" for unlimited travel on Inauguration Day, which will be held Jan. 21.

The agency also has set up a special website for Inauguration Day where riders can sign up for email and text alerts on service information and travel tips leading up to and including the event. In addition, a special Twitter account has been set up: @Metroinaug.

WMATA officials also announced Metrorail service will open at 4 a.m. and close at 2 a.m. that day, with 17 consecutive hours of rush-hour service available between 4 a.m. and 9 p.m.