10th Street Corridor Initiative Public Scoping Meeting

Last Tuesday night, the National Capital Planning Commission hosted a Public Scoping Meeting on the 10th Street Corridor (10th Street SW is more commonly known as L'Enfant Promenade). The purpose of the project is to develop a revitalization plan for for the area, with short term and long term recommendations that match up with the Monumental Core Framework Plan and a Presidential order that establishes sustainability goals for the federal government.

I had laid out a few changes I'd propose for the area, but it quickly became apparent that I wasn't thinking big enough. The Framework Plan for 10th Street (pictured) makes all of my suggestions moot as it knocks down the Case Bridge, rebuilds 10th, decks over both the SW Freeway and the CSX railroad, and completely reestablishes the street grid in the area. So, don't I feel stupid. I guess at best my suggestions should go in the short term pile.

Further good news for cyclists came in the desire to make the area an Eco District similar to the Vancouver Olympic Village. As an Eco District they would strive to capture and reuse all of their energy and water on site, and to reduce the amount they use. That means encouraging a more diverse range of transportation options, which should include on-street and in building bike parking, showers for employees, bike sharing kiosks, bike lanes etc...

After the presentation there were public comments (but no responses), most of which focused on concern that places named for Pierre L'Enfant and Benjamin Banneker not be lost (with perhaps some overstating of the role of each in American history - I don't, for example, generally consider the two to be among the country's 'Founding Fathers' but I guess that's open to interpretation), and worry about a possible tour bus parking facility in the area that comes from this line in the Framework:

Significant below-grade space under 10th Street is available for development as an intermodal transfer station linked to the L’Enfant Plaza Metrorail station. It would be possible at this hub to make connections between regional rail, Metrorail, and local buses. In addition, it could be an ideal location for tour bus parking and both commuter and visitor parking because it would provide easy transfer to local transportation and convenient access to the National Mall.

Hello bike station/smartbike station location.

The task force will have another meeting in the Spring or Summer (and six meetings in total) and will finish up there alternatives analysis by the end of 2011.

Comments

[Froggie]

I'm assuming they tear down the Case Bridge because they have the earlier NCPC idea of tunneling 395 under the channel in mind...

[washcycle]

Yeah that's the idea.