The Washington Post , FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1996

AROUND THE REGION Pennsylvania Ave. Decision Postponed

The federal government's planning agency for the Washington area postponed indefinitely yesterday a decision on a National Park Service proposal to permanently convert the closed part of Pennsylvania Avenue into a pedestrian mall

The National Capital Planning Commission's action is a further blow to efforts by the Park Service to advance its $40 million plan to spruce up the two-block section. President Clinton closed the area to traffic last year because of concerns about a possible truck bomb.

Congress has signaled its intention to deny funding to the Park Service because many lawmakers say the street should be reopened.

D.C. Council and planning commission member Charlene Drew Jarvis (D Ward 4) moved to table the Park Service plan, noting that there is no money for it and that the environmental impact statement has not been completed by the Treasury Department, the agency that ordered the closing.

A rally by the 32 organizations and individuals calling for Clinton to reopen the avenue is scheduled for noon today in Lafayette Square.