DDOT's High Crash Intersections Report

This past summer as part of the Vision Zero process, DDOT carried out a series of site visits at five intersections noteworthy for the high number of crashes that occur at them. Collectively, these five intersections were the locations of three fatalities and 12 disabling injuries in the last 3½ years.  For each intersection, the report includes crash data, a report on recent and planned improvements, site observations and next steps. The whole report can be read here, but below I've excerpted the bicycle portion of the next steps section for each intersection.

First Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE (near Union Station)

1. People biking westbound on Massachusetts Avenue have a difficult time making the left turn onto E Street NE. E Street NE/NW offers a connected bike lane all the way to 13th Street NW and is a popular route. This maneuver currently requires crossing three lanes of vehicular traffic into the turn pocket. Next Step: Explore adding “two-stage” bike turn with bike box in front of vehicles exiting Columbus Plaza. Design: February 2016 Implementation: May 2016
2. People biking southbound on First Street NE have difficulty navigating the trail connection in the westbound Massachusetts direction. There is also some driver confusion with signals on First Street which leads to some conflicts with bicyclists following the bicycle signal. Identify marking changes, such as green paint or clearer delineation. Next Step: Evaluate signal operations and potentially identify signage changes. Design: February 2016 Implementation: May 2016
3. People biking eastbound on Massachusetts have a pocket lane between the right turn lane and the through lane. Stakeholders reported seeing the right turn lane regularly used to bypass queues in an unsafe manner. Next Step: Explore strategies, including: addition of green paint to the pocket lane, improved channelization, or removal of the right turn lane. Design: February 2016 Implementation: May 2016
4. There is not an easy/designated way to bike from the Bikeshare station on 2nd Street to Massachusetts Avenue so riders go through Columbus Plaza, which creates challenges for all users. Next Step Identify potential new or improved facilities. Design: February 2016

Bladensburg Road and New York Avenue NE

1. There are fairly low bicycle volumes at this intersection, but there were nevertheless five bicyclist crashes during the analysis period. Participants discussed the potential to add bike boxes on the Bladensburg Road approaches. One participant said that he has difficulty turning from Bladensburg to Queens Chapel Road and requested a climbing lane on Queens Chapel Road. Next Step: Assess potential for bike improvements at intersections along Bladensburg Road and Queens Chapel Road Evaluation: January 2016 Installation: TBD
2. The Fifth District Police Station on Bladensburg just south of the intersection needs bicycle racks. There are numerous community events held in this building and the existing bike racks are located in a secured area. Next Step: Bicycle racks at Fifth District Police Station Add location to DDOT installation database and schedule for installation. Installation: Summer 2016

14th Street and U Street NW

1. There are concerns with “right hooks” for bikes (when vehicles turn across a bike lane and collide with people biking) along 14th Street. Green pavement markings and stronger markings continuing through intersections may be improvements to highlight the visibility of people biking. Next Step: Identify interim treatments prior to streetscape project construction, such as green paint treatment. Design: March 2016 Installation: May 2016
2. Participants noted seeing parking in bike lanes frequently, especially at Trader Joe’s. Next Step: Work with DPW and MPD to improve enforcement of parking in bike lanes. Ongoing
3. The streetscape project incorporates bus bulb outs at the intersection, but these could be a concern for people biking if they are not well integrated into the final design. Next Step: Refine streetscape design to address safety for all users. Design: January 2016 Construction: 2017
4. Valet stands conflict with bike lanes and result in parking/pick-up/drop-off in the bike lanes. Next Step: Work with permit holders to improve compliance, including enforcement. January 2016

Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road, NE

1. The intersection is fairly difficult to navigate by bicycle, because of the high turn volumes and narrow roadways. Participants discussed the potential for a bike lane along Minnesota Avenue. While this may be challenging due to traffic and transit volumes, the area can be evaluated for bike facility opportunities. Next Step: Identify potential bicycle access improvements. Evaluation: March 2016 Implementation: TBD

I'll point out that improvements are already planned here as part of the Minnesota Avenue, N.E. Revitalization Phase II Project

M Street and Wisconsin Avenue NW

- No specific bicycle issues were discussed during the site visit. It is likely that the pedestrian and vehicle issues also impact overall bicycle safety

Comments

[JR]

Ugh... the double parking on 14th street in the bike lane is well known to anyone that has ever biked down that street, even once.

[Crickey7]

There is no excuse for not enforcing the law against parking in bike lanes.

[Atlas Cesar]

I live off 14th and almost never use the bike lane for that reason. Drivers get really really really upset with me nearly every time I go on 14th.

I would much rather have people uber/taxi there to go out than drive themselves, so my vote is to greatly reduce the number of parking spaces to increase the number of legal drop-off spots.

[Uptowner]

In terms of biking, this is a document full of half-measures that will be "explored", whatever that means. Rubbish! Build the things that work: Road diets, protected bike lanes, traffic calming, and protected intersections. Anything else is a distraction to get the pesky bike people off of DDOT's back.