“Giant Parking Chaos”

“Dear PoPville,

I’m a resident on H St NE and I’d like to bring public notice to the chaos that is the No Parking/Loading zone outside the Giant on 3rd and H. About half of the block between H and I is designated as a No Parking or Loading zone, primarily because the Giant Loading dock opens to 3rd and large delivery trucks need ample clear space to maneuver and back in.

There are several signs clearly indicating the parking rules on this block but no street barriers or markings. As this location is conveniently right outside the Giant entrance, both sides of the street are nearly always packed with parked or idling cars. Keep in mind that Giant does have a free (with purchase) parking garage mere feet away from their loading dock.

These stopped cars mean delivery trucks are unable to enter the loading dock and instead are forced to idle in the driving lane until enough space clears. As you can imagine, this causes traffic blockages down 3rd and around the corner onto H as cars either idle behind the truck or go around it. Those cars that go around it then block cars coming south on 3rd from I.

As a nearby resident, I’ve witnessed plenty of near accidents in this half block stretch between parked cars and transiting cars, between cars and the trucks, and between cars and pedestrians walking to their parked cars. I communicated my concerns with Charles Allen earlier this summer. His office indicated he was unaware of the issue. The day after that was the first time I saw parking enforcement take action on the block. Never again since then.

Truck drivers are forced to conduct traffic and deal with irrationally irate motorists. As far as I can tell The only time police step in is when they happen to be at the Giant for personal reasons and take pity on the truck drivers. This came to a head yesterday when a Maryland driver sitting in his idling car refused to move for a truck driver. Two officers intervened before the two came to blows, which they very nearly did.

If the city wants to make a fortune handing out tickets, they should actually enforce on this block. If not, greater impediments should be installed to prevent parking/idling. I’m convinced the high concentration of road range could power the whole city if it could be captured. I don’t mind the noise, that’s part of living on H St. What I am concerned about is the traffic safety issue it creates and the undue burden of asking truck drivers to enforce our city’s traffic laws.”