--21--

PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PLAN

Resource Conservation and Management

Cultural Landscape

Historic design elements have become fragmented over time, leading to a haphazard appearance. For example, the allee of trees around the Ellipse was originally planted in the 1880s; an attack of Dutch elm disease in the 1940s and 1950s led to the removal of many of the trees, and the allee has not been fully reestablished.

The use of various designs and materials in Lafayette Park, around the White House, and on the Ellipse has not been coordinated. For example, East Executive Park and West Executive Avenue do not exhibit a consistent design. As a result, people do not perceive these different areas as part of a unified design.

The cultural landscape of the White House and President's Park has not been assessed as a unified ceremonial site where many public and private functions of various complexity and importance occur simultaneously.

The dignity and visual quality of the White House and President's Park are degraded by vehicle parking on the Ellipse and surrounding the White Houses by temporary structures that look out of place (such as bleachers, barricades, stages, and equipment), and by other activities that create a disorganized appearance.

Cars, limousines, delivery trucks, and vending vans restrict views, block landscape features, and create congestion in parklike areas such as East Executive Park and the Ellipse. These conditions compromise important elements of L'Enfant's original design for this area, such as maintaining open space around the White House and views extending to the Potomac River.

The White House is visually separated from Lafayette Park on the north by the wide expanse of Pennsylvania Avenue. On the south E Street and vehicular traffic visually separate the White House from the Ellipse.

Proposed developments and activities within and adjacent to the study area have the potential to conflict with original site design and development plans. No measures have been taken to promote a consistent design for structures, walkways, streets, or other facilities adjacent to the area.

Archeological Resources

Archeological resources on the site have only been addressed on a project-by-project basis. A preliminary archeological survey identified areas of high archeological resource probability, but no clear mandate has been given concerning a full inventory of possible sites.

Multiple Uses and Site Capacity

Daily uses, such as public tours and large special events, affect resources throughout the site, including the White House itself and the surrounding grounds, statues and memorials in Lafayette Park and on the Ellipse, and the entire area's historically significant landscape design. For example, the high number of visitors on tours causes inadvertent damage to items on display from the White House collection, and special events requiring facilities or attended by large numbers of people make it difficult to properly maintain lawns and gardens.

--22--

Resource Conservation and Management

Rows of parked cars around the Ellipse obscure sight lines and create congestion on the site.

 

 

 

 

 

Deliveries are made through every entrance of the White House complex, conflicting with other site functions.

 

 

 

 

 

Fine and decorative arts in the White House collection, such as this chair from the Monroe administration, are used daily. There is no curatorial facility onsite where inadvertent damage to items in the collection can be assessed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vendors line 15th Street near Constitution Avenue, block views, and create an atmosphere that conflicts with the expected dignity and decorum of White House and President's Park.

 

 

--23--

PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PLAN

The need to provide a high level of security on the site requires systems to be regularly up-graded, traffic to be routed through check-points, and security posts to be maintained, straining the sensitive resources of the site. Due to the immediacy with which these specialized needs must be addressed, as well as the lack of an overall Flare, historic and natural resources are often compromised without adequate planning or conservation (for example altering gateposts to install security equipment and moving plantings for security reasons).

Communication and transportation measures to support the presidency are gradually affecting the historical character of the White House and its grounds. For example, daily deliveries, equipment, and personnel are constantly present, creating traffic and equipment problems that stretch the site's ability to recover in reasonable amounts of time.

Multiple uses of the White House and its grounds, as well as of the Ellipse and Lafayette Park, result damage to various resources. The White House and President's Park have limited physical capacities to accommodate various events and functions. These capacities cannot be exceeded without causing damage to the sites natural and cultural resources, which can only be mitigated by intensive management and funding.

Home and Office of the President

Executive Residence

Public demand for both physical and visual access to the White House and its grounds results in a loss of privacy for the first family. Conversely, the first family's needs for a home, privacy, and recreational opportunities within the White House grounds limit public access.

Accommodating the various residential and first family requirements is difficult because suitable space is not available in the White House. Spaces for moving about the site, working, and storing frequently used items are inadequate and poorly located, hampering efficient operations. Staff move back and forth through the lower corridors of the house, interfering with daily Functions. storage space requires frequent deliveries to be made, often within view of those working at, coming to, or visiting the site. The result is traffic congestion, delays, and unsafe conditions for visitors and guests entering the site, and an incompatible visual setting.

