The District Council voted today to support a proposal by Councilmember Tommy Wells to protect the Capital Hill Historic District by restricting commercial tour buses from driving through, idling, or parking on residential streets.  Buses will be prohibited in the entire historic district except for the major arteriole roads: Pennsylvania Avenue, Maryland Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue, and Independence Avenue.  The restriction does not include public or commuter buses.

Starting June 9, 2007, the US Capitol Police banned all commercial tour buses from several streets surrounding the Capitol Grounds Complex.  This resulted in commercial tour buses inappropriately travelling through adjacent Capitol Hill neighborhoods.  Since that time, residents have noted idling and parked buses in small neighborhood streets.  

Councilmember Wells stated, “We whole-heartedly welcome visitorsto the city and to Capitol Hill.  However, we must balance the well-being of our guests and our residents.  This means carefully managing the movement of tour buses and protecting our residential streets.”

Dick Wolf, President of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society (CHRS) said, “For many years CHRS has tried to work with Federal and local authorities to control the influx of tour buses into the neighborhoods of Capitol Hill without effect.  These buses have become perpetual nuisances by parking in neighborhoods and "no parking" zones; often with their engines running for hours.  By their size and numbers they have posed a danger to pedestrians, polluted neighborhoods, and taken up essential curb spaces in business districts.”
 
Wells added, “The use of residential streets for idling, parking and loading and unloading passengers is having a significant impact on the people living in Capitol Hill neighborhoods.  To preserve and protect the residential quality of these neighborhoods, a restriction of commercial tour buses from the Capitol Hill Historic District was necessary.”