CASE NO. 08-06-2

(Comprehensive Zoning Regulations Rewrite:  Parking)

Comments for the Record

Thursday, July 31, 2008

It seems to me that "OP" has the cart before the horse here.  Denying parking 

spaces is not the way to solve transportation problems.  Surely professionals 

can figure that out.  We need better transportation.       

I heard on the radio that, New York's early 20th century development featured 

its subway system, a vast difference from the situation in the District of 

Columbia, which already had a city when it embarked on creating a train system 

for commuters in the mid-1970's.  So the Metro (subway) offers something, but 

it's far from being a solution.

Bus transportation, other than the 30 numbers on Wisconsin Avenue, which operate 

with great frequency, is a disappointment for many of us.  Our time counts for 

something.

Yes, I'd love to see Washington become a bike-friendly city.  I would enjoy 

pedaling around in bike-lanes.  But where are they now?  Sure, adding bicycle 

racks is a good thing for the daring members of the area, but that's a tiny 

fraction of the transportation issue.  

DDOT needs to broaden its scope on parking and its outreach.  Are DDOT types 

visiting citizens' associations and ANC's?  Is there a transportation element 

that I have yet to learn about?  Parking belongs there, if there's to be a real 

change.  In the meantime, providing for the reality of cars is sensible; some 

people would say mandatory.

I'm distressed at the prohibition mindset in this proposal.  It's out of touch 

with what exists.  Incentives, on the whole, are the way to go--the "better 

mousetrap" approach.

This is serious, long-term planning stuff.  It deserves public involvement.

Respectfully submitted,

Ann Haas

ANC 3D09

1601 45th Street, NW

Washington, DC  20007