South Capitol Street Bridge no longer to be a draw bridge, improved connections for cyclists

Back in 2011, DDOT and the FHWA released a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed replacement of the South Capitol Street Bridge. This project covers the area that is the intersection of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail on both sides, and the South Capitol Street and Suitland Parkway Trails and it would completely rebuild South Capitol Street and Douglass Bridge. [Update: JDLand covers the same territory here]

But since 2011, they have decided to make several changes to the design, most notably to build a fixed bridge instead of a draw bridge and to change the alignment on the east side of the river to avoid having to acquire land from the Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB). This decision resulted in changing the alignment of the proposed new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge to a location immediately south of and parallel to the existing bridge (instead of offset at an angle). They also changed the east side traffic circle into a traffic oval aligned in the same direction as the west side one and changed the proposed ramps or ramp modifications between South Capitol Street and I-695, Suitland Parkway and I-295, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE and Suitland Parkway. This resulted in a new alternative called the Revised Preferred Alternative and the issuing of a new Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). You can see the new alignment in the image below and images from 2013 here.

The Preferred alternative offered a lot for cyclists. The new bridge will have much improved multi-use paths. The project will construct new and improved pedestrian/bike connections throughout the project areas including a new pedestrian/bike path along Suitland Parkway connecting Firth Sterling Avenue and the east oval. They would implement signed bicycle routes along New Jersey Avenue and throughout the Project Area to provide connections and improved access to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, the riverfront, and Historic Anacostia. On the west side, the project will change South Capitol between the river and I-395 into a boulevard with at-grade crossing, slower speeds and better sidewalks, which should make it better for biking on and easier to bike across. It will also reconstruct the pedestrian bridge over Suitland Parkway between Sheridan Road and Barry Farms and widen the Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue overpass at Suitland Parkway to accommodate a new multi-use trail. The existing Suitland Parkway Trail within the project area will be upgraded as well. 

The revised preferred alternative will still feature all of these items, although the combined width of the bike/ped facilities was decreased from 20 feet to 18 feet. It now includes an 8-foot pedestrian lane and a 10-foot bidirectional bicycle path - curb-separated - on both spans as seen below.

The Revised Preferred Alternative has several other changes for cyclists and pedestrians.

• Both (as opposed to only one in the PA) existing ramp configurations between I-695 and South Capitol Street will be replaced with an urban interchange, creating a safer interchange configuration for cyclists and pedestrians.

• On the southern side of Suitland Parkway, a sidewalk and bicycle path will now be included. A grade separated pedestrian/bicycle path would be provided at the ramp from southbound I-295 to westbound Suitland Parkway.

• The proposed traffic circle would be replaced by a traffic oval, providing a sidewalk around the
  oval, and a connection with a section of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. The pedestrian travel distance around the oval would still be greater than traveling through the traditional at-grade intersection.

• In the PA, the proposed interchange at Suitland Parkway would require pedestrians and cyclists to cross the ramps between the two roadways. These crossings would be controlled by a traffic signal. But in the RPA, the elimination of the center ramp interchange will provide two urban diamond interchanges that will be controlled by traffic signal. In addition, a sidewalk/bicycle path would be provided or upgraded along the north side of the reconstructed Suitland Parkway.

• The RPA includes a new multi-use Firth Sterling Trail. It will primarily use the existing CSX right-of-way and connect the South Capitol Street Trail (at Firth Sterling and South Capitol Street intersection) with the Anacostia Metrorail Station.

The Firth Sterling Trail is really a separate project that is new to the FEIS, but not really new. Sort of like the Soccer Stadium is new and in the project area, but not really new. If CSX is finally willing to get rid of this ROW, maybe this can later be extended all the way to D Street SE? The SEIS has this to say about it elsewhere.

This project would be a multi-use trail connecting the South Capitol Street Trail (at Firth Sterling and South Capitol Street intersection) with the Anacostia Metrorail Station (just northeast of the Suitland Parkway and Firth Sterling intersection). The length of the trail, including intersection crossings, will be approximately 2,400 linear feet.

The majority of the trail will be located within the CSXT Railroad Shepherds Branch right-of-way that is being acquired in Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 by DDOT from CSXT. Due diligence on the right-of-way is presently underway by DDOT/AWI staff. The trail location is within the APE for the Revised Preferred Alternative.

The other option for the Firth Sterling Trail project would be to add it to the present South Capitol Street Trail. This project is nearing completion of the preliminary (30 percent) plans within a few weeks. Currently, it has no final design or construction funds obligated to the project. Based on the NEPA process required for acquisition of six easements from the JBAB, the South Capitol Street Trail design will not be finalized until next year at the earliest. Construction would probably not begin before fiscal year 2017.

The West Traffic Oval would include a MUP, but I'm not sure who would use it. I guess to run laps?

