ANC 6B November Meeting Recap

November 14, 2012

The District Department of Transportation’s 17th & 19th Street Safety Improvement Project recommendations were on the agenda of last night’s ANC 6B meeting at the Hill Center. Here is a brief meeting recap:

  • Michelle Pourciau of  McKissack & McKissack, DDOT’s consulting partners on the 17th & 19th Street Safety Improvement Project, provided a brief overview of the project’s recommendations and answered commission and audience questions. Ms. Pourciau confirmed that DDOT plans to extend the 17th Street SE recommendations to the 700 & 800 blocks of 17th Street SE and clarified that the goal is to have all of the recommendations implemented by spring/summer of 2014.
  • I asked Ms. Pourciau about the installing a raised crosswalk at the intersection of 17th Street SE and E Street SE, a major pedestrian crossing and the point where one lane of traffic will split into two lanes. She replied that DDOT did consider that option but determined that the raised cross walk would be too close to the traffic signal at 17th and Potomac Avenue SE to be effective. Ms. Pourciau did say that DDOT will look into other options for the intersection.
  • After the DDOT presentation, ANC 6B unanimously approved a resolution (pdf) in support of the project’s recommendations. The resolution also includes three requests for DDOT:
    • Include the 700 & 800 blocks of Kentucky Avenue SE when implementing the project’s 17th Street SE safety recommendations,
    • Examine ways to discourage drivers from using the turn lane as a passing lane at the intersection of 17th Street SE and E Street SE,
    • Install appropriate pedestrian crossings at the intersections of 19th and C Streets SE and 19th and Burke Streets SE where pedestrians cross to access the Stadium-Armory Metro plaza and St. Coletta of Greater Washington
  • The commission voted 9-0-1 to withdraw a protest of Ambar (523 8th Street SE – formerly Jordan’s 8) after the owners agreed to sign a voluntary agreement. The original basis for the protest was commissioner and resident concerns about the potential for noise coming from the establishment’s elevated outside patio. Ultimately, commissioners felt the new voluntary agreement, which outlines how the owners will work to reduce sound coming from the patio, was sufficient to address the concerns.
  • Given the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board’s unwillingness to enforce the commission’s stated position on banning the sale of two-packs and three-packs of beer, the commission voted 9-1 to rescind its position. Moving forward, ANC 6B plans to push for bans on the sale of two-packs and three-packs on a case-by-case basis.
  • On an 8-0-1 vote, the commission supported a resolution introduced by Commissioner Neil Glick (6B08) requesting that the intersection in front of the Embassy of Bulgaria (1621 22nd Street NW) be renamed in honor of Bulgarian hero Dimitar Peshev. ANC 2D, which represents the area where the intersection is located, has already voted in support of the resolution.
  • I announced that ANC 6B’s Hill East Task Force will meet on Monday, November 26, 7:00 pm at St. Coletta of Greater Washington (1901 Independence Avenue SE). Ketan Gada and Jose Sousa of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development’s (DMPED) office will provide an update on the Request for Expressions of Interest for Phase I of the Hill East Waterfront/Reservation 13 development.
  • The December ANC 6B meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 11, 7 pm at the Hill Center.

Thanks to everyone who attended meetings and weighed in on the 17th & 19th Street Safety Improvement Project. When implemented, the project’s recommendations will certainly improve safety along these two corridors.

1 Comment | 17th Street SE, 19th Street SE, ANC 6B, Reservation 13/Hill East Waterfront, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

*UPDATED* ANC 6B To Consider DDOT 17th & 19th Street Recommendations

November 12, 2012

DDOT plans to narrow 17th Street SE from two lanes to one lane between East Capitol Street and E Street SE.

In late September, the District Department of Transportation announced its final recommendations for the 17th and 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project. On Tuesday night (Nov. 13), ANC 6B will consider the recommendations during the commission’s November meeting, 7 pm, at the Hill Center (921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE).

Prior to taking action, the commission will hear a presentation from DDOT on the recommendations (read my detailed post on the specific recommendations). DDOT will also take commission and audience questions. If you plan on attending the meeting, please note that the DDOT presentation and commission action on the recommendations will take place after 8:00 pm.

While I plan to support the recommendations, I will push for the commission’s resolution to include:

  1. A request for full funding for the project so that implementation can begin in spring 2014,
  2. An extension of the 17th Street SE recommendations (curb extensions, etc.) to the 700 & 800 blocks of 17th Street SE (south of Potomac Ave SE), and
  3. Inclusion of a raised pedestrian crosswalk at 17th and E Streets SE, where 17th Street SE will transition from one lane to two lanes.

Please post your comments or questions below.

Updated 11/12/12: Here are links to the DDOT 17th & 19th Street Project Fact Sheet (pdf) and to a draft of the resolution (pdf) that ANC 6B will consider tomorrow night.

Leave a Comment » | 17th Street SE, 19th Street SE, ANC 6B, Transportation | Permalink
Posted by bflahaven

Speed Camera Coming to 17th Street SE

October 17, 2012

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.

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

17th & 19th Street Safety Improvement Project Recommendations

September 27, 2012

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!

14 Comments | 17th Street SE, 19th Street SE, Transportation | 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

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