DDOT Seeks Public Input on Parking....Sort of

You may have seen the press release below on any of a number of neighborhood listservs and blogs.  The DC Department of Transportation is holding what they call "a series of public meetings" to "solicit public input on the future of parking in the District" -- but as far as I see, they're talking about just two meetings -- and one of them is set for the middle of a workday at a downtown government building, this coming Tuesday. The other one will be on September 18, at 1800 Good Hope Road, SE. There's a promise of an online survey for those who can't attend meetings, but it's not available yet. I'm wondering if the turnout at the first two meetings will affect the scheduling of any subsequent meetings, or whether ideas generated at these meetings will play a role in shaping the survey. Stay tuned....

--Peggy Robin

All Life Is Local

DDOT Seeking Public Input on Parking in the District

All Who Live, Work or Visit in the District Are Encouraged to Participate

(Washington, D.C.) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is hosting a series of community conversations, called Parking Think Tanks, to gauge the state of parking and to solicit public input on the future of parking in the District. DDOT envisions that these conversations will contribute to the development of a comprehensive curbside parking management plan.

In the ten years since DDOT’s establishment both the District and the role of transportation have changed dramatically. The population has grown; vehicle ownership has declined; transportation options and choices have greatly expanded; and more people are taking advantage of these new options. DDOT is asking for citizen input to develop strategies and recommendations to better balance the parking needs of everyone --employees, residents, and visitors-- who competes for a share of the limited curbspace.

The goal of parking management in the District is to improve mobility and convenience by:

• Preserving access to parking in residential areas for residents;
• Promoting and facilitating commerce by prioritizing customer and commercial vehicle access in commercial areas; and
• Ensuring the safety of all transportation users including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motorists.

DDOT is seeking comments and recommendations on a number of its current parking programs such as the Residential and Visitor Permit Parking (RPP) programs, Performance Based Parking, parking meters, the management of reserved / restricted spaces (such as commercial loading, car sharing, ADA parking, etc.) and bicycle and scooter parking accommodations. Details about DDOT’s current parking programs are available online at http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/Services/Parking+Services. In addition, DDOT is seeking suggestions for future parking enhancement opportunities

Anyone who visits, lives or works in the District is invited to attend a Parking Think Tank and/or to share their input via an online survey. The input received will help shape future parking policies and programs to create a more efficient use of parking resources.

The following Parking Think Tanks are scheduled to take place as follows:

Tuesday, August 28, 2012
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
One Judiciary Square (Old Council Chambers)
441 4th Street, NW

Tuesday, September 18, 2012
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Ora Glover Community Room
1800 Good Hope Road, SE

The schedule for the additional Parking Think Tanks, the online survey and the information that will be presented at these meetings will be made available online at ddot.dc.gov/ParkingThinkTanks. The same DDOT presentation will be made at each Parking Think Tank.

Following the Parking Think Tanks, DDOT will host a public summit to report on the input received from the public; how the input may potentially shape the outcome of comprehensive curbside parking management plan; and the agency’s next steps.

Questions and requests for additional information may be directed to Angelo Rao at 202-671-1370 or by email to angelo.rao @ dc.gov.

DDOT is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, its projects, programs, and services on the basis of race, color, national origin, or gender, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or on the basis of disability as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you need special accommodations or language assistance services (translation or interpretation), please contact Angelo Rao at 202-671-1370 or  angelo.rao @ dc.gov in advance of the meeting. These services will be provided free of charge.

###