WABA Alert: K Street Transitway and 18th Street Follow-Up

Thanks to those of you that attended the K Street Transitway and 18th Street Streetscape meetings this week.  The comment period for both projects is still open and WABA urges you read our meeting summaries below as well as our recommendations and to submit your own comments.

K Street Transitway

Of the two build options for the K Street Transitway, which would feature dedicated busways from 9th Street NW to Washington Circle, only option three included any facilities for cyclists.  The bike lanes proposed in this option would run against the curb for the length of the project.  However, given the large number of deliveries made on K Street, WABA feels that a standard bike lane would turn into a parking lane for delivery vehicles.  Instead, WABA is recommending a buffered bike lane or cycle track for the K Street Transitway.  This option would protect the bike lane with a curb to prevent vehicles from parking in the lane and would be a more attractive facility for less experienced cyclists.

Two Way Cycle Track Photo

One Way Cycle Track Photo

WABA is also asking for:

1)    Painted bike lanes at intersection crossings and on segments of K Street where a formal cycle track is not a option.

2)    Ample bike parking to replace the loss of parking meters.

3)    A separate signal system for bikes in the cycle track.

WABA urges you to send your comments on the project to [email protected].

18th Street Streetscape

Currently, the plans for the reconstruction of 18th Street NW from Florida Ave to Columbia Road at at the 90% design phase and the District Department of Transportation is still seeking comments on the plans.  Overall, the project will be a great improvement for pedestrian safety and bicycle travel with wider sidewalks, shared lanes for bikes and cars, and ample bike parking.  While the shared lane configuration is less than ideal, WABA fought long and hard to some sort of accommodations for cyclists in the project.  The website for the project can be found here.

WABA's recommendations:

1)    Support shared lanes with sharrows on 18th

2)    Support wider sidewalks

3)    Widen travel lanes at north end of 18th Street to 14 feet

4)    Provide ample bike parking throughout project area

5)    Test weekend evening closures of 18th Street

6)    Shared lane markings should be included in the redesign of the 18th and Florida intersection

7)    Install bike boxes at 18th and Columbia

The comment period is still open and we urge you to write in to support better bike and pedestrian access in Adams Morgan.

Comments can be submitted here.

Photo by Eric Gilliland

Comments

[Robert]

"Of the two build options for the K Street Transitway, which would feature dedicated busways from 9th Street NW to Washington Circle, only option three..."

Option three of two options? How many options are there exactly?

[Washcycle]

There are three options. Two build options and one "no build" option. That's confusing if you don't know the lingo.

[Allen Muchnick]

I'm disappointed that WABA is recommending cycle tracks (i.e., sidepaths) on K St.

Unlike the photos posted here, K Street has frequent cross streets and garage entrances. The safest bicycle facility would be ordinary (narrow) curb lanes shared with motor vehicles. Paint sharrows in the center of such curb lanes to encourage traffic-averse bicyclists if you must. That's far better than building poorly designed and unsanctioned cycle tracks which would be death traps for bicyclists and unnecessarily delay both bicyclists and motorists.

[Jason]

The "no build" option is the best option.