1. I would like to park in the Forrestal garage. How do I apply for parking?
First you've got to see if you qualify for parking, then you must file a parking request. See "Applying for a Parking Permit" for additional information.

2. What is "Unusual Hours" parking, and does an Alternate Work Schedule qualify?
Unusual Hours (UH) parking is reserved for DOE employees who are required to work beyond their normal scheduled work hours. An Alternate Work Schedule (AWS) by itself does not qualify as Unusual Hours. (For additional information, refer to Unusual Hours Qualifications on the Applying for a Parking Permit page.) 

3. I am a contractor. I have been told that contractors cannot park in the garage, yet I see other contractors that do park there. Can you clear up these guidelines as they pertain to contractors?
Contractor personnel working in the Forrestal complex may not park in the garage but may be members of car/van pools that park here. With a car/van pool, there must be a minimum of two DOE persons who use the same vehicle for transportation to and from work who ride together daily. Two of the regular car/van pool members must be DOE employees, one of whom is the car/van pool principal; the individuals must work in the facility for which they seek or have been authorized parking privileges. If one member of a two-member car/van pool is a contractor, the Federal employee must be the primary permit holder.  Contractors assigned to the Forrestal or L'Enfant Plaza facility are not allowed to park in the garage. Contractors assigned outside of the Forrestal Building are considered Visitors and can make a reservation for parking. For more information, refer to Visitor Parking on the Parking page.

4. How do I arrange for visitor parking?
Call (202) 586-4271 a day in advance to make reservations. For more information see the Parking page. Please note, due to the limited amount of available visitor parking spaces, reservations are made on a first come first serve basis.

5. Are there spaces reserved for handicapped visitors?
No, but all the visitor lanes are right next to an entrance to the Forrestal building. The Parking Management Office will try to accommodate any handicapped visitors. This includes over booking the visitors lanes so any handicapped visitor can have easy access to the Forrestal building.

6. Is there a waiting list for parking permits?
There is no waiting list for new parking permit applications. There are over 800 parking spaces in the Forrestal parking facility. Even during the busiest days, the garage has more than enough spaces for 1-day, temporary permits and monthly permit holders.

7. How can I receive a reserved parking space?
The Parking Management Office does not assign reserved parking spaces. The Deputy Secretary's staff assigns reserved parking spaces. The Parking Management Office only manages these spaces.

8. Do I need a permit to park on the weekend?
No. The parking garage is open after 5:00 P.M. on weekdays and all day on weekends to DOE employees with a valid DOE badge. Just show your badge to the guard at the garage entrance. Non-DOE employees must sign in before entering the building.

9. When do monthly permits go on sale?
Permits go on sale four working days before and three working days after the first of the month. The pervious month's parking permit is valid until the fourth working day of the month. On the fifth day, the old permit must be removed before entering the garage, and you are required to buy a permit on that day.

10. I just got a parking violation, what can I do?
There is no monetary penalty for a parking violation, but violations can result in the suspension of parking privileges. It recommended that all violations be appealed. (Refer to Suspension, Violation and Appeals on the Applying for a Parking Permit page.)  If you received a ticket from the Federal Protective Services, those tickets are appealed through the Federal Court and not by the Parking Committee.

11. What do I do about lost or stolen permits?
When a valid parking permit is suspected to be lost or stolen, the permit holder must report the circumstances to the Parking Management Office. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in suspension or termination of parking privileges. You should also be aware that duplicate permits are available in the garage. They are to be purchased only if a permit has been lost or stolen. You can purchase the duplicate, once the circumstance has been reported to the Parking Management Office. It is a violation to split a permit which means, if you find the lost permit, no one is allowed to drive in on that permit or the duplicate, except the permit holder.

12. What if we have an accident in the garage?
If a driver accidentally strikes another vehicle in the parking facility, the driver must stop and check for any damages to either vehicle. If the other vehicle is damaged, the driver must notify the owner/driver immediately. The driver must also provide pertinent information about the accident to the security office and the parking attendant on duty. The parking attendant notifies the Federal Protective Service and Headquarters Security Office. In the event the parking office is closed at the time of the accident, or the discovery of the accident, these notifications should be accomplished at the first opportunity when the parking office is open for business. Files to claim damages caused by the contractor parking attendant employee should be filed with that contractor. The requisite forms may be obtained from the parking attendant.

14. What do I do about my car being parked in the garage while I am on travel?
Many permit holders are required to travel around the country on official business. As a courtesy to our customers, the Forrestal garage is available for permit holders to park their car for the duration of their trip. The following are guidelines that you should take if you wish to leave your car in the Forrestal garage.

• The car must be parked against the wall.
• Have your valid monthly permit displayed in the parked car for the duration of your trip.
• Notify the parking attendants of your desire to leave the vehicle in the garage.
• Notify the attendants of the lane the car is parked in to avoid any confusion.
• Make sure your vehicle is locked. Do not leave your keys with anyone. The parking attendants are not responsible for moving your car.

15. What if my car becomes disabled in the garage?
First of all, notify the parking attendants (before 6:00 P.M.) or the security guard (after 6:00 P.M.) at 202-586-6900. They are not there to help with repairs to your car, but they can help insure that no one is blocked by your disabled car.

Call a tow truck or your towing company (e.g., AAA).  Please inform the tow truck that there is a 6'9" height clearance in the garage.

Notify the garage attendants or after 6:00 P.M. the security guards about the tow truck. Inform them of the name of the towing company and their time of arrival.

Please note, the parking attendants do not have the equipment to "fix" your car. The attendants cannot open locked cars, they do not have jumper cables, spare tires, etc.