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@Alex B - "Because RPP was never really about resident parking exactly, it was about preventing commuter parking - particularly in areas close to Metro stations."

If that was the logic, then it hasn't worked -- which is why we need smaller RPP zones than ward boundaries. Everyone on this board seems to assume that car "commuters" just have MD and VA tags. What's less understood, except by impacted residents, is that the ward-wide zone stickers allow DC commuters to drive, say, from Chevy Chase DC, Spring Valley or McLean Gardens and park near a Ward 3 Metro station all day (and often into the evening), meaning that residents who live within several blocks of such stations get essentially no benefit from the RPP program because the streets are jam-packed all day. (Remember the howls of protest when part of W3 in Chevy Chase was redistricted into W4? -- the compromise was that residents were still eligible for W3 RPP stickers, so they could park on streets near the Metro.)

I am in favor of progressive RPP fees on second and third cars registered to the same address, to encourage less car ownership and bring a bit more market rationality to the process. DC should also charge for the visitor parking placard in use in some wards.

by Axel on Apr 4, 2012 10:16 am • link • report