Facilities for White House grounds maintenance are inadequate. Utility spaces are small and difficult to maintain.

THE WHITE HOUSE: FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

--24--

Home and Office of the President

 

 

 

Television cables are stored inside
the west colonnade. Chairs, lights,
and equipment are stacked outside
along West Wing Drive.

 

 

This narrow corridor below the north
portico provides access for the movement of staff, supplies, and materials
across the site. Items are often stored
on both sides of I the corridor.

 

 

 

 

 

Motorcades for the president, vice
president, and visiting dignitaries are
staged throughout the site on a
regular basis.

 

 

 

With limited support space, some functions
take place out of doors in all kinds of weather. Here the east service drive on the north side of the White House is used for storage.

 

 

 

 

--25--

PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PLAN

Executive Office Support Services

Meeting spaces for groups of 50 to 200 persons are very limited. As a result, White House state rooms are used for business meetings, which in turn increases wear and tear on the historic fabric, as well as limits and some-times prohibits public tours.

Staff parking is limited, and existing onsite parking spaces compromise the ceremonial function of the site and create a visual intrusion for residents and guests in the White House, as well as visitors and passers by. Permit parking spaces near and around the Ellipse and the White House grounds are used by staff; however, more permits have been issued than there are spaces, creating competition for parking. Parking overflows into cross-walks, handicapped access ramps, and turf areas, and it occurs next to fire hydrants. This parking is neither covered nor secure, and poor lighting and the threat of crime and car theft make walking between the White House and staff parking areas in the late evening hours potentially hazardous to employees. Further aggravating the problem is the lack of 24-hour safe public transportation for those employees whose shifts do not coincide with normal transit service periods.

Vehicles used for security, presidential motorcades, and visiting dignitaries are parked in West Executive Avenue and East Executive Park, causing congestion at site entrances (diplomatic, visitor, and tour), as well as unsafe and unpleasant conditions for pedestrians passing through these areas.

Deliveries take place throughout the; site, causing conflicts with other site uses. Corridors for staff to move about the site and to deliver supplies and materials are inadequate, resulting in inefficient operations.

News Media

The presidential briefing area for the news media and work spaces for media representatives are small, overloaded with equipment, and potentially unsafe.

Visitor Use and Services

Locations and activities within President's Park, which are accessible to the general public, may not be accessible to individuals with physical or learning disabilities. The needs of D.C. residents and local workers in terms of educational and interpretive pro-grams are not always considered.

Information / Orientation

Within the study area signs, publications, and other media to orient visitors to the site and tell them about tour opportunities and other information are inadequate or confusing.. UPS staffing is insufficient to be distributed throughout President's Park to answer

-26-

Problems, Issues, and Concerns Considered in this Document

questions and provide directions. Because visitors do not know where to go for information, they may spend considerable time searching for information or assistance. Information about White House tours for visitors planning trips to Washington is available by calling a toll-free number at the White House visitor center; however, many visitors arrive without adequate information about tour procedures, and they may miss opportunities for tours. Information on other activities or opportunities (for example, the schedule of activities on the Ellipse or the Mall) is not readily available.

Visitors frequently stop at White House gatehouses for information and assistance, diverting time from security functions and congesting entrances, often wrong information is given. Under these conditions customer service is unsatisfactory.

Interpretation/Education

Interpretive programs at the White House and President's Park do not sufficiently communicate the site's important stories and the significance of its resources, resulting in visitors having less appreciation for the site. Interpretation is lacking about the history of the presidency, about special White House events (such as state dinners), about first families and the people who worked for them (guards, cooks, service staff, etc.), and about the construction and renovation activities at the White House. Nor is interpretive information readily available about L'Enfant's plan for the city and how the White House relates to the city, about Lafayette Square and its famous residents, or about other fascinating details that bring the site to life. Visitor surveys have consistently documented a need for a variety of interpretive and educational programs.

Information and interpretation in languages other than English is inadequate to meet the needs of non-English speaking visitors.

The White House is among the most widely recognized and meaningful of contemporary American symbols, it is both a cultural icon and a site with unusual symbolic significance. Yet not all Americans respond to and interact with the White House in the same way. The perceptions of many segments of American society about the White House have not been fully researched, making it difficult to offer programs that would be appealing and accessible to the full diversity of Americans.

