News Release

National Park Service to increase parking meter rates for National Mall and Thompson Boat Center

Date: December 19, 2019
Contact: Brian Hall, 202-245-4490

WASHINGTON — The National Park Service (NPS) will increase parking meter rates on the National Mall and at Thompson Boat Center in Jan. 2020. Rates will increase from $2.00 per hour to $2.30 per hour, which matches the rate currently charged at meters on streets administered by the District of Columbia. The rate for buses will increase from $6.00 per hour to $6.90 per hour, also matching the D.C. rate.

Since their implementation in June 2017, parking meters along the National Mall have increased visitor access to park sites by turning over parking spaces, and have encouraged the use of public transit and other transportation alternatives. The revenue from the meter program allows the National Park Service to provide the District Department of Transportation with a portion of the operating costs for the DC Circulator National Mall route.

Meter revenues also eliminate maintenance backlog. This year $1.4 million from the meter program funded National Mall and Memorial Parks projects including:

• Landscape renovations.

• Asphalt repairs.

• Replacement of the roof at the Sylvan Theater comfort station.

• Crosswalk re-striping.

The NPS sought public comments for the parking meter rate increase in Oct. 2019. 

For more information about the National Park Service parking meters, visit the National Mall and Memorial Parks website. 

-NPS-