Get There Archive: Stadium

The Year in Transportation

Here's a look at some of the transportation-related news, events, and projects that affected where you worked and commuted this year. Below, vote in our poll for the biggest story. The Roundup Happy New Year: The largest fare and fee increases in Metro's history went into effect on Sunday, Jan. 6. Subway riders paid as much as 75 cents more a trip. The rush-hour boarding charge increased 30 cents, and the fare for seniors and people with disabilities increased to half of the rush-hour fare, no matter the time of day. Bus fares went up a dime for those paying with cash but remained $1.25 for those using SmarTrip cards. Gas prices reached a record national average of more than $4 a gallon in June. (Scott Olson/Getty) Gas Prices Skyrocket, Plummet: Gas prices peaked over the summer as the national average topped $4 a gallon; the highest recorded average for...

Community Meeting to Assess Baseball Parking Plan

The District Department of Transportation will hold a meeting Wednesday to discuss how the Ward 6 parking program did during its first year.The parking program evolved out of the community's concerns that it would be overwhelmed by traffic heading for Nationals Park. While I know there was a lot of legitimate anxiety before the season opened, I heard few complaints during the summer. The meeting agenda will include: -- Presentation of the Ward 6 Committee that will assist DDOT in determining how curbside revenue will be allocated. -- Update on revenue from the green multi-space meters. -- Update on the Ward 6 Visitor Parking Pass program. -- Discussion of potential sign improvements or modifications for 2009. -- Recommendations from the community for 2009. The Wednesday meeting , from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., will be held at Friendship Baptist Church, 900 Delaware Ave. SW. The church, at the intersection of Delaware...

Ball Game Shuttle Working Well

A month into the baseball season, fans and commuters seem to be having a relatively easy time dealing with the new stadium on South Capitol Street. Take the shuttle from the shuttle. The e-cruzer picks people up on south side of Nats Express bus stop.(Thomson) After a few weeks of wandering around the outside of the stadium to view the traffic and transit concerns raised by readers, I went to one of the Nationals-Mets games last week. We drove to Lot 8 on the south side of RFK Stadium, parked for free and took the free Nationals Express shuttle to Nationals Park. This was a breeze. From Lot 8 to the stadium turnstyle took 19 minutes, or about half the time it took to get a hot dog during the game. The trip back to Lot 8 after the game was similarly easy. Couple of things along the way: There...

No Stress Test For Stadium Traffic

Nationals Park will cause no congestion problems at all, as long as the team plays every game in mist and bone-chilling cold. Lonely duty for traffic control on M Street north of stadium. (Thomson) For the first week night game at the new stadium by the Anacostia waterfront, fans and commuters had it easy. But then the game was played in bad weather on NCAA men's final night, factors that likely held down attendance at the ballpark. Also, Mondays tend to be lighter on commuting than other weekdays. The worst congestion I saw in a two-hour pre-game tour last night was at L'Enfant Plaza Metro station. The platform was crowded with a mix of commuters and baseball fans, and so were the trains. Metro had plenty of staffers spread out along the Green Line platform. As trains heading toward Branch Avenue (and stopping at Navy Yard Station, nearest Nationals Park)...

Traffic Meets Baseball Tonight

The Nationals are scheduled to play their first week night game at the new stadium starting at 7:10 tonight. I'll take a look around the area and tell you what the traffic and transit conditions were like. Meanwhile, here are some tips for getting to -- or getting around -- Nationals Park, at 1500 South Capitol St. SE. Evening traffic from I-395 to South Capitol Street. (Thomson) Drivers -- First, don't type that stadium address into your online directions finder, make a printout and get in the car. This trip is way more complicated. The secret neighborhood parking spot you think you know is likely to be inaccessible or restricted at game time. -- These are probable hotspots for traffic: the Maine Avenue and South Capitol Street exits on the Southeast-Southwest Freeway, the intersection of M and South Capitol streets, M Street SE in front of the Navy Yard and...

Walking or Biking to Baseball

To complete our blogging way through the travel options for Nationals Park, here are some walking and biking options. Street by Metro station. (Thomson) Walking If you're heading from downtown, the Mall or Capitol Hill, it's downhill toward the Anacostia riverfront. You'd be doing the pre-game walk in daylight for most games. Here are some possible routes: -- From L'Enfant Plaza, walk south on 7th Street, go left on I Street and continue south on 6th Street to M Street SW. Turn left and walk to South Capitol Street. -- From Federal Center SW, come down 3rd Street, turn right on E Street, left down 4th Street, left on I Street to a right on 3rd Street, then a left on M Street SW. -- From the Capitol area, you can come straight down South Capitol Street, but I prefer New Jersey Avenue, even though it's less direct. It's a...

Older Entries in This Category »

Navigating Roads to Nats Park, Robert Thomson , March 25, 2008

Getting to Games by Transit, Robert Thomson , March 24, 2008

The Thin Green Line, Robert Thomson , February 28, 2008

Neighbors Worry About New Stadium Traffic, Robert Thomson , March 30, 2007