White House Tours

Tuesday through Saturday the White House is open for congressional tours (7:45 to 9:45 A.M.) and public tours ( 10 A.M. to noon). Ticketing procedures are cumbersome, with visitors having to line up and wait for tickets on the morning of the tour day. Visitors who are unaware of tour ticketing procedures may not have enough time or be able to adjust their schedules to take a tour. Families and groups wanting to visit multiple sites in Washington must often split up in order to wait for tickets at various sites.

Large numbers of visitors, particularly during spring and summer, overextend the White House tour process' resulting in the inefficient movement of people and not accommodating all the visitors. For people not able to take a tour, the visitor center provides limited exhibits to learn about the White House. Some visitors feel that the tour is not a quality experience for various reasons.

Tour procedures, including what areas are open to the public, are not clearly explained beforehand. If personal items must be left behind, there are no secure places to store them. Many people on public tours feel they are hurried through the White House. The areas where people can go in the White House may not give visitors a sense of being in the home and of flee of the president because little is on display that provides a personal connection with the first family, and there are limited opportunities to get a behind -the-scenes look at the White House.

--27--

Visitor Use and Services

 

 

 

Visitors gather at the south
fenceline, next to E Street, to
view the White House and
take pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visitors on public tours have few opportunities to pause and enjoy a longer look at state rooms in the White House.

 

 

 

Pedestrian movements are hampered by private vehicles and tour buses parked south of Fast Executive Park.

 

 

--28--

Problems, Issues, and Concerns Considered in this Document

Site Amenities

Amenities such as restrooms, drinking fountains, and shaded waiting areas for people taking White House tours are inadequate. While tour tickets are handed out at the visitor center, visitors must regularly wait outdoors, in all kinds of weather, to start the tours.

Public Recreation

Although recreational activities are important uses of President's Park, some activities may not be appropriate to the site character, resource protection, or the visitor experience. Activities that require permanent infrastructure or impede other passive uses may cause conflicts with the site's ceremonial purpose.

Special Events

Special events include functions such as the annual Easter egg roll, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree and attendant programs during the holiday season (known as the Pageant of Peace), presidential inaugural parades, and demonstrations and marches attended by hundreds of thousands of people.

Frequently, more people show up for special public events at the White House or on the grounds than can be accommodated smoothly, resulting in long lines as people wait to enter.

Facilities and infrastructure, such as rest-rooms. drinking water, and utilities, are inadequate to support needs at well-attended events. Temporary facilities are often visually intrusive and aged.

The types of events that are appropriate on the Ellipse have never been defined. As a result, there are major issues related to resource management (resource degradation, site character, operations and maintenance concerns) and transportation (restricted traffic flows and communication problems).

Transportation

Access and Circulation

Visitors do not have access to transportation services, such as shuttles, that provide access between outlying parking areas and the Monumental Core, including President's Park.

Automobile traffic constitutes the single most detrimental effect on President's Park and its resources. Traffic flows on E Street bisect the site, and any restrictions or changes in circulation patterns or traffic flow cause problems throughout the area. Also, actions in other parts of the District can affect operations at President's Park in ways that cannot be addressed without the cooperation of all metropolitan administrative entities.

Streets in and adjacent to the study area regularly operate at and above capacity levels.

-29-

Special Events

Impacts to the Ellipse area from the Pageant of Peace are still visible at the Easter egg roll. Turf damage from the underground steamline is also visible.

Transportation



During helicopter landings and other
occasions on the south lawn, E Street
is closed to vehicular traffic. ( The fencing in
the foreground is for a special event on the
Ellipse. )

 

Site Management and Operations

 

 

Visitors on public tours of the White House
cross at crosswalks. The volume of traffic and pedestrian use frequently causes congestion and safety concerns.

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance operations on the Ellipse
increase after large demonstrations or
special events.

 

--30--

Problems, Issues, and Concerns Considered in this Document

Activities that often cause traffic delays include tour buses picking up and dropping off passengers, demonstrations, special events, official functions, and the arrivals and departures of the president and dignitaries. Delivery trucks servicing vendors on 15th and 17th Streets double park, often forcing vehicles into oncoming traffic.

During special events information is not always exchanged between agencies or shared with the public about route closures and alternate rotates. In addition, the traffic signal system is not programmed to reflect temporary street closures or detours, which compounds traffic problems. Any restrictions to the street network in the study area could increase congestion, at least in the short-term.

