Dear PoP – Parking Dilemma on 16th St, NW

“Dear PoP,

I am contacting you to see if you might be willing to share an issue with your readers. Recently, conflicting parking signs were placed along the 3400 and 3500 block of 16th St, NW (picture attached). One of my neighbors sent an email to Jim Graham’s office. Mr. Graham’s office forwarded the issue to DDOT. DDOT replied with a confusing and ultimately unhelpful email (full email string below). Have any of your readers encountered a similar problem in other parts of the city? Are there additional steps we can take to resolve this problem?”

Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 10:53:56 -0400
Subject: RE: New parking restrictions 3500 block 16th St NW

CM Graham, to clarify, the changes were made because many of the “No Parking Anytime except Sundays 8AM-2PM” signs were missing from the west side of the 3500-3600 blocks of 16th Street, N.W.

In order to maintain optimal traffic flow during the AM/PM rush hour periods, signage states that there is “No Standing or Parking 7-9:30AM;4-6:30PM, Monday-Friday” which is more restrictive than “No Parking Anytime” restrictions. The fine for not obeying rush hour restrictions is $100 while the “No Parking Anytime” fine is $30. Both signs have to be posted in order to inform the public of existing parking regulations.

In October, 1997, the west side of 16th Street, N.W. from Spring Road, N.W. to Irving Street, N.W. had a “No Parking Anytime” restriction plus the AM/PM rush hour restrictions. Churches in the area requested that the NPAT restriction be changed to “No Parking Anytime except Sunday 8AM-2PM” in order for parishioners to find available parking near their church.

The current restrictions have to be maintained on the west side of 16th Street, N.W. because there are only 2 lanes of southbound traffic, one travel lane and one curb lane that must be used as a travel lane at all times except on Sundays between 8AM and 2PM. The east side of 16th Street, N.W. has 2 travel lanes at all times plus the curb lane that is restricted from parking 7-9:30AM;4-6:30PM, Monday-Friday. Parking is allowed on the east side between the rush hour periods and after 6:30PM, Monday-Friday and at all times during the weekend.

With regards to ANC notification, the ANC must be notified if there is a change in parking regulations. These recent changes were for the replacement of missing “No Parking Anytime except Sundays 8AM-2PM” signs , which were initially installed in 1997.

Also, the 3300, 3400, 3500 and 3600 blocks of 16th Street, N.W. are in the RPP program (since 1989) for permits only. However, the residents have never requested the installation of RPP Zone 1, 9:30AM-4PM, Monday-Friday signage to be installed on the east side of these blocks where there is an AM/PM rush hour restriction.

I know that the explanation is a bit long, however, I hope that it completely clarifies the current signage situation.

Ugh my head hurts. Anyone else deal with conflicting parking signs before?