More Info on Upcoming Barney Circle-SE Boulevard, Penn-Potomac Projects

December 3, 2012

Two weeks ago, the District Department of Transportation announced that environmental planning studies are underway for the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard and the Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue intersection projects. The studies will help DDOT determine how best to design these two projects to increase pedestrian safety and traffic connectivity.

A number of residents have asked me for additional information about these two projects. Unfortunately, DDOT’s Anacostia Waterfront Initiative website does not include proposed plans nor drawings. The best renderings I’ve been able to find are included in DDOT’s 200+ page  2005 Middle Anacostia River Crossings Transportation Study (MAC Study). I’ve pulled out the sections of the study that relate to each project and posted them below with a few thoughts:

  • Barney Circle Project – DDOT recommends Option BC-2 in the MAC Study, which would make Barney Circle a true traffic circle with a connection to the new Southeast Boulevard. Traffic traveling on Pennsylvania Avenue in both directions would have to travel around the circle. 17th Street SE and Kentucky Avenue SE would connect to the circle, though Kentucky Avenue would remain one-way going north. One controversial aspect of the this plan is connecting the new circle to the proposed “Park Drive” – a road that would extend the existing RFK service road to Independence Avenue SE. As I mentioned in a previous post, this road is a really bad idea, particularly since it would divide Reservation 13 from the waterfront. MAC Study Barney Circle Project (pdf).
  • Southeast Boulevard – DDOT is in the early stages of construction on the new Southeast Boulevard, a four-lane divided stretch of road that will connect the new Barney Circle with the new 11th Street Bridge freeway access. While the MAC study proposes a number of options, including the construction of a raised deck, DDOT has decided to raise the grade of the sunken freeway between 11th Street SE and Barney Circle and convert it to the boulevard. It is unclear if 13th, 14th and 15th Streets SE will connect to the boulevard or if the boulevard will only connect 11th Street SE and Barney Circle. MAC Study Southeast Boulevard (pdf).
  • Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue Intersection – DDOT proposes to make the Potomac Avenue-Pennsylvania Avenue SE intersection a traffic oval. Pennsylvania Avenue traffic would proceed around the oval and new cross walk locations and a median crossing area would enhance pedestrian safety. While the MAC study envisions two “decorative crosswalks” that would cross the middle of the circle, making it easier for pedestrians to access the metro plaza and Jenkins Row, DDOT removed the proposed east-west cross walk in plans presented to ANC 6B in 2009. MAC Study Potomac-Penn Intersection (pdf).      

DDOT plans to hold a public meeting to discuss the Barney Circle and Potomac-Penn projects in early 2013. ANC 6B will also have an opportunity to weigh in on DDOT’s recommendations. I’ll post new information as it is released.

Leave a Comment » | Barney Circle, Penn East, Potomac Avenue Metro, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Monday Quick Takes: Barney Circle, Potomac-Penn, Zoning Update, Hill East Task Force, Leaf Collection

November 19, 2012
  • This weekend, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that environmental planning studies are underway for the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard and the Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue intersection projects. The studies will help DDOT determine how best to design these two projects to increase pedestrian safety and traffic connectivity. The Barney Circle project envisions the creation of a full traffic circle that would connect to the new Southeast Boulevard south of Pennsylvania Avenue. And DDOT is studying a number of alternatives to improve pedestrian safety around the Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue intersection, the current location of the Potomac Avenue Metro plaza. DDOT’s press release  states that the agency will hold a public meeting to discuss the environmental analysis in the first quarter of 2013. I’ll post the meeting date as soon as it is announced. 
  • DDOT wasn’t the only agency with news this weekend. The DC Office of Planning announced that the agency is holding community meetings in each Ward to discuss draft proposed changes to the District’s zoning ordinance. The Ward 6 Zoning Update Community Meeting will be on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, 1100 4th Street SW, Second Floor (same building as Safeway). During the meeting, attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback. ANCs across the city, including ANC 6B, will also have an opportunity to formally weigh in on the proposed changes over the coming months.
  • ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force will hear an update on the Request for Expressions of Interest for parcels F1 and G1 at Reservation 13 on Monday, November 26, 7 pm – 8:30 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Avenue SE). The task force will also discuss topics for future meetings. Please plan to join us and bring your questions!
  • A reminder that the Department of Public Works’ (DPW) will be collecting leaves in our area starting today and ending on Friday, Dec. 1. Please be sure to rake leaves into the treebox or easement in front of your home. DPW will also collect leaves in our area between Dec. 17 and Dec. 29.