Pedestrians. vehicles, and bicyclists intermingle throughout the study area. Heavy vehicular traffic on E Street creates safety problems for pedestrians, particularly as visitors make their way to the White House for tours. Visitors and employees have similar problems crossing l5th and l7th Streets between President's Park and adjacent buildings, particularly the White House visitor center.

Parked vehicles and tour buses restrict the movement of pedestrians, particularly when they block handicap ramps and crosswalks, as well as blocking fire hydrant access, causing safety hazards and limiting sight distances. In addition, Tourmobile movements on the Ellipse are restricted or service is delayed be-cause of vehicular congestion and parked cars, particularly during staff shift turnovers and special events.

Parking

Private vehicle parking for visitors and employees is limited throughout the study area. Tour buses waiting for their passengers frequently double park, blocking vehicular access and parking spaces along 15th Street, Constitution Avenue, and H Street. Both tour bus and taxi drivers are frustrated by the lack of dropoff and pickup points for White House visitors.

Site Management and Operations

Inadequate maintenance storage and equipment, insufficient staff facilities, limited bud-gets, and other conditions impede efficient long-term and day-to-day maintenance operations. As a result, President's Park is not al-ways properly maintained. Indicators of poor maintenance and overuse, such as damaged turf, are seen on the Ellipse after special events.

Daily maintenance operations at the White House and President's Park are frequently interrupted by preparations for unplanned events and security needs. The current approach is to shift staff from their programmed work to the installation of physical security barriers or to provide legally required services associated with First Amendment demonstrations. Currently, there is no efficient way to meet unplanned security or demonstration needs while simultaneously meeting maintenance and visitor service needs so that a basic level of routine operations can be provided while still responding to the unique demands of the site.

Various agencies have responsibilities in the study area for law enforcement, maintenance, security, operations, and permits. While some improvements have been made to clarify jurisdictions and responsibilities, the law enforcement and security environment remains complex.

--31--

PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PLAN

Utilities are poorly located, worn out, and in-adequate for special events, as well as daily operations.

Irrigation systems for the White House and President's Park are out of date; an irrigation system for the Ellipse has never been installed. The result is inefficient water usage and higher operations costs.

A variety of street and sidewalk vendors con-duct business in and around the study area, causing health, maintenance, and law enforcement problems, access and circulation difficulties, and changes in site character.

Concerns and Issues Eliminated from Consideration

The following concerns and issues were raised during scoping, were evaluated, and were eliminated from further consideration, as described below.

* The location of memorials within President's Park - Because most memorials in the study area were the result of congressional legislation, this issue is beyond the scope of this document. Amending legislation would be required to relocate or remove these memorials.

* The presence of long-term First Amendment demonstrators in Lafayette Park- For some visitors and workers the presence of First Amendment demonstrators creates the impression that the area is not well maintained. The rights of First Amendment demonstrators are outlined and protected by federal and D.C. regulations and have been tested in court. Long-term protectors abiding by NPS regulations will be permitted to remain.

--32--

RELATIONSHIP OF THIS DOCUMENT
TO OTHER PLANS AND EFFORTS

Various plans for Washington, D.C., or for specific aspects of the city are in progress or are already guiding the outcome of other planning initiatives, including the alternatives considered in this document. The major elements of these plans, as they relate to the comprehensive design plan, are discussed below. The alternatives discussed in this document are generally in concurrence with the goals and objectives of these plans. Specific areas of concurrence or discrepancy are addressed in the "Environmental Consequences" section.

Washington, D.C., Plan

The Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital

The 1984 Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital is comprised of a series of elements, or policies, that have been adopted by the District of Columbia government, the Council of the District of Columbia, and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) to guide the District's long-term development. The plan includes both District of Columbia elements (adopted by the D.C. government) and federal elements (adopted by the National Capital Planning Commission). The elements most relevant to the comprehensive design plan are listed below.

District of Columbia Element

Economic Development. Section 206 - "Policies in Support of the District Promotion Objective"

(10) Support the enhancement of visitor services in Downtown near the monumental core, including the traditional forms of service and information on recreation, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, historic resources, and shopping facilities in Downtown and other special areas of the District.

