If the DC Council approves the “Performance Parking Zone Pilot Act of 2008,” on an emergency basis, on March 4, new regulations will be in effect in time for the first game at Nationals Park, March 29.

The DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) needs authority provided in the bill to implement its baseball parking plan. As reported in the February Hill Rag, the plan, hammered out with the help of Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells and local community groups, is designed to protect residential parking, encourage turnover where “squatting” could harm businesses, and reduce congestion resulting from drivers circling in search of elusive, free or low-cost parking.

Should the council fail to pass the legislation, the District, hard-pressed to fulfill its promise to protect residents and local businesses from the influx of cars on game days, will implement an alternative “Plan B.”

Plan B
With or without the legislation, DDOT will implement an “Enhanced Residential Parking Permit Zone.” Under this scenario, between the hours of 7 a.m. and midnight, seven days a week, on heavily impacted residential streets labeled purple on the adjoining map, parking on one side will be strictly restricted to cars displaying Ward 6 Resident Parking Permits (RPP). On the other side, cars not displaying Ward 6 RPP stickers will be permitted to park for two hours while Ward 6 RPP holders remain exempt.

DDOT will issue one Visitor Pass – complete with anti-fraud hologram -- to each household on the streets that receive Enhanced RPP regulations. Residents should receive Visitor Pass/details during the first weeks of March, according to DDOT.

In addition, DDOT has the following plans,

• On highest trafficked streets labeled green on the map, there will be no parking before, during and after games.
• On red streets, all drivers will pay to park. On gold streets, Zone 6 permit holders remain exempt.
• Vehicular traffic will be prohibited on Half Street, between M and N streets SE; on Potomac Avenue SE, at First Street SE; and N Street, on the ballpark’s north side.
• A covered walkway will be installed to protect pedestrians from construction around the M Street exit of the Navy Yard Metro station.

Curbside parking enforcement will be strict, LeBlanc says, and public transit, cycling and walking are encouraged modes of transportation.

The Nationals have finalized parking arrangements for this year's season ticket holders who requested parking; maps with driving directions intended to protect residential streets have been provided.

The Nationals will provide valet bike parking at the stadium; and a free, pre- and post-game shuttle will run “frequently” between M Street SE and RFK Stadium's Lot 8 for fans, who wish to make use of the ample parking there.

Current Statutory Limitations
However, due to statutory limitations, fines for parking overtime in a residential zone are unlikely to be high enough to discourage baseball patrons from using residential streets to park. So, “Plan B” will put a “heavy premium on enforcement,” towing cars instead of ticketing.

Furthermore, current law precludes Sunday street metering. So, on this day nothing can be done to prevent baseball fans from parking for free in front of local businesses on Pennsylvania Avenue or on Barracks Row.

“[Without the legislation], we will lose the ability to differentiate between business customers and ballpark goers, as well as the ability to provide help in weekend turnover,” Wells says. “Ballpark parking pressures will take what is already a bad situation at Barracks Row and make it worse.”

If Legislation Passes
On March 4, Jim Graham (Ward 1) and Wells will together move to have the council adopt the “Performance Parking Zone Pilot Act of 2008” on an emergency basis.

If they are successful, “DDOT is on schedule to have everything in place by opening day,” according to LeBlanc. New meters and parking signs have already been installed in much of southern Capitol Hill, the Near Southeast and Southwest.

DDOT will install multi-space, programmable meters in the highest demand areas labeled red and gold on the adjoining map.

The programmable rates for these meters “will be aimed at encouraging parking turnover and limiting vehicles squatting on commercial spaces,” says LeBlanc. “Prices for metered spaces nearest the ballpark will match those charged in off-street parking.”

Additional SW Surface Parking Proposed
The Nationals have requested zoning approval for additional potential surface parking lots in Southwest, although the 3,775 zoning cap on the total such spaces remains.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D opposed the placement of new lots in the Southwest arguing that they would force ballpark traffic through neighborhood streets in violation of previous agreements to protect those neighbors.

At its Feb. 21 hearing, the DC Zoning Commission noted DDOT's absence and supported ANC 6D's resolution by refusing to vote until DDOT appeared to discuss routing plans for the newly proposed lots. The commission postponed its vote until March 24 at which time representatives of DDOT and the Nationals are expected to appear.