DDOT moving forward on Western, Eastern and Crosstown cycletrack projects, and that's just the big ones

Though the addition of protected bike lanes (or cycletracks) has been slower than many have wanted it feels like this year could see significant progress.

DDOT recently completed the 30% design of the Eastern Downtown cycletracks on 6th and 9th NW and plan to public meeting on them in July. 

They've also started work the Western Downtown cycletracks on 20th and 21st Streets. They've hired a consultant and begun considering alternatives and stakeholder outreach. A public meeting on these will be on May 23rd from 6 to 8pm at the West End Library, 2301 L St NW.

The purpose of this project is to identify a specific route for a north- and south-running protected bicycle facility between the western side of Downtown and Dupont Circle that provides a comfortable environment for people biking of all ages and abilities. For the purposes of project planning, corridors defining the project area include north-south streets of 21st Street NW and 22nd Street NW between Florida Avenue NW and Constitution Avenue NW. The 1.5-mile project spans the Dupont Circle, West End, Downtown, and Foggy Bottom neighborhoods, with the National Mall at the southern end.

Going across town will be made easier by the Crosstown Protected Bikelanes. The initial design concept would have a 2-way cycletrack on the south side of the median along Irving St between Michigan and Kenyon. Design of a facility on Kenyon between Irving and Warder will be done in the future, along with protected bike lane along portions of Park Place NW, 5th Street NW and Warder Street NW. A public meeting for this is scheduled for Tuesday June 12 at Raymond Recreation Center, 3725 10th St NW.

But wait, there's more: 

• Two-way protected bicycle lanes are under construction by DC Department of General Services (DGS) near the new soccer stadium on 2nd St SW between R and T Streets, Potomac Ave between S Cap and 1st Streets, and R St between 1st and 2nd Streets.  DDOT is working on the extension of the 2nd St PBL between R and P Streets pending approval of the ANC on May 14th.
• The K St/Water St NW cycle track in Georgetown will be installed in May. As part of this project, 12 storm grates are being replaced with bicycle-friendly models. Storm grate replacements began on May 2.
• A raised (sidewalk level) cycle track is under construction on Virginia Ave SE between 2nd and 9th Streets. This is being installed as part of the CSX tunnel reconstruction project. It is scheduled for completion in late 2018.
• The bike lane on 17th NW between Massachusetts and New Hampshire could be upgraded to a PBL this year as part of another project.
• K Street NW, between 7th NW and 1st NE could get a PBL this year as could Maine Avenue between 14th and 12th SW.
• The Connecticut Avenue Streetscape and Deck-Over Project is considering a protected bike lane on Connecticut Avenue between Dupont Circle an California Street.  A public meeting was held on Thursday April 26.
• A public meeting on the C Street NE Road Diet was recently held, though the new design would remove some bulb outs and parking, it would still include off-street, raised protected bike lanes on both sides (more coming in a future post). 

Comments

[Crickey]

Not really clear what is meant by the K Street cycle track. Is this in addition to the MUP running parallel to K Street in Georgetown? And I've seen no evidence of new bike infra on 20th.

[Jeffb]

@Crickey

Yes, DDOT is installing an on-road PBL on K St along the Georgetown waterfront.

[Infinitebuffalo]

> "I've seen no evidence of new bike infra on 20th"

The reference to "They've also started work the Western Downtown cycletracks on 20th and 21st Streets" is to planning work. Per https://www.dccycletrack.com/20th21st22ndstnw they're going to be presenting the 10% design at the meeting in late May.

[washycle]

Crickey, yes I'm talking about the PBL that will connect the CCT to the Rock Creek Park Trail on K Street.

And infinitebuffalo is right, when I say work I don't mean construction. I mean planning.

[Rasputin]

All I want for Christmas is the Irving NE, 4th St. NE and the MBT to be filled in on 8th NE!

[Sean]

I love the idea of the K St/Water St cycle track as the current trails through the park have too much foot traffic for a bike commute. But what is their thinking on an effective connection to the L & M St. cycle tracks? I've alternated between climbing 29th to take the awkward left from PA to L and navigating the Whitehurst/I-66 interchange sidewalks. I'm not sure the best answer here, but the status quo is not good.

[washcycle]

Sean, you can read all about it at the links below:

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2016/06/georgetown-bid-planning-connection-between-the-capital-crescent-and-rock-creek-park-trails.html

http://bid.georgetowndc.com/media/uploads/k_street_optimum_&_interim.pdf

[Crickey]

I take K Street to 25th, where there is a crossing light. You can then take 25th up to Pennsylvania right where it splits off to L. For the Whitehurst Interchange, I cross over to the median while it's red (which is technically illegal), then scoot up to 25th when the Whitehurst off ramp light turns red.

[Brendan]

2-way PBL make sense to me when PBL density is low. Like putting in the one on 15th several years ago. It was all by itself and needed to accomodate traffic both ways. But once the city reaches a density of PBLs in a grid of one-way streets like they do with 9th and 6th, wouldn't making the PBL's consistent with existing traffic flows (rather than contrary to flow) safer without making a measurable difference on cyclist volume or access?

[washcycle]

I think so. Since I've been here, the pattern has been something like this.

1. Add bike lanes to streets with extra space
2. Add bike lanes to streets that are overbuilt
3. Add PBLs to streets that are overbuilt

And now we're starting to upgrade some bike lanes to PBLs. I suspect soon they'll start to split up some two-way cycletracks and put in dual PBLs. Then we'll hit peak oil and we'll all be dead.