Opening Day at the new Nationals ballpark is less than five months away, and detailed arrangements for game-day parking are beginning to emerge. But discussion of those arrangements with the community, including the affected Advisory Neighborhood Commissions – 6D, which represents Southwest and Near Southeast, and 6B, which represents Southeast Capitol Hill – has been uneven. And some community leaders fear a pre-season of rushed communication on overdue plans.

On-Street Parking "Zone of Impact" Extended
ANC 6B recently learned that the DC Department of Transportation is including a portion of Capitol Hill in the parking "zone of impact" for the new ballpark. DDOT calculations suggest that drivers will walk from as far north as Seward Square to games on South Capitol and N streets SE. Capitol Hill's zone of impact is bordered by New Jersey Avenue and Sixth Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and the Southeast Freeway. Within that zone, DDOT "will use a combination of enhanced regulatory signage and multi-space meters to manage demand on curbside spaces," says Ward 6 transportation planner Chris Delfs. Restrictions will have to be matched to the "specific needs of each block."

David Garrison (ANC 6B01) – whose single member district covers much of Capitol Hill's "zone" – has been discussing these specific needs with DDOT. The general focus of 6B's concerns is on "access to public parks and commercial areas, as well as the ability of parishioners to park near their churches on Sundays,” and, "most importantly," parking for visitors to residents' homes during game times, Garrison explains. "A parking restriction overlay will bring some important protections to residents," he says, but also "pose some difficult tradeoffs and compromises."

While 6B has been pleased that "staff is listening carefully to comments and suggestions," Garrison is concerned that DDOT make final decisions soon, so they'll "be ready to implement such a complicated plan."

Ballpark's Immediate Neighbors Still in the Dark
Contrary to 6B's experience, ANC 6D has not been consulted about street parking issues. "Maybe DDOT believes they already have every site of concern in Southwest noted on their maps and doesn't need to consult with the ANC at this point," 6D Chair Roger Moffatt suggested, saying he was trying "to rationalize" the silence.

ANC 6D Vice-Chair Andy Litsky notes how soon "the holidays will be upon us" and fears that DDOT's current silence presages a last-minute demand to consider "whatever they worked out without us... with two weeks over the holidays to respond."

To avoid such a scenario, Litsky says, "We need a complete analysis, block by block. We need to begin in earnest to discuss how this is going to operate."

Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells (D) says it's important for the ANCs, as well as stakeholders such as area Business Improvement Districts, "to know what is being proposed, so they can have something to say about it." These stakeholders should be part of the "first discussion," he says, "before a public hearing."

If necessary, Wells says, he will help coordinate such a discussion.

Meanwhile, 6D faced a whirlwind of "emergency action" communications regarding surface parking lots in the ballpark area.

Zoning for New Surface Parking Lots Approved
"They got this to us as soon as they got it," says Litsky, explaining that the DC Office of Planning and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development both contacted 6D as soon as a proposal for game-day parking lots became available. But DCOP didn't file the proposal until Oct. 12, requesting action at the Zoning Commission's meeting Oct. 15. And while Judi Greenberg of DMPED brought the proposal to 6D as soon as possible – she presented the 18-page report at their monthly meeting Oct. 15 – the Zoning Commission was already acting as she spoke.

DCOP submitted the revised list of parking lots, after several of the lots listed in a July text amendment were determined to be unavailable. The Zoning Commission approved, on an emergency (120-day) basis, the new list of 11 lots, as well as a new requirement that five percent of parking spaces be reserved for ride-sharing. A hearing date to consider a permanent text amendment had not yet been scheduled at press time.

A requirement that no parking lot be accessed from I, P or Fourth streets SW, "to protect existing low density residential sites" – which had been added to the earlier text amendment at the request of ANC 6D – remains in effect in the new proposal. However, seven of the 11 newly listed sites are west of South Capitol Street, within existing residential areas which Moffatt says were previously understood as off-limits.

"This should not be a problem, now that DDOT has improved Potomac Avenue," says Joel Lawson of DCOP, citing this summer's work on the Douglass Bridge and surrounding streets.

Lawson also notes that DDOT "is required to weigh in on each individual lot," through the permitting process, and that they are "reviewing the entire area's traffic plan."

"We have to have a conversation here."

Litsky says ANC 6D needs to discuss the area's traffic plan, of which surface parking lots are only one aspect, in detail. One particular concern is the effect of Arena Stage, Waterfront Mall and other "big construction projects" on area traffic. Another is the possible use of South Capitol – “our grand boulevard, the gateway to the District" – for additional surface parking.

The DC Sports and Entertainment Commission – which is responsible for preparing the Traffic Operations and Parking Plan for game days – promised monthly meetings with community leaders but has not held one for six months. SEC says they hope to re-start those conversations soon, Litsky was told in October.

Like 6D commissioners, Wells believes parking on residential Buzzards Point needs careful attention. He also hopes, more generally, that parking is managed so as to ensure that street spaces are not more desirable than lot spaces and that the District "receives the full cost of a parking space when someone drives in from a surrounding area."

Wells plans another quarterly "Traffic Summit," bringing together representatives of the various agencies and organizations involved in the complex transportation issues of the quickly developing waterfront/ballpark area.

"The Traffic Summit is wonderful, but it's a broader view," Litsky insists.

"What we need is everyone – DDOT, DMPED, Wells' office, the Nationals, SEC – at the same table and on the same page discussing this in very specific ways.