Parking Restrictions Take Effect Surrounding Smithsonian Institution
May 20, 2009
UPDATE:
The temporary bus stop on Constitution Ave. between 14th and 12th streets will be available for use on Tuesday, May 26. The permit to "buy" the 7 parking spaces on Constitution Ave. for the bus stop was secured Thursday, 5/21. Notification signs for no parking have been posted. Bus Stop signage will be installed Tuesday morning, 5/26.
This should mean that a handful of coaches at a time can stop there to await groups leaving the American History Museum. The Smithsonian Institution suggests that motorcoaches park elsewhere during the day and then return to the museum for pickups.
The Smithsonian Institution is reporting that effective May 20, there will be no vehicle or motorcoach parking in front of the National Museum of American History on the Mall side. All personal vehicles and motorcoach drop-offs should be on the Constitution Avenue side of the museum, between 14th and 12th Streets. This side is ramped and is fully accessible for disabled visitors.
According to the Institution, on Madison Drive, parking restrictions on the south curb went into force and the curb lane became a travel lane. On the museum’s side of the street, jersey barriers and fencing have been installed by contractors. The indented pull off at the Mall-side entrance and the curb lane on either side (East and West of the pull off) became contractor support space for accessing the site and staging equipment and material, and provides a safety zone around the work area. These changes have resulted in two westbound travel lanes on Madison Drive between 12th and 14th Streets.The Tourmobile stop was moved to the 12th Street and Madison Drive corner effective May 19.
Negotiations are underway with the District of Columbia to establish a temporary bus zone on the Constitution Avenue side of the museum between 14th and 12th streets.
Tour operators with question should contact Director, Visitor Information and Associates’ Reception Center Katherine Neill Ridgley at 202.633.5262 or ridgleyk@si.edu.
