Norton Asks for Switch in Designated Traffic Lanes into Union Station for the Safety and Convenience of the Public

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released a letter from Norton today to Bob Vogel, National Park Service (NPS) Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, Beverly K. Swaim-Staley, President & CEO of Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC), and Joe Press of Union Station Investco, thanking them for participating last week in Norton's Union Station roundtable, which revealed that many improvements to reduce congestion were already underway, and asking them to consider a switch in the lanes passenger vehicles are permitted to use to put them closer to Union Station. Norton said it has proved difficult for District of Columbia residents and visitors arriving at Union Station by passenger vehicle to rush out of their vehicles and across multiple lanes of traffic in time to catch buses or trains, given the current lane designations. In her letter, Norton asks that USRC, Union Station Investco, and NPS sit down together and consider an agreement that could achieve a switch in the vehicles permitted in each lane, so that cabs would continue to use the first lane, passenger vehicles the second lane, and tour buses and any additional passenger vehicles would use the third lane.

"Apparently, Union Station Investco, the Union Station developer, leases the first two lanes, and we were told that the National Park Service has jurisdiction over the third lane," Norton said in her letter. "That lane, of course, is the one to which the public that patronizes Union Station has been relegated. Fortunately, the third lane is not privately encumbered. If the vehicular restrictions on the second and third lanes were switched, so that the second lane was restricted to passenger vehicles only, patrons of Union Station would have safer and better access to Union Station."

Last week, Norton hosted a roundtable, entitled "Solving Traffic Congestion at Union Station and Preparing for a Makeover Inside," to discuss a plan to resolve traffic congestion, plans for development at Union Station and short-term and long-term goals for improvements. Featured were representatives from USRC, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, Jones Lang LaSalle, Amtrak, the Federal City Council, NPS, and Akridge.

Norton's letter follows:

October 14, 2014

Superintendent Bob Vogel

National Mall and Memorial Parks

National Park Service

900 Ohio Drive SW

Washington, DC 20024

Beverly K. Swaim-Staley

President & CEO

Union Station Redevelopment Corporation

10 G Street NE

Suite 504

Washington, DC 20002

Joe Press

Union Station Investco

50 Massachusetts Avenue NE

Washington, DC 20002

Dear Superintendent Vogel, Ms. Swaim-Staley, and Mr. Press:

Following our roundtable last week entitled "Solving Traffic Congestion at Union Station and Preparing for a Makeover Inside," this letter requests you take an important step that we believe can be taken immediately to improve access to Union Station for passenger cars. However, first, I want to thank each of you for your excellent participation and the generous time you gave to our Union Station roundtable. Your remarks and responses were very helpful to me and my staff in illuminating the significant progress that you have already made in addressing challenges confronting Union Station. Moreover, your insights and progress will be of significant assistance to me in my work in committees in Congress to assist Union Station and its several components. I intend to visit Union Station later this month to see your progress. I will be writing separately to thank the other participants in the roundtable discussion.

I want to commend each of you for the important steps you have already taken. Among several examples, Union Station Investco and Jones Lange LaSalle have retrained its traffic control officers and expanded coverage to have three officers on duty Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the possibility of extending coverage to additional peak times and Sundays. Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) has already reserved space in the parking garage for cell phone parking, with more spots on the way. USRC already has some of the recommended signage up and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation plans to review and implement more signs. The National Park Service (NPS), along with USRC, Project Evergreen, and Rupert Nurseries, also hosted a very successful volunteer day on Saturday, September 27, 2014 that drew multiple volunteers and accomplished about 600 new plantings on the plaza alone. A plan is also underway to permit passenger vehicles to use the second lane for passenger pick-up and drop-off even when tour buses are using that lane.

However, we discussed but did not settle on one apparent improvement that could ease access to Union Station from cabs and cars for all travelers, especially the elderly, travelers with children, and passengers with heavy luggage or more than one bag. It has proved difficult for D.C. residents and visitors arriving at Union Station by passenger vehicle to rush out of their vehicles and across multiple lanes of traffic in time to catch buses or trains. At the roundtable, we did not hear a rationale for assigning tour buses to only utilize the second lane rather than the third lane. Apparently, Union Station Investco, the Union Station developer, leases the first two lanes, and we are told that NPS has jurisdiction over the third lane. That lane, of course, is the one to which the public that patronizes Union Station has been relegated. Fortunately, the third lane is not privately encumbered. If the vehicular restrictions on the second and third lanes were switched, so that the second lane was restricted to passenger vehicles only, patrons of Union Station would have safer and better access to Union Station.

By the improvements you have made and are in the process of making, you have shown that you are trying to better accommodate the public. I ask that USRC, Union Station Investco, and NPS sit down together and consider an agreement that could achieve a switch in the vehicles permitted in each lane, so that cabs would continue to use the first lane, passenger vehicles the second lane, and tour buses and any additional passenger vehicles could use the third lane. If this arrangement is impossible, please indicate promptly in writing why it is not feasible. It would seem that this switch could be achieved through a Memorandum of Agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding, or some other agreement. I ask that this request be given full and fair consideration consistent with applicable law, rules, and regulations. Please accept, again, my appreciation for the improvements you each are making at Union Station and for your participation in our roundtable.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton

Cc: Matthew Brown, Director, District of Columbia Department of Transportation

Emeka Moneme, Deputy Executive Director, Federal City Council

Mark A. Polhemus, Sr., General Manager Union Station, Jones Lang LaSalle

David Zaidain, Project Director for Union Station Master Plan, Amtrak

David Tuchmann, Vice President of Development, Akridge