USDOT: it’s cold, so forget about that silly transit thing
Photo by NCinDC on Flickr.
The US Department of Transportation sent its staff this memo last night:
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 5:07 PM
Subject: BROADCAST MESSAGE: Winter Warm-Up Parking Promotion
BROADCAST MESSAGE
TO: All DOT Headquarters Employees and Contractors
FROM: Linda J. Washington
Assistant Secretary for Administration
SUBJECT: Winter Warm-Up Parking Promotion
We are pleased to announce our “Winter Warm-Up,” parking promotions for the months of February and March at the DOT Headquarters parking facility.
Monthly Special
During the months of February and March, the monthly parking rate will be reduced to the special rate of $110.00 per month—that’s only $5.50 per day! Current monthly parking permit holders who have prepaid for February and March will be credited on their next permit purchase. If you do not currently have a DOT parking permit, you must submit an application online at: http://parkapp.dot.gov. The application will be processed through our Parking Office and you will be notified by email of your parking permit pick-up date. Please allow 1-2 days for processing.
10-day Parking Pass
We also are offering a special pre-paid, 10-day parking package at a reduced rate of only $60.00—that equates to $6.00 per day.
Both of these special packages may be purchased at the Parking and Transit Benefit Office located in the West Building, ground level, in room W12-190. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Payment options are cash (exact change only) personal check, or credit card.
Regular daily parking permits will continue to be sold at the rate of $10.00 per day.
If you have any questions concerning this announcement, you may send your questions via email to Parking.transitoffice@dot.gov.
Transit benefit participants are reminded that it is your responsibility to adjust your transit benefit amount any time there is a change to your actual commuting expenses, including temporary parking.
Does USDOT have more unused parking space in its own garage in the winter? They, of all agencies, ought to be pricing their parking space at market rates: just high enough to fill almost all the spaces. After all, they’re pushing market pricing for roadways.
Regardless, the implication that it’s so cold we need to make parking cheaper is a terrible message from our officials who are supposed to be the experts on transportation.