The District is testing a parking system in which curbside parking rates increase every hour, on the hope of encouraging drivers to use off-street parking and mass transit more often.
Two pilot programs already are under way — one near Nationals Park and the other in the Columbia Heights business district.
The D.C. Council established the pilot programs in response to concerns about the availability of short-term parking for residents following the opening of the new ballpark in Southeast Washington and a giant retail complex in Columbia Heights. Near the ballpark, people can pay $1 to $2 for one hour of parking, but after that the price jumps to $8 an hour. After three hours, the price returns to $2.
John Lisle, spokesman for the District Department of Transportation, said the first hour of parking stays cheap to encourage people to use curbside parking for short trips.
“If people want to run into a grocery store or dry cleaners, parking doesn’t cost them any more than before,” he said. “But if people want to park and go to a ballgame, that’s going to cost more.”
Transportation officials hope that people will use parking garages or alternative modes of transportation such as Metro or biking if they are planning to stay in an area for a longer period.
A percentage of the revenue from the pilot programs will go toward alternative transportation projects in the area, Lisle said.
Damon Harvey, the director of the pilot program, was not available for comment Wednesday afternoon.
The District Department of Transportation was scheduled to hold a public meeting Wednesday night to discuss the success of the pilot program and solicit feedback from community members.
The D.C. Council might consider implementing performance parking elsewhere in the city.
