Mayor Adrian Fenty announced a plan Wednesday that would severely limit street parking for Nationals fans by reserving the majority of spots around the ballpark for neighborhood residents and short-term parkers.
Private parking at the 41,000-seat stadium is also projected to be a nightmare as the Nationals have struggled to secure enough spots for even just their season-ticket holders.
The city will place two-hour parking limits or residents-only parking restrictions on most of the streets surrounding the stadium stretching as far as Barracks Row to the north and Maine Avenue to the west, Fenty said.
Neighborhood households will each receive a visitor pass for their guests that will be holographic to discourage illegal duplication, officials said.
Only about 1,000 street parking spots will be available for game-day parking, and officials said they planned to meter those with sky-high rates after the first hour or two so that their prices rival those of private garages for longer-term parking.
City officials said they hoped the plan would minimize congestion around the stadium by discouraging drivers from circling to find underpriced parking spaces.
“We wanted to ensure residents are not affected by the influx of people coming to attend the games,” District transportation chief Emeka Moneme said. “Our message to the patrons coming to enjoy the game, retail and restaurants in the area is to take transit.”
City officials have said they anticipate half of all ticket holders will use Metro to get to the stadium.
Metro officials said they were on track to complete a renovation of the Navy Yard Metrorail station before Opening Day that will allow the station to accommodate 15,000 riders an hour.
Moneme said Nationals fans may also use a bicycle valet that is planned for the entrance of the stadium’s parking garage or use a shuttle from Union Station to get to the game.
