The Council of the District of Columbia

The Office of Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, Ward 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 15, 2012

Director of Communications: Kiara Pesante

o: 202-724-8089 c: 202-701-9439

Councilmember Cheh Secures Millions in Funding for Ward 3 Advancements in FY 2013 Budget

Will allow new school, community modernization projects to proceed in the next year

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the unanimous passage of the District of Columbia’s fiscal year 2013, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh has secured millions of dollars in new funding for various improvement and revitalization projects throughout Ward 3, which encompasses Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, Forest Hills, Van Ness, Tenleytown, Spring Valley, American University Park, Friendship Heights, McLean Gardens, Foxhall, and the Palisades.

Among the key investments are:

· $5 million for a new recreation center at Friendship (Turtle) Park;

· An accelerated $9 million expansion of Alice Deal Middle School to accommodate surging enrollment, two years earlier than planned;

· $9.3 million and $10.1 million for the modernization of Hearst and Mann Elementary Schools, respectively, allowing construction to begin in fiscal year 2013;

· Funds to modernize the Key Elementary School playground;

· Secured $2.3 million for the Cleveland Park Library and $3 million for the Palisades Library;

· Funding to improve the Macomb and Palisades playgrounds;

· $250,000 for the repair and revitalization of the Forest Hills Tennis Courts;

· $6.1 million for upcoming renovations at Eaton Elementary School;

· $16.1 million for the future modernization of Murch Elementary School;

· Funds to improve streets, sidewalks, curbs, and alleys in Ward 3.

Other city-wide projects receiving funding due to Councilmember Cheh’s leadership include:

· Shortened parking ticket appeals processing by increasing the capacity of the Traffic Adjudication Appeals Board by 50 percent;

· $260 million for expanding the Streetcar system across the District;

· A plan to expand the Circulator for the FY14 budget;

· Support for the operations of the Lead and Healthy Homes program, despite federal cuts;

· The acceleration of cleanup efforts along the lower Anacostia River;

· The establishment of environmentally cleaner, compressed natural gas fueling station options for District government vehicles;

· A program to ultimately replace all District streetlights with energy-efficient LED lights;

· The establishment of a Trail Ranger Program to promote, maintain, and support the hiking and bicycle trails in the District;

· Restored funding to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Enhancement Fund; and

· The creation of the Fort Circle Trail, linking the historic Civil War forts that surround the District.

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