Pedestrian ban to FedEx lifted

[RedskinsFreak]

No link yet, since it just moved on the wire (I'm at work). Ban will still be IN EFFECT for Packers game.

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UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) – Washington Redskins fans will be able to walk to FedEx Field.

A Prince George's County appeals board voted 2-1 Wednesday night to overturn a pedestrian ban that kept certain roads off-limits on game days.

Citing public safety, Dale G. Coppage, acting county director of public works and transportation, ruled in June that pedestrians would be barred on Redskins Road and several public roads traversing the stadium grounds on event days.

But appeals board chairman Raymond Krasnick said the county had no legal authority to close the roads.

"We couldn't find a legal precedent for it," Krasnick said. "Certainly safety was a factor, but we needed to find that the county had the legal authority to do it."

Peggy Feltman, the Redskins fan who brought the case, said she was relieved and happy.

"I will be walking down Redskins Road leading the crowd at the first game," Feltman said.

That will be Nov. 14, when the Redskins play Cincinnati. The walking ban will still be in effect for Sunday's game against Green Bay because the county does not have time to rework its security plans before then.

County Executive Jack B. Johnson applauded the decision and said the county will develop a new security plan.

"We agree that people should be able to walk, and we're not going to appeal," Johnson said. "I think this is going to make everyone happy."

Johnson said he notified the Redskins of his intentions and that they will work with the county.

One woman died in 1997 after a Rolling Stones concert, and another died in 2002 after an NFL game. Both were trying to get back to their cars at nearby Landover Mall, where a number of people had been parking for free since FedEx Field opened. Other businesses tow unauthorized vehicles from their property to discourage parking.

Fans have asked for an elevated walkway across a six-lane highway near the stadium to improve safety.

Some say the controversy came down to protecting parking revenue for the Redskins, which amounts to $145,000 per game from leased spaces in several private parking lots in the stadium area.

There are about 25,000 parking spaces on FedEx Field grounds for Redskins season ticket holders, but the team also charges $25 to use one of about 6,000 leased spaces on game days. The spaces are some distance away, and fans are required to take shuttle buses to the stadium.

Those who opt to take Metro trains pay $5 roundtrip to ride shuttle buses from the nearest stations, with all of that money going to the team.