Brian Flahaven

Residents discuss traffic calming strategies for 17th Street SE at the July 30 charrette meeting.

Last night, about 30-40 residents joined representatives from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the consulting firm McKissack & McKissack for the first of two public charrette meetings on the 17th & 19th Streets Safety Improvement Project. Organizers divided attendees into six groups, each assigned to a different portion of the 17th and 19th Street corridors:

17th Street

• Benning Road NE to C Street NE
• C Street NE to East Capitol Street NE
• East Capitol Street SE to Barney Circle SE

19th Street

• Benning Road NE to C Street NE
• C Street NE to East Capitol Street NE
• East Capitol Street SE to Potomac Avenue SE

Each group gathered around a map of their portion of the corridor and used cut-outs and markers to suggest improvements. For example, you could place a cut-out of a stop sign on an intersection in need of a signal.

Since my district, ANC 6B09, contains a significant portion of the 17th Street SE corridor, I joined the 17th Street SE group, the largest of the six groups. After some initial discussion, the group prioritized the following issues for the 17th Street SE corridor:

• Speed
• Pedestrian safety/bike safety
• Large trucks
• Air quality
• Noise
• Litter

Here were the group’s recommendations:

• After a lengthy discussion about whether 17th Street SE should be one way or two-way, the group coalesced around keeping the corridor one way but reducing it to one lane, adding a bike lane and preserving both sides of on street parking. This change would essentially make 17th Street SE look like 15th Street SE and would certainly slow traffic down and make 17th Street a less attractive route for commuters. In the short-term, such a change would probably reduce air quality, though traffic volume over the long-term would likely decrease.
• The idea of converting 17th Street SE from one-way to two-way received mixed reviews from the group. Proponents felt that two-way traffic would reduce speeds and volume along the corridor and could be accomplished while maintaining the existing level of on-street parking. Opponents of two-way conversion voiced concerns about pedestrian safety (looking both ways instead of one way) and about increasing northbound truck traffic. Trucks currently access 17th Street SE at Barney Circle but are forced to turn right at Potomac Avenue SE.
• Short-term recommendations included adding a stop sign at 17th and D Street SE, adding pedestrian markings and crossings at 17th & C Street SE and 17th & G Street SE and re-timing the stop lights to slow traffic down.  The group also liked the idea of adding “bulbouts” at 17th and Massachusetts Ave. SE, 17th and E Street SE and 17th and Potomac Avenue SE.
• Speed cameras for the corridor were recommended by the group. ANC 6B has requested that MPD place a speed camera somewhere along the 17th Street SE corridor. Group members suggested 17th and Mass Ave., 17th and Potomac Ave. and 17th and Barney Circle as potential camera locations.
• The group recommended truck restrictions based on weight for the entire corridor. With the 11th Street bridge project now complete, we asked DDOT representatives if they could put a temporary sign on I-295 encouraging truck traffic to use the bridge instead of exiting on East Capitol Street.
• To tackle noise, the group suggested removing the ineffective rumble strips on 17th Street SE and re-paving the entire stretch of road. Attendees also wanted to restrict tour/commuter bus traffic on 17th Street SE.
• The 19th Street SE group suggested two-way conversion from East Capitol to Potomac Ave. and pedestrian crossings at 19th & Burke and 19th & C Streets SE.

A big thanks to everyone who was able to attend the meeting. And a special thanks to Hill East residents Denise and Liz for taking notes and facilitating the conversation.

Please share any comments and feedback below. If you missed Monday’s meeting, I hope to see you tonight (July 31), 6 pm – 8 pm at Pilgrim AME Church, 612 17th Street NE!