Norton Asks to Meet with Secret Service, NPS, DDOT to Ensure Bike and Pedestrian Access by White House During Inauguration Preparations

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) wrote the U.S. Secret Service, National Park Service (NPS), and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) requesting that appropriate agency officials discuss with her potential accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians impacted by temporary closures of Pennsylvania Avenue and Lafayette Park caused by the construction of grandstands for the inauguration parade. Norton successfully worked with NPS and Secret Service to allow DDOT to construct a bike lane near Lafayette Park, connecting bikers from Vermont Avenue NW to 15th Street NW, and said the agencies should consider a two-month detour around the area.

In her letter, Norton wrote, “With presidential inauguration preparations beginning near the White House, there needs to be a way for people who use Pennsylvania Avenue and Lafayette Park to continue to use this route while construction proceeds. We have been informed that the grandstands for the inauguration parade are already under construction, resulting in a large fenced-in area around the grandstands and more elaborate temporary barriers in the vicinity, while closures are starting to happen more frequently than before the last inauguration. All that is needed is a two-month detour that is accessible and safe for cyclists and pedestrians around the area. As with the Lafayette Park bike lane, the Secret Service and NPS will need to work together and consult with DDOT.”

Norton’s full letter is below.

Joseph P. Clancy
Director
United States Secret Service
245 Murray Drive NW, Building 410
Washington, DC 20223

Bob Vogel
Regional Director
National Capital Region
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive SW
Washington DC 20242

Leif Dormsjo
Director
District Department of Transportation
55 M Street SE, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20003

Dear Directors Clancy, Vogel, and Dormsjo:

Over a year ago, I met with the U.S. Secret Service and National Park Service (NPS) when bicyclists were denied access to the Pennsylvania Avenue plaza and Lafayette Park area with no notice and for lengthy periods of time. I appreciate that, as a result, the Secret Service and NPS allowed the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to construct a bike lane along Lafayette Park, connecting cyclists from Vermont Avenue NW to 15th Street NW. Cycling and walking have become important forms of alternative transportation to work and activities. With presidential inauguration preparations beginning near the White House, there needs to be a way for people who use Pennsylvania Avenue and Lafayette Park to continue to use this route while construction proceeds.

We have been informed that the grandstands for the inauguration parade are already under construction, resulting in a large fenced-in area around the grandstands and more elaborate temporary barriers in the vicinity, while closures are starting to happen more frequently than before the last inauguration. All that is needed is a two-month detour that is accessible and safe for cyclists and pedestrians around the area. As with the Lafayette Park bike lane, the Secret Service and NPS will need to work together and consult with DDOT.

I ask that the appropriate officials come to my office to discuss these inauguration preparation closures and ways to accommodate our cyclists and pedestrians. Please call my office to set up this meeting.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton