Evening star., 1954-04-13
City Approves
S26O,OOO for
Fringe Parking
Congress Must Act
On Fund for Lots
Near D. c. Limits

The Commissioners approved
a recommendation today to
spend $260.000 for fringe park
ing. The money, already avail
able, would first have to be
released by Congress.
The Motor Vehicle Parking
Agency recommended the out
lay from approximately ST mil
lion it has on hand from park
ing meter receipts.
The first parking lots would be
near the Anacostia River, just
south of the South Capitol Street
Bridge. Two lots would be put
into shape to accommodate 975
autos. If motorists use them, the
lots could be expanded to accom-
modate about 1900 cars.
Bridge and Amphitheater.
That project would be known
as the South Capitol Street
Bridge plaza parking lot. If it
is successful, the District would
open another fringe parking lot
at the Carter Barron Amphi-
theater.
The amphitheater lot could be
used by 700 cars, with adjoining
~4ots providing parking eventually
for as many as 300 more.
Othere sites for fringe park
ing are at the National Training
School on Bladensburg road, and
at the Soldiers Home. Another
site might be obtained in nearby
Virginia.
The Commissioners also heard
an appeal today for underground
parking. facilities in the main
business section.
The plea came from the Gen.
tral Business Association, whose
members have places between
Seventh street and Connecticut
avenue, and U street and Penn
sylvania avenue.
Parks Suggested.
The delegation cited Franklin
Park and Lafayette Square as
potential underground parking
places. Commissioner Spencer
pointed out that the National
Park Service. not the Commits
sionerS, have supervision over
those tracts.
The merchant delegation Sug-
geSted asking the Secretary of
Interior to intervene on behalf
of underground parking. The
delegates also urged holding
open hearings.
More and more downtown
buildings are being razed for
parking lots, with a resultant tax
loss, they pointed out.
Drivers parking on the pro-
posed lots near the South Capt.
tol Street Bridge would be fur
nished shuttle bus service, the
Motor Vehicle Parking Agency
reported.
The Capital Transit Co. has
already pledged cooperation,
the agency said, but bus fares
have not been decided.
The agency said it has not de-
termined whether the parking
lots would be free. But it said the
tendency is toward making them
free; otherwise motorists would
be discouraged from using them.
Costs Listed.
The first two lots there would
cost $4,000 to get into shape.
Then about $4,000 would be
needed annually for mainte-
nance, figuring about $12 a year
per car.
When enlarged. the lots would
cost some $4,000, plus $25, 900
annually for maintenance.
The agency said approximately
$500 cars jam the bridge during
the 7-to-9 morning rush.
A parking lot at the Carter
Barron Amphitheater would cost
SAT- 900 plus $1,000 yearly main
tenance, at the rate of $40 a
car, the agency estimated. The
recommendation cited the saw
ings in District paving bills if
cars are taken off the streets.
The $260.000 would be a sup
Elemental appropriation in the
1954-55 budget. About $4OO, 900
is received each year from park
ing meters. the report said.
Early Plan Failed.
Fringe parking lots, with shut
tie transit service to the down.
town area, were included in some
of the first postwar traffic relief
measures advocated by the Dis
trict Motor Vehicle Parking
Agency. Poor locations and the
motoring public's reluctance to
use them brought about almost
complete failure of the idea.
One such lot was near Wash
ington Circle, off the main
streets and poorly paved. An
other was on Constitution ave-
nue. near Rock Greek parkway.
Still another was on Pennsyl-
vania avenue near the Municipal
Center.
Editorially at the time The
Star said the test was not fair
one and suggested a reasonable
test" before discarding such a
plan.