Nationals' Shuttle Buses use Neighborhood Route

Martz Bus turning onto 17th Street from C Street, NE (contractor for the Nationals)

Below is the email thread between citizens, ANC, RCA, DDOT and the Nationals reqarding the ongoing dispute over the Nationals' parking shuttle buses using residential neighborhood streets to transport fans from RFK Stadium to National's Ballpark during "conflict" days with DC United games.

Disclosure: email addresses and individuals included in the emails (To:, CC:, BCC:, etc.) have been removed to maintain privacy. Only DC public civil-servants and Nationals contacts remain.


From: Harvey, Damon (DDOT) (damon.harvey@dc.gov)
Sent: Tue 8/19/08 3:18 PM

"RCA Transportation Committee Chair":

Good afternoon and thank you very much for your kind words!

Below is my best attempt to answer your questions:

1. To the best of my knowledge the Washington Nationals have not made a decision yet about RFK parking arrangements for next season. I believe they will have another public participation process either at the end of this season or before next season starts and that will be the most appropriate time for you and your neighbors to pose these questions to the team directly. I also recommend you let your elected ANC and Council member(s), as well as their staffs, know your feelings on this matter.

2. In terms of parking on the grass at RFK. I have cc’ed Mr. Troy Scott of the District of Columbia Sports and Entertainment Commission (DCSEC) on this email and he would be best person to field that response. FYI, for the last two years I ran parking services at RFK Stadium and I can tell you from personal experience it is standard practice for guests to park on the grass and enjoy tailgating during events. In fact, the grass near the river is a better option for guests of the stadium to park and enjoy because it keeps trash particularly glass and aluminum cans off of the asphalt. Nonetheless, if you desire a modification from this regular protocol Troy is your best option.

Warm regards,

Damon Harvey


From: RCA Transportation Committee Chair
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 1:55 PM
Subject: RE: Nationals Buses Use Ward 6 Streets Despite Agreement NOT to

Thank you Damon for the update.

We all hope this agreement was only for the Nationals opening-season and will not be continued for subsequent seasons. We have received complaints not only for the noise and air pollutants, from the buses on residential streets, but it appears now RFK parking attendants are allowing vehicles to park on the newly landscaped (Anacostia River Trail) green-spaces. Please see one of the complaints below:

"...I was walking down the river walkway by the Stadium last night and noticed that during the game at RFK they had attendants directing cars to park on the grass…the grass that’s between the walkway and the parking lot…the grass that they recently planted and are landscaping. I was rather miffed since there’s plenty of asphalt to park on and considering it just rained they were probably going to tear up the grass. Anyway, my question was, do you know who I would possibly raise this issue with? Does the city own the river walk? The national park service? " L.W.

Damon, two questions:

1. Can you please confirm for everyone whether this privilege to use residential streets, at the expense of DC residents, will be extended to the Nationals next season or not?

2. Who is the appropriate contact(s) to assure parking attendants are not destroying costly landscaping DC government has just installed by directing patrons to park on greens spaces?

Thank you once again for your assistance; you have always provided prompt and reliable information. We look forward to you response.

"RCA Transportation Committee Chair"


Subject: RE: Nationals Buses Use Ward 6 Streets Despite Agreement NOT to...
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2008
From: damon.harvey@dc.gov

Everyone:

Good morning,

I just spoke with the Washington Nationals and the reason Nats Express buses were seen on 17th Street, NE earlier this month is because DC United had to modify its home schedule which created a couple of more ‘conflict days.’ Remember, DC United had to cancel two games this month due to inclement weather so they had to rescheduled these games and the new dates created additional conflict days with the Nats.

This is absolutely consistent with the agreement the Nats made with the District and they have reiterated their commitment to only use 17th Street IF there is a conflict with DC United games. Feel free to contact me directly if there are any further questions regarding Nats shuttle routes this season.

Please distribute this email to any other community residents that have been asking questions about the shuttle buses that have not been included on this email.

Best regards,

Damon Harvey
DDOT

From: "17th Street Concerned Citizen"
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Subject: Nationals Buses Use Ward 6 Streets Despite Agreement NOT to...

Since the Nationals have failed to abide by agreements that you set into place re: NOT using 17th Street as a southern route to the stadium, and have dictated to the government the so-called "Conflict Days" they claim they need to use 17th Street...without any preventative action from DOT, I'm pretty certain that this is also going to be ignored, but once again, as a citizen, I'm going to try:
According to the May 28th e-mail from Francine Waters to Chris Delfts, there were 6 more "conflict days" that 'required' that the buses use the C Street/17th Street. (Despite clear assurances from Tommy Wells that the Nats had agreed NOT to use Ward 6 Streets).