Environmental Protection. Section 404- "Policies in Support of the Improving Water Quality Objective"

(2) Minimize overflows of untreated sew-age from the combined sewerage system.

Section 406-"Policies in Support of the Improving of Air Quality Objective"

(3) Promote land use patterns and transportation services which decrease reliance on automobiles for commuting and other routine trips.

Transportation. Section 505-"Policies in Support of the Use of Mass Transit Objective"

(5) Supplement basic public transit services with shuttle and minibuses, and increase the effectiveness of mass transit service, particularly to support tourism and to provide service for transit-dependent groups, including the elderly, the handicapped, and residents of isolated areas.

--33--

PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PLAN

Section 508-"Policies in Support of the Private Passenger Automobile Objective"

(3) Promote the use of alternatives to the private passenger automobile, including bicycling and walking, and provide additional pedestrian and bike facilities in conformance with the Bicycle Transportation Plan and Program for the District of Columbia.

Urban Design. Section 18-"Policies in Support of the Streetscape Objective"

(2) Reduce conflicts between pedestrians and vehicular traffic in order to increase pedestrian safety and comfort.

(5) Encourage the use of public space for arts and cultural activity.

(6) Provide opportunities for appropriate location in the public space of aesthetically appealing vending and programmed activities.

Preservation and Historic Features. Section 807-"specific Policies for Protection and Enhancement of Historic Properties"

(a) Every effort should be made to provide for continued, appropriate use of all Historic Properties.

(b) The distinguishing qualities of character of Historic Landscapes should be protected and enhanced.

(c) Every effort should be made to minimize the adverse visual, physical, and noise impacts of motorized vehicles on Historic property.

(g) Publicly owned Historic Landscapes and historic open spaces . . . should be protected from unrelated and unnecessary construction that would adversely affect their integrity.

(q) Archeological resources should be retained intact, where feasible. If preservation in place is not feasible or data anticipated to be recovered is judged to be of such significance that excavation is justified, the area of destruction, alteration or disturbance of a recognized archeological resource should be minimized and findings should be documented.

Section 809-"Policies for Special Streets and Places" (President's Park has been identified as a special place)

(c) Existing special places should be protected, enhanced and strengthened.... Historic plans and their underlying principles should be used for guidance in planning major improvements. Civic art should be used to enrich such places and to establish their identity and image.

(g) Pedestrian usage of Special Streets and Places should be encouraged by emphasizing extra widths and other special amenities of sidewalks, where feasible. Areas should be provided for various types of leisure time activities as appropriate.

(h) Landscape treatment of Special Streets and Places should supplement and reinforce the Green City or "city in a park" character fostered by the National Capital's natural features, parks, public buildings, monuments, and memorials. High priority should be given to continuing maintenance and supplementing existing street trees and providing trees and plantings as appropriate in Special Places.

Federal Elements

Federal Facilities. "General Policies"

1. All major Federal Facilities in the Region should have a Master Plan to guide their long-range development consistent with the Comprehensive Plan in order to promote effective use of Federal property.

"Federal Parking Policies"

1 Parking at Federal Facilities for Federal employees and visitors should be provided and managed at a level that maximizes the use of public transportation and high -occupancy vehicles.

-34-

Relationship of this Document to Other Plans and Efforts

4. In the Central Employment area, parking ratios should not exceed one space for five employees (1:5). Federal employee parking should be provided only to the extent that employees' needs cannot he served by public transit or commercial parking. Parking requirements will vary by site and should be established by technical analysis of site characteristics and location.

Parks, Open Space, and Natural Features. "Monumental and Decorative Areas and
Parks"

2. The Mall Complex should primarily serve as a formal setting for the Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin and should be maintained as a large landscaped open area. It should also serve the passive/leisure and active recreational needs of visitors, as well as residents, to the extent that its primary purpose is not compromised.

5. Park areas like Farragut Square, McPherson Square, Dupont Circle, Franklin Square, Lafayette Park, and Pershing Park should continue to serve their primary function as decorative landscaped areas and settings for fountains, monuments, memorials, and other features of civic art adding visual amenity to the city. Additionally, these parks should provide areas for cultural activities, organized gatherings, and lunchtime picnics by providing and maintaining open lawn areas and benches.

Visitors to the National Capital. "Visitor Information"

2. Provide multilingual signs, brochures, maps and other literature for non-English speaking visitors as well as tour services anti personnel to increase their under-standing and enjoyment of their visit.

