WASHINGTON — The District has been struggling to get a streetcar system up and running for about a decade, but finally after years of delays, it opened this weekend with much fanfare, including marching bands and speeches from elected officials.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other dignitaries gathered at H and 13th streets, in Northeast Saturday morning for the unveiling of the system, which  runs along H Street and Benning Road.

Rides will be free for passengers for at least six months.

“What we want to do is look at the ridership and look at the customer feedback at the six-month mark,” says District Department of Transportation Director Leif Dormsjo.

“Right now we’re in a promotional period.”

The streetcar line stretches 2.2 miles, but there are plans to eventually extend it.

It will run six days a week, Monday through Saturday.

WTOP’s Nick Iannelli and Max Smith contributed to this report.