II

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. 1046

To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to develop and implement a plan

to improve the Capitol grounds through the elimination and modification

of space allocated for parking.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MAY 27 (legislative day, APRIL 19), 1993

Mr. MOYNIHAN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and

referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

A BILL

To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to develop and

implement a plan to improve the Capitol grounds

through the elimination and modification of space allocated for parking.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Arc of Park Capitol

5 Grounds Improvement Act of 1993’’.

6 SEC. 2. CAPITOL GROUNDS IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

7 (a) The Architect of the Capitol is authorized to de8 velop and implement a comprehensive plan for the im-
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1 provement of the grounds of the United States Capitol as

2 described in section 193a of title 40, United States Code.

3 Such plan shall be consistent with the 1981 Report on

4 the ‘‘Master Plan for the Future Development of the Cap5 itol Grounds and Related Areas’’ prepared in accordance

6 with Public Law 94–59 (July 25, 1975). Such plan shall

7 result in an ‘‘arc of park’’ sweeping from Second Street,

8 Northeast to the Capitol Reflecting Pool to First Street,

9 Southeast, with the Capitol Building as its approximate

10 center. Such plan shall provide for, at a minimum:

11 (1) elimination of all current surface parking

12 areas, excepting those areas which provide on-street

13 parallel parking spaces;

14 (2) replacement of off-street surface parking

15 areas with public parks. Such parks shall be

16 landscaped in a fashion appropriate to the United

17 States Capitol grounds;

18 (3) reconstruction of Delaware Avenue, North19 east, between Columbus Circle and Constitution Ave20 nue as a thoroughfare available principally to pedes21 trians as contemplated by the Master Plan;

22 (4) elimination of all but parallel parking on

23 Pennsylvania Avenue, between First and Third

24 Streets, Northwest;
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1 (5) to the greatest extent practical, continu2 ation of the Pennsylvania Avenue tree line onto

3 United States Capitol Grounds and implementation

4 of other appropriate landscaping measures necessary

5 to conform Pennsylvania Avenue between First and

6 Third Streets, Northwest, to the aesthetic guidelines

7 adopted by the Pennsylvania Avenue Development

8 Corporation;

9 (6) closure of Maryland Avenue to through traf10 fic between First and Third Streets, Southwest, con11 sistent with appropriate access to and visitor park12 ing for the United States Botanic Garden;

13 (7) construction of additional underground

14 parking facilities, as needed. The cost of construc15 tion and operation of such parking facilities shall be

16 defrayed to the greatest extent practical by charging

17 appropriate usage fees, including time-of-day fees.

18 Such parking facilities shall be made available to the

19 general public, with priority given to employees of

20 the Congress.

21 SEC. 3. APPLICABLE LOCAL LAW.

22 The construction and operation of any improvements

23 under this Act shall not be subject to any law of the Dis24 trict of Columbia or any State or locality relating to taxes

25 on sales, real estate, personal property, special assess-
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1 ments, uses or any other interest or transaction (including

2 any such law enacted by Congress), nor shall they be sub3 ject to any law of the District of Columbia relating to use,

4 occupancy or construction, including without limitation

5 building costs, permits, or inspection requirements (in6 cluding such laws enacted by Congress): Provided, how7 ever, That the Architect of the Capitol shall comply with

8 appropriate recognized national life safety and building

9 codes in undertaking such construction and operation.

10 SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE

11 CAPITOL.

12 The Architect of the Capitol shall be responsible for

13 the structural, mechanical and custodial care and mainte14 nance of the facilities constructed under the Act and may

15 discharge such responsibilities directly or by contract. The

16 Architect of the Capitol may permit the extension of steam

17 and chilled water from the Capitol Power Plant on a reim18 bursable basis to any facilities or improvements con19 structed under this Act as a cost of such improvements.

20 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

21 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums

22 as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this

23 Act.

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