5. Establish informational kiosks to provide information to visitors, either electronically or by other means, . . . at strategic locations throughout the Monumental Core.

8. Prepare and provide specialized information, learning aids, and tours for specific groups visiting Federal attractions such as handicapped persons, senior citizens, school children, and foreign visitors to accommodate their special needs.

"Visitor Transportation, Circulation, and Parking"

1. Promote the use by visitors of auto and bus fringe parking areas on Federal . . . sites in the National Capital which provide convenient access to visitor attractions in cooperation with the host jurisdictions and with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

6. Promote the use of alternatives to the private car, such as Tourmobiles, tour buses, taxis, Metrorail and Metrobus' particularly within the Monumental Core.

"Visitor Programs and Special Events"

2. Program festivals, parades, concerts, performing and fine arts presentations, and other seasonal events throughout the year. The Independence Day celebration, Folklife Festival, military band concerts, Pageant of Peace, and Cherry Blossom Parade are examples of such special events programming.

Preservation and Historic Features. The policies identified in the federal plan are identical to those outlined on page 34 for the "District of Columbia Element." These policies were developed by a joint task force of the National Capital Planning Commission and the District of Columbia and then adopted individually by both entities.

--35--

PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PLAN

Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989

Amendments and additions were made to the Comprehensive Plan in 1989. Amendments most applicable to the comprehensive design plan include goals for Ward 2, which includes the White House and President's Park.

Sec. l 200.203-"Actions in Support of Environmental Protection"

(5) Improve natural resources planning and management within Ward 2.

(A) Encourage the Department of Recreation, working with the National Park Service, improve existing programs that maintain and enhance Ward 2's parks and open spaces.

(C) Ensure that street and highway planning is consistent with Federal standards for permissible levels of traffic vibration, noise, and air pollution, and that it reduces to a minimum the impact of non-local traffic on residential streets. Land use patterns and transportation planning should strive to decrease reliance on automobiles.

Sec. l 200.212 - "Actions in Support of Transportation Objectives"

(1) Increase use of public transit and taxis.

(4) Provide sufficient parking in the Central Employment Area and provide adequate parking in both residential and commercial areas.

(5) Increase pedestrian movement and safety and improve the pedestrian environment.

(C) Improve special connecting pedestrian routes such as . . . the Monumental Core and Downtown.

Sec. 1200.218 - "Actions in Support of Urban Design Objectives"

(1) Enhance the special design character and improve street design standards of the street system in Ward 2.

Sec. 1200.221 "Actions in Support of Historic Preservation and Historic Features"

(8) To ensure uniform design and preservation standards throughout the 18 historic districts in the Ward, the D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board shall, upon request of the affected ANC [Advisory Neighbor-hood (commission], review all permit applications relating to new construction, alterations, and/or demolitions in such historic district without exception.

Sac. l 200.233-"Actions in Support of Land Use Arts, Culture and Educational Use"

(8) Encourage the federal government to develop new cultural and educational resources in the Monumental Core, with special emphasis on increased enrichment and cultural use in the Federal Triangle.

Sac. 1200.243-"Actions in Support of the Metro Station Development Objective"

(5) Encourage WMATA and DEW to improve information and directional signs to Metro station areas.

Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994

The Comprehensive Plan was amended again in 1994. Many of the changes that could potentially affect a comprehensive design plan for the White House relate to parking and transportation for visitors and commuting staff.

-36-

Relationship this Document to Other Plans and Efforts

Sec. 405 -"Objective of Improving Air Quality"

(7) Promote the use of alternative fuels, car pooling, mass transportation, bicycles and other means to reduce the rise of auto-mobiles and resulting air pollution.

Sec. 504 - "Policies in Support of the General Transportation Objectives"

(3) To stimulate shopping' restaurant, and other retail activities, encourage increased, adequate short-term, on- and off-street parking to meet current and expanded needs of increased retail development while reducing traffic congestion in designated locations.

Sec. 505 -"Objectives for Use of Mass Transit"

(3) Promote the increased use of mass transit in the District and the region by encouraging the following programs:

(E) Extensions of mass transit service, including expansion of Metrorail parking facilities and extended Metrobus/ Metrorail routes and hours of operation in response to increased patronage.

