Brian Flahaven

Meeting attendees discuss potential options for improving safety at the Penn-Potomac intersection.

On Jan. 31, the District Department of Transportation held the first of three scheduled public meetings on the Pennsylvania-Potomac Avenue Intersection Pedestrian Safety Study. The primary goal of the study and project is to enhance pedestrian safety at the intersection.   Around 100 attendees had an opportunity to view a presentation on the study and to  ask questions.

Here are the highlights:

• Sanjay Kumar of DDOT and Karl Kratzer of consulting firm CH2MHill led the meeting and presentation. DDOT has hired CH2MHill to conduct the Environmental Assessment (EA) and PRR, a public affairs firm, to handle the public relations aspects of the  project. Both CH2MHill and PRR will also be  involved in the Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard project.
• Since DDOT is seeking federal funds for the project, the agency must complete an EA. The purpose of the Jan. 31 public meeting, or “scoping meeting,” was to determine the purpose, need and scope of the project. Feedback from the scoping meeting will be used to develop alternatives that will be shared with the public during the next public meeting (spring 2013).
• After detailing existing problems with the intersection – multiple crosswalk locations that create pedestrian/driver confusion, no direct crosswalks across Penn Ave and the reality of pedestrians crossing PA at unstriped locations – Mr. Kratzer outlined the various concepts DDOT was considering for improving the intersection. The concepts ranged from minimal improvements (improvements to exiting crosswalks, changes to signal timing) to full redesign and reconfiguration of the intersection. The goal of the study is to determine which concept will best accomplish the goal of enhancing pedestrian safety.
• Mr. Kratzer acknowledged that the Penn-Potomac EA actually began in 2009 but was put on hold due to budget constraints. He said the previously developed 2009 concept of a traffic square is no longer a viable option due to lack of space for bus turns.
• Two new concepts were shared with the audience (see photos below). Concept 1 would create T-intersections at Penn and Potomac Ave and 14th and Penn Ave. If implemented, Concept 1 would keep the existing three lane configuration on Pennsylvania Avenue but would add a direct crosswalk from the Metro plaza to the southern side of Penn Ave. The portion of Potomac Ave immediately in front of the  Metro entrance would be eliminated under this concept, with the potential for additional public space to be added on both the north and south sides of Penn Ave.
• Concept 2 would introduce a traffic oval to the existing intersection. Traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue proceed around the oval to continue traveling westbound or eastbound. In addition, traffic would enter the oval at various points, with signals at each end of the oval. A new, long crosswalk would bisect the traffic circle, allowing pedestrians to cross directly from the Metro plaza to the south side of Penn Ave.
• DDOT and CH2MHill noted that these two concepts were meant to begin the conversation with the community and that they expected changes to both concepts as they received community feedback.
• During Q&A,  residents voiced concern that Concept 2 would actually bring traffic closer to the residential areas near the Metro plaza. Other residents mentioned the need to consider bike traffic, the potential impact of any new configuration on side streets, improvements to the Metro “Kiss & Ride” area at 14th & G Streets SE and the need to think holistically about how this project interacts with other DDOT projects both on the west and east side of the river. Mr. Kratzer acknowledged all of these concerns and encouraged residents to submit their feedback on comment forms.
• If you missed the meeting, you can e-mail comments and feedback to pennpotomac@prrbiz.com. You can also join the project e-mail list by e-mailing ddot.awi@dc.gov or calling 202-741-8528.
• There certainly needs to be significant coordination between both the Penn-Potomac and Barney Circle-SE Boulevard projects. I am pleased that the same team will be working on both projects. The Barney Circle-Southeast Boulevard project scoping meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 21, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Payne Elementary School (1445 C Street SE). 

Existing conditions at the intersection. You can see the worn pedestrian path in the PA Ave median.

“Traffic square” concept previously shared in 2009. This concept is no longer on the table.

Concept 1 would create T-intersections at Penn and Potomac Aves. and 14th St. SE

Concept 2 would create a traffic oval at the Penn-Potomac intersection.

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.