Leave a Comment » | ANC 6B, Barney Circle, Development, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Barney Circle Access Road Closing Permanently

September 17, 2012

The Authorized Vehicle Only access road at Barney Circle was still “open” on Sunday, Sept. 16.

Last week, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that the Authorized Vehicle Only access road at Barney Circle will be permanently closed as the completion phase of the 11th Street Bridge Project begins.

As early as today, DDOT will barricade the entrance to the road to begin the process of converting the eastern end of the Southeast/Southwest Freeway to an at-grade boulevard (aka the “Southeast Boulevard”) that will connect to neighborhood streets and provide access to the freeway at 11th Street SE. According to DDOT, the project will take 18-20 months.

The closure of the Barney Circle access road will certainly change traffic patterns in Hill East. Hundreds of commuters, including many locals, illegally take the left turn at 17th Street SE and Barney Circle daily for easy access to the Southeast/Southwest Freeway. Neighborhood residents will now have to use I Street SE to access the freeway at 3rd Street SE until DDOT opens the westbound entrance to the freeway at 11th Street SE (around Thanksgiving). Commuters will hopefully stay on I-295 and access the SE/SW Freeway using the new 11th Street Bridge.

Once the Southeast Boulevard is completed, DDOT is scheduled to construct a full traffic circle at Barney Circle. I hope to have DDOT representatives out to the neighborhood soon to discuss the Barney Circle project. You can read more about the 11th Street Bridge/Southeast Boulevard Project on the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative website and at the JDLand blog.

Leave a Comment » | 17th Street SE, Barney Circle, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Updated Plans, Next Steps for Old KFC Site

September 2, 2011

On Wednesday evening, Paul Millstein of Douglas Development shared updated plans for their proposed mixed use, retail/residential  development at the old KFC site, 1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE:

As proposed, the development will have 21 apartments, about 2,600 sq. ft. of retail on the ground floor and seven parking spaces. Douglas is asking ANC 6B and the Board of Zoning Adjustment to support a variance on the parking requirement (a minimum 11 spaces are required) and for a special exception related to a roof requirement.

Two primary issues were raised at Wednesday’s meeting:

1) Access to Parking – Millstein said that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) may oppose the project due to the use of the existing curb cut as the parking entry off 15th Street SE. DDOT prefers that parking be accessed through the alley behind the building. That is also my preference, particularly since it would mean only one curb cut for the alley and more space for landscaping. Millstein said Douglas is open to re-drawing the plans and that an alley entrance could (and I emphasize could) lead to an additional two parking spots, for a total of nine.

2) Memorandum of Understanding – Millstein said that Douglas Development is willing to update its memorandum of understanding with neighboring residents. The original MOU, negotiated two years ago when Douglas sought approval to build a two-story retail/office building at the site, limited the types of retail that could lease the space. The updated MOU would add language that states that 1) Douglas Development will inform tenants that they would be ineligible for residential parking permits and 2) construction vehicles can not park in the alley during construction.

Please post your thoughts on the proposed plan, the parking entrance, the MOU, below. I also encourage you to attend the following ANC 6B meetings where the proposed development will be discussed and considered:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 6 – ANC 6B Planning & Zoning Committee, 7:00 pm, St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Ave SE) – the P&Z committee will hear the case and make recommendations to the full ANC.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 13 – ANC 6B Full Commission Meeting, 7:00 pm, St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Ave. SE) – the full commission will hear the case and vote on a recommendation.

2 Comments | Barney Circle, Development, Penn East | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

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