January 2010 DC BAC Meeting Notes

Legislative Committee report - there is no change in status on the Contributory to Comparative Negligence law.

The committee is working on a draft version of the Complete Streets legislation for review by the BAC. Tommy Wells is interested in pushing the bill, and Jim Graham is likely to support it.

They have a Bikes in Building law draft ready to go. It largely mimics New York City's law. DC parking is reviewing the draft. It may be better to amend the zoning code than to pass new legislation.

The Bicycle Commuter and Parking Expansion Act of 2007 called for the Mayor to

report on bike parking at District-owned buildings such as government office buildings, recreation centers, public schools and libraries. The report will include information on: 1) the number of existing bicycle and car spaces currently provided at all District buildings; 2) a strategic plan to bring the ratio of bike to car parking up to at least 10% and to provide additional bicycle parking above the minimum at those buildings where demand is higher; 3) an evaluation of bicycle travel lanes leading riders to and from District facilities and parks; 4) a detailed report on the bicycle parking plan for the new baseball park in Southeast DC.

That report was to be done within 90 days, but it was just finished last month. WABA was, I think, paid to do the report (maybe after asking about it for the 100th time?). The legislative committee was also concerned about another part of the law that requires residential buildings to add bike parking (1 for every 10 auto spaces - double the current zoning requirement set in the 80s) and the fact that it isn't being enforced. There is ongoing discussions between DDOT and DCOZ as to who should enforce this law. 

Finally, they're working on a letter to DDOT Director Klein to ask about DDOT's decision to rescind more CMAQ, TE and Recreational Trails money than was required. They also plan to ask about underfunding in both the Highway Safety Improvement Program (10%) and the State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program, both of which can be used for bicycle programs (infrastructure, education, enforcement, research etc...)

Facilities Committee - There was a discussion about the loss of parking meters and the impact this has had on bike parking. It was reported that 3800 parking meters have been removed so far as part of the transition to multi-space meters. DDOT does not necessarily put racks in as they remove meters - as the two are under separate contracts. They do try to follow a meter removal with a rack installation. There will be no multi-space meters going in this year, and so that should give DDOT a chance to catch up. DDOT admits there is a backlog, but they're working hard to fill it. Part of the problem is getting racks from their supplier, though they just received 300 racks which they started installing yesterday. The Downtown and Golden Triangle BIDs have done a good job installing hundreds of racks and that helps.

The system for rack installation is request driven. Someone requests a rack online or by calling 311 and DDOT's bike parking team eventually inspects the location and if they decide it is suitable for bike parking then a rack is installed. There is not some larger plan (as it would be too expensive/time consuming).

DDOT update

Metropolitan Branch Trail - Good news. As someone said in the comments, WMATA has issued DDOT the necessary permit for the New York Avenue to R Street section. Work should begin as soon as next week.  the entire New York Avenue to Franklin section will be done by April, which will really mean everything from Union Station to Franklin will be done (the stairs at L are temporary, but let's not quibble). In addition, DDOT has created a list of places where they expect to need access to WMATA land in the future. This will be given to WMATA so that when the time comes to build on that section the permit(s) will be ready and work can continue without delay.

South Capitol Street Trail - DDOT is still working on this plan, but an interim route to the Wilson Bridge may be signed.

Bike Lanes - DC paved 6.2 miles of bike lane in 2009 (not including sharrows). They're also aggressively working to build bike lanes on Pennsylvania Ave NE NW between 3rd and 15th.

Bike Sharing - No change. They're still waiting on Arlington County to finalize their contract, which DDOT will then review to see if they can get in under similar terms. They may know something by the end of this month with bikes up and running by summer. If they switch providers, there will be no gap in service.

Cycletracks - The K Street NW FONSI did not include bike facilities. But as a result of the stack of comments asking for them, DDOT is working to add cycletracks in the greater downtown area soon. I Street and/or L Street NW are being investigated as replacements for K. Ironically, K Street is dependent on winning the TIGER grant, but a cycletrack on I or L is a pretty good bet whether DC wins the grant or not. Also being looked at is extending 15th Street's cycletrack south and adding cycletracks to 7th and 9th around Mt. Vernon Square (and sotuth).

Bike Station - At last count they had 111 members (out of a maximum ~250). Though not planning a second bike station, they are talking with Metro about adding bike parking at Metro stations using a smaller facility available from BikeStation.

Comments

[Froggie]

Pennsylvania Ave goes into Northeast? :o)

[Richard Layman]

I know that people are advocating for lanes on Pennsylvania Ave. and they are talking about a cycletrack in the middle of the street, but face it, few people use the road. I'd rather cycletracks be put where they'd really be used and would help create a stronger environment for truly bicycling.

Having infrastructure that isn't used involves significant opportunity costs, and in some respects, can make further facilities improvements more difficult, because car "advocates" point to the lack of usage as a reason to forgoe further improvements.

[washcycle]

They'll be no cycletrack on Penn. Penn needs to be kept clear for parades - specifically the inaugural parade. It will be bike lanes only.

I bike on Penn often.

[jeff]

There can't be permanent physical barrier on Penn Ave from the White House to the Capitol, but that doesn't mean they're can't be any separated lanes.

And I disagree with your statements Richard. I think bike usage on Penn Ave. is higher than you might expect, and would increase quite a bit once better facilities are installed. Your argument about expending political capital is moot since the charge from this is coming from the top down. This is something Congressman Blumenhaur worked with Director Klein on. To my knowledge, there has been no 'car advocate' objections.

Just like with on the K Street Transitway proposals, I find it alarming that folks question implementation of facilities on these major corridors, and instead recommending other streets. Keep offering further suggestions, but let's not settle for either/or. We need to be asking for more/all and work out the details if and when compromises need to be made.

[washcycle]

Right. Thanks for correcting me. There could be a cycletrack if it doesn't involve permanent barriers.

I agree that having few people ride Penn is not an argument for no facilities, because it may be that few ride it because there are no facilities. And I am also not sure that few people use Penn now.

[JTS]

I also bike Penn often. From 10th NW to 38th SE. There are plenty of people biking on Penn in the early morning, and more in the afternoon.

FWIW, I would love to see a cycletrack through the median on Penn ave SE. There are tons of families on bikes in the morning and this would be great for them.

[Contrarian]

I bike on Penn all the time. Not many cars use it any more, because it's closed at the White House. But it's a great bike route to Georgetown -- for that reason!