By Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) Parking on the street in certain areas of Penn Quarter and Chinatown costs more starting today as part of a District Department of Transportation pilot program aimed at reducing traffic congestion.
In high demand areas, it will cost $2.75 an hour to park, up from $2.30. DDOT’s Soumya Dey said the purpose is to get quicker turnover in those spaces
People willing to walk where they’re going will pay less to park- $2.00 an hour during the one year pilot program. Dey hopes the lower price will encourage people to park in the less popular areas.
Parking rates will also change based on the time of day. There will be three different price periods: opening to 11 a.m., 11 to 4 p.m. and 4 to closing. The most expensive time will be between 11 and 4.
“There is a strong co-relationship between how well a dynamic urban area manages its curb space and roadway congestion,” said Dey.
The second part of the pilot project will be an app rolled out in the next few weeks to help drivers find open parking spaces faster.
Dey said studies done by DDOT show 25 to 30 percent of congestion is from people circling around the block trying to find somewhere to park.
“So to the extent that we can make more spaces available, and let people know where those spaces are available, it gets to that 25 percent of the congestion and has a positive impact on overall traffic flow,” Dey said.
If the parking rate changes and app are effective at reducing congestion, they will be continued in Penn Quarter and Chinatown and also tested out in other parts of the city.
Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (Photo: Luiz Eduardo)