August included 2 "Conflict Days"...including August 2 and August 30th. Today is Tuesday, August 12. There are buses using the C Street/17th Street Route...as I write this...at 5:30 p.m. I have called Ms. Francine Waters, the Nationals "Director of Transportation Planning" (ha!) but unfortunately, it is after 5 p.m., and she is probably enjoying a reasonably quiet evening at home. Well, I am not. (In addition, a Nats/Martz bus used the C/17th Street connection yesterday...I was going south on 17th Street and followed it, til it stopped on 17th and Constitution, for some unknown reason).

So, DOT, and Council Members Wells, and other city officials. Will there be a penalty for violation of the original agreement (no use of city streets) or for this blatant violation of their own "schedule"? (Not to mention that the signs posted on 17th Street say "No Trucks over 1-1/2 tons"...the Martz buses weigh 50,000 pounds.
And as for the Nationals...so much for 'community spirit' and the tradition of America's Game.....you can't even keep your word about something you never planned to keep your word on in the first place.

17th Street Concerned Citizen


From: "RCA Transportation Committee Chair"
Sent: Wed, May 28, 2008

Thanks to DDOT's Chris Delfs, below is the email-thread between Chris and Francine Waters, Director of Transportation Planning for the Nationals.

It appears during "RFK parking conflicts" with DC United games, Francine has directed the Nationals' bus contractor, Martz, to use Ward 6 residential roads/neighborhoods as a routine bus route.

I have included this email-thread to CM Wells and his staff to request appropriate action will be taken to prohibit these vehicles from using our neighborhood streets. Per CM Wells, he approved the RFK parking shuttle to Nats games on the condition Nats buses were NOT to use Ward 6 residential road as part of the route, buses are suppose to use the RFK access road.

RCA Transportation Committee Chair


Subject: FW: Nats Buses on C & 17th Sts
Date: Wed, 28 May 2008
From: christopher.delfs@dc.gov

"RCA Transportation Committee Chair",

Francine Waters is the Director of Transportation Planning for the Nationals. Please see the email thread below.

Best,
Chris


From: Francine E. Waters [Francine.Waters@Nationals.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Subject: RE: Nats Buses on C & 17th Sts

Good Morning Chris,

There are six more Conflict Days for the balance of the 2008 Nationals season in which the Nationals fans are parking in Lot 7 at RFK due to D.C. United Games. On these dates and only on these dates, the Nats Express follows the instructions below:

Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008

Leaving Lot 7:

Left on Oklahoma Avenue
Right C St.
Left 17th St.
Right Potomac Avenue
Crossover Pennsylvania
Bear Right I St.
Left 8th St.
Right M Street to 300 M

Return:

Right 3rd St.
Right I St.
Bear left onto Virginia Avenue
Right 8th St.
Left M St.
Left 11th St.
Right K St.
Bear left Potomac Avenue
Crossover Pennsylvania
Left 19th St.
Right C St.
Left Oklahoma
Enter parking lot - 1st Entrance

The drivers have been instructed to follow the above route and not to deviate from the route. Please note, however, that Martz has over 50 of their tour buses advertising the Nats Express which are not necessarily in the service of the Nationals. I have asked community leaders to email me should a Martz bus be spotted off the above route with both the date and bus number. With this information, I can investigate with Martz. I have previously spoken and corresponded with Ken Jarboe and Omar Mahmud giving them the Conflict Dates and directions of the Conflict route as stated above.

Please let me know if you have any questions on the above.

Thanks

Francine

PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER:

Francine E. Waters
Director Transportation Planning
Washington Nationals


From: Delfs, Christopher (DDOT) [christopher.delfs@dc.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 9:17 AM
To: Francine E. Waters
Subject: FW: Nats Buses on C & 17th Sts

Dear Francine,

Sorry to hit you with another one in short succession, but it looks like we need to get a handle on the bus behavior. Why would Nationals buses be using C Street NE? It is important that they utilize the prescribed route(s).

Thanks for your assistance.

Best,
Chris

Christopher Delfs
Ward 6 Transportation Planner


From: "RCA Transportation Committee Chair"
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Subject: Nats Buses on C & 17th Sts

Morning CM Wells,

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.

This is to follow-up on our RCA's continued concerns that Nationals Baseball parking buses routinely use C Street, 17th Street and subsequent Capitol Hill residential neighborhood streets to transport hundreds/thousands of fans from RFK parking lots to the new stadium. I personally witnessed at least 23 buses within a 1-hour period last Saturday May 24 around 6pm. As we discussed in April, you stated Nats buses were strictly instructed not to use residential streets and are only to use RFK access roads.

We are once again asking for you and your staff's assistance to instruct DDOT to strictly adhere to the agreed Nats buses route.

Included are 3 pictures of Nationals Buses on C Street and turning from C Street on to 17th Street.

I apologize that we all have to take time and energy on safety and quality-of-life issue, such as this one, considering DDOT was clearly instructed not to allow Nats buses on residential neighborhoods.

We look forward to your reply.

As always...thank you for your continued support.

RCA Transportation Committee Chair