District to Test City's Evacuation Plans Friday Night

The D.C. Department of Transportation plans to partially test the city's evacuation plans tomorrow night as crowds stream home from the Fourth of July fireworks downtown, officials said.

Officials will practice timing red lights to quickly move cars from the city center and evaluate traffic control and emergency communications.

This is the fourth year the exercise will occur. The District updated its evacuation plan last year.

Officials said they will use new tools this year, including traffic cameras, to more accurately determine the number of pedestrians and vehicles leaving the city.