Planning Board approves DC's Dedicated Bicycle Lane Network expansion (including next to UHOP)

Earlier this year, DC asked the Transportation Planning Board to amend the Financially Constrained Long-Range Transportation Plan (CLRP) to allow for the expansion of DC's Dedicated Bicycle Lane Network. Last week they approved that. 

This project will expand the District of Columbia’s dedicated bicycle lane network by removing one or more travel lanes for motor vehicles on the following road segments:

• 4th St NE, from Lincoln Rd to Harewood Rd

• Blair Rd NW, from Peabody St to Aspen St

• Constitution Ave NW, from 1st St to Pennsylvania Ave

• Eastern Downtown Study, alternatives on 5th, 6th or 9th St. NW

• Harewood Rd NW, from Rock Creek Church Rd to North Capitol St

• Klingle Rd NW, from Adams Mill Rd to Porter St

• Louisiana Ave NW, from Columbus Circle to Constitution Ave.

• Piney Branch Rd NW, from Georgia Ave to Underwood St

The TPB received 161 comments on the amendment, 160 of which were from the either the United House of Prayer (UHOP) or individuals who objected to the implementation of protected bike lanes on the 1200 block of 6th Street NW, next to the UHOP.

These comments included the following concerns and/or points:

• Increased congestion and traffic delays on 6th Street NW and in the vicinity of the Verizon Center and Washington Convention Center

• Removal of parking and convenient access to the United House of Prayer church and associated housing

• Disproportionate impacts on low-income and/or minority communities

• 9th Street NW would be a more suitable location

To which DDOT responded

DDOT is still studying and evaluating alternative design concepts for the Eastern Downtown Protected Bike Lane project and a final design alternative has not been selected. As the project development activities continue DDOT anticipates completing the planning study and selecting the preferred alternative later this year. In order to meet the TPB’s schedule for including projects in its air quality emissions analysis DDOT advised TPB to use one of the four build alternatives with the maximum potential to change traffic conditions and thereby potential emission estimates in its analysis. Alternatives being studied by DDOT include protected bike lanes on 5th Street, 6th Street and 9th Street NW and the “no-build”. Inclusion of the 6th Street alternative in the regional air quality emissions analysis at this time does not preclude DDOT from selecting one of the other study alternatives, including the “no-build” OR making other changes to this alternative as part of its efforts to evaluate alternative design concepts.

At the October 19 TPB meeting, Mr. Zimbabwe of DDOT stated that the agency is working with the impacted citizens and organizations through the project development process.

They also approved an amendment for the "I-66 Corridor Improvements Project Outside the Beltway" which will also have bicycle components. 

Comments

[Jeffb]

The TPB received 161 comments on the amendment, 160 of which were from the either the United House of Prayer (UHOP) or individuals who objected to the implementation of protected bike lanes on the 1200 block of 6th Street NW, next to the UHOP.

I don't see how this could be true. I favorably commented on the project and know others who did as well.

[Crickey7]

Harewood Road between Rock Creek Church Road and North Cap is like 2 blocks long, and some of the other segments are about as short. I hope these hook up with something else that's already there.

[washcycle]

Crikey, a lot of those segments are part of the Metropolitan Branch Trail.

JeffB, did you comment during this most recent comment period (Oct-Nov 2016)?

[darren]

note that generally the only bike projects that go through this CLRP process are those that require a travel lane to be taken, and are only those that were submitted back in late '15.

[fongfong]

@ Crickey7

This is the main route to my Washington Yu Ying and Carrol High for cyclists coming from the West. I can assure you that it links to something, even though that something is a sidewalk. The current sidewalks along Harewood are not wide enough for some parents to allow their kids to ride. That, and Harewood itself is a speedway due to the current configuration.

So Washie, what exactly does this mean? Will DDOT now act on these approvals or must we continue to lobby them to make these lanes happen?

[Jeffb]

JeffB, did you comment during this most recent comment period (Oct-Nov 2016)?

Ah, no. Didn't realize it was a vote early, vote often setup.

[Crickey7]

Years ago I rode my own version of the MBT route before there was one. With the exception of North Capitol, the N/S routes were challenging terrain but not especially bike-unfriendly. I didn't go E/W, so cannot speak to that.

I don't think I ever saw a cyclist going to Carroll, though to be fair, I never saw one going to Gonzaga either.

[Purple Eagle]

Crickey, I can't speak to patterns at the time you are describing, but Gonzaga currently has at least 8 faculty members who bike to work regularly. And at least that many students. I biked to a meeting at Carroll last year, and there were numerous other people who did the same, but I can't speak to the regular pattern. The biggest obstacle for me in the Carroll area was not the lack of dedicated bike facilities but the giant hill coming from the east on Taylor. But I am probably more comfortable on the street than many cyclists.

[jeffb]

As we wait for DDOT's decision on the Eastern Downtown Protected Bike Lane. Here is a link to a similar sounding project in Ottawa.

Ottawa opted for 'less safe' O'Connor Street bikeway design to make way for cars

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/city-of-ottawa-chooses-less-safe-option-for-o-connor-bikeway-to-make-room-for-cars-1.3855100

Many are calling for a compromise solution that seeks to preserve as much auto-mobility as possible.

[Crickey7]

I think we had one faculty cyclist when I went to Gonzaga, and no students did. It was a lot rougher neighborhood then. I started less than a decade after the '68 riots.

[Purple Eagle]

@Crickey, did not know you were an alum. I've been there since '04 . . neighborhood has changed a lot just in that time. Most of our students who ride come from Capitol Hill or other nearby neighborhoods.