The District will have ample off-site parking available when the new Washington Nationals’ stadium opens in April 2008, which — when combined with upcoming transportation improvements — should provide smooth access to a revived South Capitol Street area, D.C. planners said Thursday.
Roughly 7,800 spaces, some a block away and others at least a 15-minute walk from the Southeast stadium, should be available on Opening day, said Stephen Green with the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Planning. The spaces — which do not include the 1,225 on-site spots for luxury suite ticket holders — are in an accumulation of public and private surface lots, garages and vacant properties the city has identified as available.
With a new Frederick Douglass Bridge delivering drivers onto a widened South Capitol Street, and the Navy Yard Metro Station
expanded to handle upward of 20,000 riders per hour, District officials expect relatively smooth movement for 41,000 baseball fans, Green said.
“I think there is the opportunity and the potential to have a great fan experience and have access to the ballpark,” he said.
RFK usually parks roughly 4,000 vehicles on game day, officials said. Even during the rare sellout, no more than 7,000 vehicles are on site. One big difference for fans will be the walk from parking to the ballpark. Though it may be a similar distance, a hike through historically rough neighborhoods is a far cry from a similar stroll through RFK parking lots. But Claude Bailey with the Sports & Entertainment Commission said a developing game day plan will lay out police patrols and general public safety efforts.
In any case, the District hopes to “nudge people towards Metro in coming years and to incorporate pedestrian, bicycle, taxi and eventually even boats to broaden the possible entry points,” said Vince Morris, Mayor Anthony Williams’ spokesman.
Traffic improvements timeline
» 2009: South Capitol Street improvements (from N Street to Potomac Avenue)
» 2010: New ramps to and over 11th Street bridges
» 2011: New Frederick Douglass Bridge
» 2011: Anacostia Streetcar Line