Sec. 517 - "Intermodal Transportation Objective"

The intermodal transportation facilities objective is to provide improved passenger and freight transfer services between the various transportation modes serving the District and the Washington metropolitan area in order to enhance the District's function as the region's economic hub.

Sec. 518 - "Policies in Support of the Intermodal Transportation Objective"

(3) Develop new and improve existing pedestrian/bicycle transportation facilities providing access to intermodal transfer hubs.

 

(4) Encourage the development of appropriate parking facilities at major intermodal transfer points.

Amendments specific to Ward 2 include the following:

Sec 1200.28-"Actions in Support of Environmental Protection Objectives"

(5) Improve natural resources planning and management within Ward 2 by:

(A) Encouraging the Department of Recreation, working with the National Park Service, to improve existing programs that maintain and enhance Ward 2's parks and open spaces

(C) Ensuring that street and highway planning is consistent with federal standards for permissible levels of traffic vibration, noise, and air pollution, and that streets and highway planning reduces to a minimum the impact of non-local traffic on residential streets; land use patterns and transportation planning should strive to decrease reliance on automobiles.

Sec 1200.212 - "Actions in Support of Transportation Objectives"

(1) Increase use of public transit and taxis by:

(A) Strongly encouraging WMATA to make operational improvements to the Metrorail system by extending operating hours

(4) Provide sufficient parking in the Central Employment Area and provide adequate parking in both residential and commercial areas by:

(A) Requiring that the city and Downtown merchants adopt public/private parking management programs in the Central Employment Area where needed, in order to provide parking for short-term retail and business patrons and to discourage all-day commuter parking

(B) Exploring innovative methods of providing additional parking such as leasing parking spaces at public facilities to parking operators for evening and weekend use in areas where parking is a problem, subject to the approval of the affected ANC.

-37-

PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PLAN

Transportation Plan for the District of Columbia

The District of Columbia, like each of the SO states, was required by the Federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991 to prepare a comprehensive transportation plan for the next 20 years. In preparing this plan, the Department of Public Works created scenarios of future outcomes (or desired future conditions). The following transportation vision was then created:

By 2020, the District of Columbia's transportation system will be widely viewed as one of its principal assets. Designed, built, operated, and maintained to world-class standards, the transportation system will play a major role in the City's enhanced quality of life, its attractiveness as a residential and business location, the opportunities it offers for entrepreneurship, and its position as the capital of the free world and the cultural and entertainment core of the region.

Some of the action items to fulfill this vision and that relate to the proposed comprehensive design plan for the White House and President's Park are listed below.

· Gateway Program: Twenty specific road-way entrances would welcome visitors to the nation's capital, with uniform signs displayed at all locations in the program.

· Information Centers and Interactive Information Kiosks: Information centers would be strategically placed to capture tourists as they entered the District. They would provide information on travel routes, parking locations, transit options, and bicycle and pedestrian routes, as well as tourist attractions and services, shopping, entertainment, hotels, and restaurants.

· Public Parking: The public supply of park-ing would be increased in conjunction with a program to provide improved intra-District and bicycle and pedestrian facili-ties. This "park once" concept would allow motorists to drive, find a place to park. and then travel within the District conveniently by other modes.

· Tour Bus Parking: Tour bus parking would be located within a 10- to 15-minute drive from the passenger loading/unloading areas and would each accommodate between 60 and 150 tour buses. A study of curb space usage near major tourist destinations would be performed to determine the feasibility of converting parking spaces to tour bus loading zones.

· Transit Service and Fare Structure: Passen-ger use of the existing transit system is hindered by limited service, particularly during non-rush hours, and by early closing times. To promote internal transit usage and reverse declining ridership trends, Metrorail and bus service hours would be extended.

· Pedestrian Corridor Development: Attractive pedestrian corridors, in conjunction with zoning changes or other incentives to encourage retail and restaurant activity, would be provided throughout the city. These corridors would connect major origins and destinations and, at a pedestrian scale, would be attractions themselves because of quality streetscapes.

-38-

Relationship of this Document Other Plans and Efforts

Transportation Vision Plan for the Washington Region

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments is preparing a transportation vision plan for the greater Washington metropolitan region. A vision statement and goals for the plan were completed during 1997, with objectives and strategies to follow. The draft vision document is scheduled to be released for public comment in 1998. The vision statement is as follows:

In the 21st century, the Washington Metropolitan Region remains a vibrant world capital, with a transportation system that provides efficient movement of people and goods. It promotes the region's economy and environment, and operates in an attractive and safe setting - a system that serves everyone. The system will be fiscally sustainable, support areas of concentrated growth, manage both demand and capacity, employ the best technology, and join rail, roadway, bus, aviation, pedestrian and bicycle facilities into a fully interconnected network.

