WASHINGTON – At the request of the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board is considering a proposal to realign the entrance ramp from Constitution Avenue to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. The National Park Service, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and others have indicated their support. Following is a statement from the U.S. Institute of Peace regarding that proposal:

“In the near future, the United States Institute of Peace anticipates increased visitors entering through the Constitution Avenue entrance, as many as 500,000 or more visitors a year.  Re-aligning a portion of the entrance ramp adjacent to the USIP headquarters building, will:

• reclaim and enhance green space that is currently underutilized or simply unused;
• further the plan to create a direct pedestrian/bicycle path from the National Mall to the Kennedy Center;
• partially return Constitution Avenue to its original configuration;
• not increase traffic congestion during or after construction;
• provide for safer and more convenient access to USIP’s public entrance;
• diminish noise and vibration and provide other safety and security improvements.”

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The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan conflict management center created by Congress to prevent and mitigate international conflict through nonviolent means. USIP works to save lives, increase the government’s ability to deal with conflicts before they escalate, reduce government costs, and enhance national security. USIP is headquartered in Washington, DC. To learn more, visit www.usip.org.