Brian Flahaven

The new portable speed camera will be identical to this model used by MPD crews this afternoon to mark the camera’s future location.

After a long wait, a speed camera is finally coming to the “17th Street Speedway!”

This afternoon, I met with Lisa Sutter from MPD’s Traffic Safety Automated Enforcement Unit and her crew as they marked the future location of a portable speed camera on 17th Street SE. The camera will be located on the west side of the 300 block of 17th Street SE and will measure speed as vehicles approach the intersection of 17th and D Streets SE.

For years, Hill East residents have complained about vehicles speeding down 17th Street SE. Last November, ANC 6B sent MPD a request to install a speed camera along the corridor, but installation was delayed as MPD worked out the details of contract to secure new photo enforcement technology and waited for DC Council approval. Earlier this month, the DC Council approved the contract.

A few more details about the speed camera:

• MPD hopes to have the the camera installed and in operation by November 1.
• The speed limit is 25 mph along 17th Street SE, so motorists will be ticketed if they exceed 35 mph.
• The camera box will look exactly like the box located at 19th Street SE and Burke Street SE.
• For the first thirty days it is in operation, speeding motorists will receive warnings. In addition, photo enforcement signs will be added to the speed limit signs posted prior to the camera.
• MPD does plan to periodically rotate the location of the portable speed camera.

The announcement of a speed camera comes on the heels of DDOT’s announcement that they plan to narrow the corridor to one lane, introduce a dedicated bike lane and install curb extensions at intersections along 17th  between East Capitol Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE. Since DDOT’s recommendations will not be implemented until 2014, the speed camera should help slow traffic  down on 17th Street SE over the next two years.

Thanks to MPD for their decision to place a camera on this dangerous street, my ANC 6B colleagues for unanimously supporting the request and, most importantly, the many residents along 17th who have fought for years to improve safety along the corridor.

Residents review final recommendations at the Sept. 26 DDOT 17th & 19th Street Safety Improvement Project meeting.

Last night, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) held a public meeting to share their final recommendations for the 17th & 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project.

Overall, I’m pleased with the recommendations…particularly for 17th Street SE. DDOT and their consultants, McKissack & McKissack, listened to the concerns and recommendations residents offered at the July public charrette meetings.

Here are the major recommendations for 17th & 19th Streets SE:

17th Street SE (East Capitol Street to Potomac Avenue SE)

• Street remains one-way but narrows from two lanes of traffic to one lane of traffic, with the exception of two lanes between E Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE.
• Addition of a dedicated bike lane to 17th Street SE on the west side of the street along the corridor.
• Curb extensions or bulb-outs on the west side of the street at each intersection along the entire corridor. East side maintains stadium event parking restrictions.
• Street parking is maintained on both sides of the street. On street parking between E Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE will move to the western side of the street.
• Commitment to consider putting a four-way stop at 17th & D Streets SE if determined necessary after changes are implemented.
• Installation of permanent electronic speed display signs and new speed limit signs at multiple points along the corridor (NE and SE).
• New painted crosswalks at each intersection.
• Entire corridor will be re-paved and current rumble strips (which just generate noise) will be removed.
• No truck and bus restrictions…but hopefully single lane and opening of new 11th Street bridge will make 17th Street a less attractive route for trucks.

19th Street SE (East Capitol Street to Potomac Avenue SE)

• Remains one way with addition of shared bike lane along the entire corridor going in the northbound direction.
• Rush hour parking restrictions removed.
• Consider stadium traffic flow and potential Hill East waterfront development when implementing changes.
• 1800 block of Potomac Avenue SE remains one way.

My Remaining Concerns

• The recommendations do not address the stretch of 17th Street SE between Potomac Avenue SE and Barney Circle SE. When I asked about this at the meeting, DDOT said they plan to review this stretch of 17th and will likely make recommendations similar to the rest of the corridor. I will certainly push for curb extensions and improved pedestrian crossings at the G Street SE and H Street SE intersections.
• A resident raised a concern about 17th going from one lane to two lanes between E Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE. She envisioned vehicles using the extra lane to speed around vehicles in front of them, creating a dangerous situation for pedestrians. DDOT said that they would review the intersection and will consider a raised crosswalk for this intersection.

Overall, the recommendations are good news. The only “bad news” is the implementation timeline. Once the affected ANCs, including ANC 6B, review the recommendations in October/November, the project will enter a lengthy design phase. DDOT estimates that actual implementation would take place in the spring of 2014. DDOT is also not inclined to implement the recommendations on a rolling or incremental basis, preferring to do the entire project at one time. While I certainly understand that DDOT needs time for design, I would prefer to see some of the recommendations implemented in the short-term. Hopefully, ANC 6B’s request for a speed camera on 17th Street SE will also help slow traffic down in the interim.

Commissioner Francis Campbell (6B10) and I plan to ask ANC 6B to put the 17th & 19th Street Safety Improvement Project recommendations on the Commission’s November 13th meeting agenda. If you have questions or concerns about the recommendations, please post them below, contact me directly or plan to attend the Nov. 13 meeting. Also, if you attended the meeting last night, feel free post any recommendation/comment that I missed.

Thanks to everyone who took time to attend the project meetings!

The District Department of Transportation will announce  recommended safety improvements for 17th and 19th Streets at a meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm at Friendship Charter School Blow Pierce Campus (700 19th Street NE). Recommendations will represent the consensus of feedback from the three 17th & 19th Street meetings held this summer. Read recaps of the public charrette meeting #1 and meeting #2.

Short, medium and long-term recommendations along with implementation timelines will be provided by DDOT and the consulting firm assigned to the project, McKissack & McKissack. Following the Sept. 26 meeting, affected ANCs, including ANC 6B, will be notified of the recommendations and project design will commence. I’m pleased that DDOT will be announcing a range of recommendations, including improvements that can be implemented quickly.

If you live on or near 17th and 19th Streets, please mark your calendars and plan to join us on Sept. 26.