DC Visitor Transportation Study

Phil Wolf's comment made me check to see if I had put links to the National Park Service Transportation Study in my links section. I thought I did, but didn't. It's rectified, but you can check it out here as well: National Capital Parks-Central, DC Visitor Transportation Study.

I have written before the same point, that because Tourmobile royalties provide a significant chunk of change to the NPS, money desperately needed to maintain the NPS parks in the city, they are unlikely to challenge the status quo too much. This probably has something to do with NPS unease about the Downtown Circulator.

Check out this drawing which criticizes the Tourmobile approach to the reverence of history.

__________
From the 12/4/2004 Washington Post:

Mall Transportation Service Revisited

The National Park Service is considering revamping its transportation services on the Mall, including reducing available parking in one area. Park Service officials presented seven transportation alternatives yesterday at a public meeting at the Old Post Office Building. The ideas seek to improve how visitors experience and get around the Mall, focusing primarily on tour bus service and routes.

One alternative calls for expanding tour bus routes the Park Service oversees to include a broader area of downtown. Another explores the question of allowing visitors to rent Segways, the two-wheeled scooters. Yet another option includes reducing the amount of parking for private vehicles on Madison and Jefferson drives to create a more pedestrian- and bus-friendly environment. Alexa Viets, a Park Service transportation planner, said the reduced parking idea is one of many being considered. She said a preferred alternative is scheduled to be announced in the spring.

The public is invited to offer feedback on the ideas until the end of the year at ncr_transportation_study@nps.gov.