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[[underlined]] Mall Parking and Visitor Access Study [[/underlined]]

On June 30, 1980, DeLeuw, Cather Professional Corporation, a consulting engineering firm, completed the "Special Studies of Visitation, Transportation and Parking for the Museums on the Mall."  The report was sent to each Regent and accompanies the Minutes of the meeting on file in the Office of the Secretary.

The consultants first developed and conducted a visitor survey using a sample of 1,216 interviews to determine visitor needs related to Mall access and parking.  This survey disclosed significant problems associated with vehicular circulation and parking facilities, including insufficient information for visitors about transportation and parking.

To estimate the level of usage incising and testing potential solutions, a procedure was developed for forecasting visitor travel and parking demand for the Mall area.  Application of the procedure indicated that visitation to the Mall museums could double by the year 2000.

The study examined the following solutions:

.  Underground garages in the Mall
.  Parking facilities within walking distance of the Mall
.  Shuttle bus service to parking facilities
.  Transit service enhancements
.  Information systems
.  Combined approaches
.  No-build alternative

The principal construction solution favored in the study proposed and underground Mall garage to accommodate 2,300 cars and 80 buses, at a site between Third Street, N.W., and the connector walked between the National Gallery of Art and the National Air and Space Museum.  The estimated construction cost of this solution is $60.0 million with an annual operating cost of $1.15 million.  Based on annual revenues of $4.5 million and 8% financing with a 1.25 coverage factor and 30-year term, an annual subsidy of $3.0 million would be required.