On the intersection of Howard and Suitland Parkway Trail, the SEIS includes this

The proposed Suitland Parkway Trail along the north side of the roadway will pass through the intersection of Howard Road at Suitland Parkway, which is proposed by the Revised Preferred Alternative as an un-signalized, right-in/right-out intersection. The projected traffic volumes turning right at this location are not high enough to warrant a traffic signal. However, potential pedestrian/vehicle conflicts could become problematic at this location if right turning movements were to increase substantially. Adequate gaps in vehicular traffic to facilitate as safe pedestrian crossing of Howard Road could become infrequent and cause delays for Suitland Parkway Trail users. The proposed intersection could include installation of a traffic signal to control the flow of vehicles and provide alternating rights-of-way for pedestrians/cyclists and right-turning traffic.

As shown in Figure 4-15, movements shown in similar colors could proceed together and then alternately stop to reduce conflicts and ensure sufficient crossing times for Suitland Parkway Trail users. This configuration would provide a two-phase crossing of Howard Road, so the triangular pedestrian refuge island between the inbound and outbound lanes of the roadway would need to be of sufficient size to accommodate the expected numbers pedestrians and cyclists waiting for changes in signals. Although not part of the proposed Revised Preferred Alternative, this revised intersection will be studied further during final design.

Here's the east oval which includes the Anacostia Drive connector and connections to the Anacostia Riverwalk as well as sidewalks to the south. 

 

And the cross-section of Anacostia Drive with the side-paths.

And just for good measure, the interchange of I-295 with Suitland Parkway.The southside sidewalk is visible, but I don't see the northside path and Ramp B underpass.

Comments

[TransitSnob]

That oval is still an anti-urban atrocity. It does nothing to improve the pedestrian environment, and actually does a LOT to make it terrible. Long crossing distances, dead park space, surrounded by fast-moving traffic. Just awful all the way around.

[xmal]

I think the ovals are driven by the need for more memorials: DC pedestrians are being inconvenienced by external groups that want something commemorated.

On the other hand, that is a meaningful amount of park space, which could be useful on the western end. I would cherish something like Logan Circle in my under-parked neighborhood, and the oval looks 2--3 times bigger than a circle.

Lastly, if the bridge is not a drawbridge, does that mean it will be steeper?

[DE]

I always thought the oval was meant to be like a traffic circle. Traffic circles are safer than signalized intersections because they remove the T-bone type accidents (while sometimes increasing the likelihood of less-dangerous, slower-speed, merge-style accidents). However, this oval always seemed to me to not quite do the job because people can still drive through it at relatively high speeds.

[washcycle]

I don't think it will be steeper. Basically the government is deciding that the Anacostia is no longer to be a navigable river for larger ships and that the Navy Yard is no longer a port (or a navy yard). It will save DC millions.

[xmal]

Great news! Thanks.

[Joe]

It's really short sighted and a shame that DDOT won't build dutch Cycletracks. This is a billion dollar project and once in a 100 years type of project. Shard use paths in urban areas are 1980's thinking. We need bolder leadership from DDOT. This will function just the same as memorial bridge with a wide sidewalk. Peds will be annoyed by bikes buzzing them and bikes will be annoyed by pedestrians walking across the entire space. It's time for advocates to wake up and start demanding better. DC is falling behind other cities rapidly. This is sad considering DDOT is both a state DOT and a city. We should be setting the standard for the country when sadly we are falling behind.

[washcycle]

Joe, unlike on Memorial Bridge, bikes and peds will have separate space. You cans see it better in this image.

[DE]

That's great that they show separate paths. I like that the one cyclist is depicted sideways across the lanes. Like you do.

For the Anacostia Drive shared-use path, the surface is shown as being pervious. I wonder if this means they're going with crushed gravel or if it's a pervious pavement.

[sbc]

DDOT continues to think that people will use Potomac Ave to get from the Navy Yard metro entrance on Half Street to the soccer stadium at Buzzard point. With the oval, that would require 2 crossings just to get to the oval (with a narrow island to perch on in the middle). There are no crosswalks to get to the southwest part of Potomac Ave (or Q Street, as http://www.blackandredunited.com/2014/7/30/5953041/a-future-walk-to-the-dcu-stadium-at-buzzard-point envisions) so people would either have to jaywalk onto Potomac or use the crosswalk to R Street.

It's going to be a mess. With better design, they could cut down on game-day traffic, the need for Traffic Control Officers, and probably injuries and fatalities.

[washcycle]

I doubt DDOT thinks people will use Potomac Avenue SE, as that would involved going a block out of the way. More likely they see them using Potomac Ave SW. That means heading south on S. Capitol and then crossing it somewhere north of the oval. Getting to the oval would be a trip out of the way.

Also, that black and red post made me vomit in my mouth a little.

[washcycle]

DE, I'm pretty sure it means pervious pavement.

[DE]

Okay, thanks. Since it's at least twice cost of regular pavement, I wondered, but it's a good investment to reduce stormwater runoff if the funds are there.