Long-Range Transportation Plan

The Long-Range Transportation Plan for the National Capital Region sets out the studies, actions, strategies, and improvements that the region proposes to implement by the year 2020 (National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board 1994a). Several transportation elements being considered in alternatives dis-cussed in this Draft Environmental Impact Statement promote the following specific stra-tegies or objectives identified in the region's plan.

· Objective A.3 Encourage "pedestrian-, bicycle-, and transit-friendly" site designs at regional and sub-regional centers.

· Objective B. l: Develop and implement regional bicycle and pedestrian facilities to promote walking and bicycle use as a means of transportation.

. Objective F.5: Improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the transit system.

- Objective F.9: Manage the supply of park-ing to support development and environmental objectives and to encourage high -occupancy travel.

Extending the Legacy: Planning America's Capital for the 21st Century

In 1996 the National Capital Planning Commission released Extending the Legacy, a draft of a new plan for Washington's Monumental Core. The plan addresses what the city should be like in the next 50 to 100 years.

The general objective of the plan is to preserve and enhance Washington's Monu-mental Core, which extends from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery, and from the White House to the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. The plan highlights the following five key ideas:

(1) Building on the legacy of the historic L'Enfant and McMillan plans' which are the foundation of modern Washington.

(2) Unifying the city and the Core, with the Capitol as the center.

(3) Using new memorials, museums and other public buildings to stimulate economic development.

(4) Integrating the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers into the city's public life, and protecting the Mall and its historic landscape from future building.

(5) Developing a comprehensive, flexible and convenient transportation system that eliminates barriers and eases movement within the city.

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PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR THE PLAN

Transportation concepts in the plan have been integrated into the alternatives considered in this document. Both plans refer to staging visitors outside the Monumental Core area and using systems such as the Metro and visitor shuttles to transport visitors to the Monumental Core and White House.

The plan identifies E Street as a secondary connector in a new roadway network. The Kennedy Center would be rejoined with the city through a landscaped E Street extending from a plaza at the Kennedy Center to President's Park.

NPS Plans and Initiatives

Memorial Core Draft Transportation Study

In 1990 a multi-agency work group was formed to address future transportation needs and infrastructure conditions within the Memorial Core area, which is cleaned as the central portion of the Monumental Core (the Washington Monument grounds, Constitution Gardens and the Reflecting Pool, East and West Potomac Parks). Annual visitation in this area is expected to grow from more than 20 million persons currently to 65 million by the middle of the next century, necessitating the improvement of access and transportation corridors. The draft study examines a visitor shuttle and various routes that would also provide interpretive messages (BRW 1994a). One alternative route would circulate up 15th Street for individuals visiting the White House visitor center or taking the White House tour.

Development Concept Plan for the Washington Monument Grounds

A Development Concept Plan for the future design and development of the Washington Monument area (Constitution Avenue to Independence Avenue, and 14th Street to 17th Street) was approved in 1995. This plan addresses future visitor use and services, transportation, and resource management at the site. Major actions include realigning 15th Street along with the Madison and Jefferson Drive connections to I 5th Street (imple-mented in 1996), removing the short-term parking area at 16th Street and Constitution Avenue, realigning the walkways on the monument grounds, relocating visitor service facilities away from the monument lodge on I 5th Street, regarding the grounds to provide access for persons with disabilities, relocating the lighting system for the monument, renovating the plaza at the base of the monument, and constructing a belowgrade visitor center.

Pennsylvania Avenue at the White House

In May 1995 public vehicular traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue between 15th and 17th Streets was restricted by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for security reasons. Subsequently, the National Park Service was asked to coordinate the development of long-term plans to improve the appearance of this area. The resulting design would need to

· restrict public vehicular traffic while maintaining access for official government uses, such as motorcades and diplomatic arrivals

· accommodate inaugural parades, requiring a 60' width

In October 1995 the National Park Service started gathering ideas for a redesign and

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Comprehensive Design Plan Continued