[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 510 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 510

 To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to develop and implement a 
    plan to improve the Capitol grounds through the elimination and 
              modification of space allocated for parking.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 20, 1997

 Mr. Moynihan introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
         referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the Architect of the Capitol to develop and implement a 
    plan to improve the Capitol grounds through the elimination and 
              modification of space allocated for parking.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Arc of Park Capitol Grounds 
Improvement Act of 1997''.

SEC. 2. CAPITOL GROUNDS IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Architect of the Capitol shall develop and begin 
implementation of a comprehensive plan (referred to as the 
``comprehensive plan'') for the improvement of the grounds of the 
United States Capitol as described in section 193a of title 40, United 
States Code.
    (b) Arc of Park.--The comprehensive plan shall--
            (1) be consistent with the 1981 Report on the ``Master Plan 
        for the Future Development of the Capitol Grounds and Related 
        Areas'' prepared in accordance with Public Law 94-59 (July 25, 
        1975); and
            (2) result in an ``arc of park'' sweeping from Second 
        Street, Northeast to the Capitol Reflecting Pool to First 
        Street, Southeast, with the Capitol Building as its approximate 
        center.
    (c) Details.--The comprehensive plan shall provide for, at a 
minimum--
            (1) elimination of all current surface parking areas, 
        excepting those areas which provide on-street parallel parking 
        spaces;
            (2) replacement of off-street surface parking areas with 
        public parks landscaped in a fashion appropriate to the United 
        States Capitol grounds;
            (3) reconstruction of Delaware Avenue, Northeast, between 
        Columbus Circle and Constitution Avenue as a thoroughfare 
        available principally to pedestrians as contemplated by the 
        Master Plan;
            (4) elimination of all but parallel parking on Pennsylvania 
        Avenue, between First and Third Streets, Northwest;
            (5) to the greatest extent practical, continuation of the 
        Pennsylvania Avenue tree line onto United States Capitol 
        Grounds and implementation of other appropriate landscaping 
        measures necessary to conform Pennsylvania Avenue between First 
        and Third Streets, Northwest, to the aesthetic guidelines 
        adopted by the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation;
            (6) closure of Maryland Avenue to through traffic between 
        First and Third Streets, Southwest, consistent with appropriate 
        access to and visitor parking for the United States Botanic 
        Garden; and
            (7) construction of additional underground parking 
        facilities, as needed, with--
                    (A) the cost of construction and operation of such 
                parking facilities defrayed to the greatest extent 
                practical by charging appropriate usage fees, including 
                time-of-day fees; and
                    (B) the parking facilities being made available to 
                the general public, with priority given to employees of 
                the Congress.

SEC. 3. APPLICABLE LOCAL LAW.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the construction and 
operation of any improvements under this Act shall not be subject to--
            (1) any law of the District of Columbia or any State or 
        locality relating to taxes on sales, real estate, personal 
        property, special assessments, uses, or any other interest or 
        transaction (including Federal law); or
            (2) any law of the District of Columbia relating to use, 
        occupancy, or construction, including building costs, permits, 
        or inspection requirements (including Federal law).
    (b) Limitation.--The Architect of the Capitol shall comply with 
appropriate recognized national life safety and building codes in 
undertaking such construction and operation.

SEC. 4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL.

    The Architect of the Capitol--
            (1) shall be responsible for the structural, mechanical, 
        and custodial care and maintenance of the facilities 
        constructed under this Act and may discharge such 
        responsibilities directly or by contract; and
            (2) may permit the extension of steam and chilled water 
        from the Capitol Power Plant on a reimbursable basis to any 
        facilities or improvements constructed under this Act as a cost 
        of such improvements.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
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