(Washington, DC) Mayor Adrian M. Fenty today unveiled the District’s Stadium Transportation and Residential Curbside Management Plan today.

“Metro is going to be—by far—the best way to get to the game,” said Mayor Fenty. “But some fans will choose to drive, so we’ve worked closely with neighborhood leaders, the Washington Nationals and members of the DC Council to devise a fair and predictable parking plan that ensures fans have a great experience at the ballpark while at the same time avoiding traffic and parking issues for nearby residents.”

Led by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), the District hosted numerous public meetings during the past year to engage stakeholders in the planning process. Participants included the Nationals, ANC and civic and community associations, local business and the Captiol Riverfront Business Improvement District (BID). The plan incorporates both transportation alternatives to and from the stadium as well as an enhanced Residential Parking Program (RPP) zone to protect the adjoining neighborhoods from being inundated with fans looking for street parking on game days.

The plan also identifies multiple transit options including use of the expanded Navy Yard Metro Station, increased bus service including a Union Station shuttle to the Navy Yard Metro and a bicycle valet station at the stadium parking garage entrance.

“We wanted to ensure residents are not affected by the influx of people coming to attend the games,” said DDOT Director Emeka Moneme. “Our message to patrons coming to enjoy the game, retail and restaurants in the area is to ‘take transit’.”

The regulations will be in effect on game days and non-game days alike. The District expects the plan will encourage mass transit use; minimize circling by drivers for under-priced parking spaces and resulting congestion and encourage turnover of spaces to avoid “squatting”, which harms local businesses.

Description of Proposed Parking Regulations

Enhanced Residential Permit Parking (RPP):

Similar to the Enhanced RPP program that was used at RFK stadium during the past two years, RPP will be established in an extended area beyond the current RPP zones. DDOT has already begun installing signs that extend RPP restrictions to longer hours and all days of the week. This “Enhanced” RPP will feature signs that state:

“Zone 6 Permit Holders Only; 7 am – Midnight, Monday thru Sunday” on one side of every block.
“Two Hour Parking Only – Zone 6 Permit Holders Exempted; 7 am – Midnight, Monday thru Sunday” on the opposite side of the block.

In other words, half of the residential parking supply will have no grace period for out-of-zone parkers, and half will have a two hour grace period. The restrictions will apply every day from 7 am to Midnight.

Multi-space Meters on Commercial / Mixed Use Streets:

DDOT will install new multi-space meters or modify the times and prices on traditional existing meters. The multi-space meters will be programmed with rates that vary according by day and length of parking stay. These rates will be aimed at encouraging parking turnover and limiting vehicles squatting on commercial spaces. The meters will be installed along the 8th Street Barracks Row and Pennsylvania Avenue corridors. Streets shown in green on the map are also designated to be metered streets, but will have no parking during events at the Nationals Ballpark. Parking lanes on Green Streets will be required to serve traffic needs.

Multi-space Meters on Transitional Streets

Residential streets that border commercial (or other destination) areas often bear the brunt of parking pressures. In these “buffer” or “transitional” zones, charging a fee to out-of-zone drivers helps to reduce demand in these areas; and allowing Zone 6 permit holders to park preserves standard RPP privileges. On the map, streets that will have meters and exempt Zone 6 permit holders from paying fees are shown in the color gold.

Visitor Passes

In order to accommodate guests of neighborhood residents and discourage out-of-zone parking, DDOT will mail one Visitor Pass to each household on the streets that receive Enhanced RPP regulations. These passes will be valid at all times of day, but will be limited by specific terms of use.

In order to minimize fraud, the Visitor Passes will feature a holographic laminate that cannot be easily duplicated. DDOT is recommending penalties for misuse such as monetary fines and loss of visitor pass privileges. Residents should expect to receive a mailing packet containing the Visitor Pass and detailed information about the program during the first two weeks of March.

Pending Parking Pilot Legislation

The DC Council will vote on the Performance Parking Pilot legislation on March 4, 2008. Please note that the passage of this legislation would allow full authority to execute needed parking management tools -- including performance parking rates and comprehensive Visitor Pass treatment.

Additional transportation information and a copy of the parking map highlighting affected areas with colored street markings can be found in the Transportation Operations and Residential Curbside Management Plan (also referred to as the “TOPP”) on the ddot web site at ddot.dc.gov.