DDOT makes recommendations for Crosstown bike route

At a meeting earlier this month, DDOT presented its draft recommended concept for the Crosstown Multi-modal transportation study. It involves a 2-way protected bike lane along Kenyon and Irving between 14th NW and Michigan. Overlapping with part of the PBL is a shared-use sidepath along Irving and Michigan from Park Place to Monroe. From Monroe and Michigan, conventional bike lanes and sharrows stairstep their way NE to the intersection of 14th St NE and Michigan. In addition, it includes a pair of conventional bike lanes on Michigan Ave from Monroe to South Dakota Ave. 

Ignoring the transit and other aspects, this is basically Option 1, as presented before, with bike lanes on Michigan Avenue. [Which coincidentally is just what I asked for]. There are also a lot of intersection improvements that one would assume would aid cycling as well. 

Interestingly, the Irving Street Cycle Track will be two-direction and center running along the median. This may require a study to determine if a separate signal is needed at the intersection of Kenyon and Irving. 

The Kenyon Street Cycle Track will be a two-direction, separated bicycle facility on either the north or south side of Kenyon Street.

The Irving Street Multiuse trail is dependent on right of way acquisition from both the Washington Hospital Center and the Armed Forces Retirement Home.

The reconfiguration of Michigan Avenue NE can be installed after an traffic engineering study is conducted that results in an optimal design solution and that considers the operational impact of a reduction from four travel lanes to two travel lanes and a center turning lane with bicycle lanes. Right of way impacts should be examined as part of the initial phase of the project.

This is just a study, which comes before planning, authorization, design or construction. So don't expect to see these changes next spring or anything, but it shows the direction DDOT is headed. 

Comments

[Uptowner]

Good plans, but it's a bit disappointing to see the Kenyon St cycle track stop at 14th, when a connection on park rd to Mt Pleasant and the new Klingle Rd protected lanes is tantalizingly small.