Metro News Release

For immediate release: May 27, 2003

Minnesota Avenue parking garage open house and public hearing set for May 28, 6:30 p.m.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), in partnership with representatives from the District of Columbia government will hold the Minnesota Avenue Parking Garage and Open House on May 28, 2003, at 6:30 p.m., at the St. Luke Center, 4923 East Capitol Street, SE, in Washington, DC.Individuals or representatives of organizations wanting to testify are requested to furnish in writing, at least five days prior to the proposed hearing date, their name, address, telephone number, and organization affiliation, if any, to Mr. Harold Bartlett, Secretary and Chief of Staff, WMATA, 600 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20002. The District of Columbia has proposed constructing a parking garage at the northwest corner of Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road, south of the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station and Metrobus access facility in Northeast Washington. The four-level garage will accommodate 333 spaces on levels two through four for the exclusive use of Metorail park-and-ride customers. These spaces will replace those in the current surface parking area at this station. While construction is underway, the surface facility will initially be displaced, and spaces to accommodate 50 to 60 vehicles provided on a temporary basis. Upon final approval, construction of the garage is expected to begin in late 2003 and be completed by the fall of 2004. In addition, the District of Columbia has proposed the construction of Government Center, adjacent to the new garage, to house the departments of Employment Services and Human Services. Metro will provide customer-service information for directing passengers who use the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station safely around the construction prior to and during the start of this project. For more information on riding Metro, customers may call 202-637-7000 or TTY 202-638-3780.

News release issued on May 27, 2003.