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Yesterday’s presidential inauguration kept Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) workers busy. The authority carried 575,069 passengers.

But the day before the inauguration, WMATA carried 748,900 passengers — the fifth-highest ridership day in Metrorail history. Authority officials attribute Wednesday’s high ridership to snowfall, icy driving conditions and an early release for federal government workers due to inauguration-related events.

WMATA extended service until 3 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and operated 18 eight-car trains yesterday to relieve crowding.

The authority also increased security. The Metro Transit Police Department, Transportation Security Administration, and local police agencies working with explosive detection equipment and explosive detection canine teams monitored the system.