[BSW] FW: Message from the Under Secretary: Update on Parking at the Smithsonian

[Kathy Bilton]

Robin Everly forwarded this email to be sent out to the BSW concerning the 
lot near the NMNH which will no longer be available to us for parking as 
of October 1.

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From: SI Email Announcements
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2018 10:15 AM
To: SI-GEO-National Capital Region <SI-GEO-NCR at si.edu>; SI-GEO-NZP-SCBI
Front Royal, VA <SI-GEO-NZP-SCBI at si.edu>; SI-GEO-SERC Edgewater, MD
<SI-GEO-SERC at si.edu>
Subject: Message from the Under Secretary: Update on Parking at the
Smithsonian

Dear Colleagues,

This is a reminder that effective Oct. 1, the parking program at the
National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History and
the National Museum of American History will be suspended due to the
upcoming renovation of NASM and construction at NMNH. This means that daily
and monthly paid parking, and post-3 p.m. daily/weekend parking (currently
available free to staff) will cease at these three locations. We anticipate
the existing staff parking program will be suspended for approximately five
to seven years. 

NASM parking will be completely closed to all vehicles other than those
related to construction. NMNH and NMAH parking lots will be used only for
official SI vehicles and business. Any access to these lots—including for
official SI vehicles—will require a special parking permit for
docents/volunteers/official guests.

Additionally, some parking will be provided at NMNH and NMAH for the
following purposes:

·         SEEC: Parents of SEEC children will continue to be able to
temporarily park for child drop-off and pickup.

·         Second and third shift staff: Some parking for Smithsonian
Facilities and Office of Protection Services second and third shift staff
will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis as available. More
details on this will be provided in the near future.

·         Accessible Parking: There will be a limited number of paid
accessible spaces. Accessible parking requests will go through the same
approval process as they currently do.

We strongly encourage everyone to develop alternative parking and/or
commuting plans as soon as possible. As a reminder, WageWorks enrollment,
changes, and cancellation must be entered online via the WageWorks​ website
or by calling 877-924-3967 by the 10th of the month two months prior (one
month prior for SE employees only) to the benefit month by employees. This
means staff must make changes in WageWorks by July 10 to be effective Oct.
1. 

We have investigated arrangements with other parking garages around the
National Mall, and Smithsonian Enterprises has negotiated parking discounts
for both daily and monthly options.  Daily parkers will receive a 10%
discount from any participating ParkWhiz garage nationwide. Monthly parkers
will have a choice of several local garages with reduced market rates. For
more details, please visit the Smithsonian’s ParkWhiz page.

We will continue to share more information as it becomes available in the
coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Al Horvath 

Under Secretary for Finance and Administration/Chief Operating Officer

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