WASHINGTON - The National Park Service is seeking public input for a proposed rate increase for parking on the National Mall and at Thompson Boat Center. Under the proposal, rates would increase from $2.00 per hour to $2.30 per hour, matching the rate currently charged at meters on streets administered by the District of Columbia. The rates for buses would increase from $6.00 per hour to $6.90 per hour, also matching the D.C. rate. Comments are being accepted online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/meters through Nov. 2, 2019.
Since their implementation in June 2017, parking meters along the National Mall have increased visitor access to park sites by turning over parking spaces, and have encouraged the use of public transit and other transportation alternatives. The meter program has also provided a source of revenue, allowing the National Park Service to provide the District Department of Transportation with a portion of the operating costs for the DC Circulator National Mall route, and eliminating $1.4 million in deferred maintenance needs for the park this year. Projects funded by meter revenues include landscape renovations; asphalt repairs; replacing the roof at the Sylvan Theater comfort station; and crosswalk re-striping.
How to Comment
The preferred manner for providing comments is via an online form through the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website, used by the bureau to manage official correspondence and analyze public comment in the planning process. From the project website, navigate the menu on the left hand side of the page to “Open for Comment," then open either of the “Documents Open for Review" folders. The green “Comment Now" button will take you to the online form.
Comments may also be submitted in writing to:
Jeff Reinbold, Superintendent
National Mall and Memorial Parks
900 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20024
ATTN: Parking Meter Increase
Comments must be entered into the website or postmarked by Nov. 2, 2019, to receive consideration.
NPS
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
