Next week, the NCPC will consider DDOT's final site development plans for the Frederick Douglass Bridge. In previous iterations, they've had questions about the bridge path width and connections to Poplar Point.
The new triple-arched Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge will include six travel lanes for vehicles, a dedicated bike path, a pedestrian path, and four overlooks. The east and west ovals will connect to esplanades on both sides of the Anacostia River via pedestrian and bicycle paths.
In April, DDOT presented the concept design for the bridge and NCPC had comments about the trails. NCPC staff wrote:
Regarding pedestrian and bicycle access, staff understands that there are proposed pathways connecting to three points from the oval, but the connection to the east is not sufficient. Staff notes that while pedestrian and bicycle access to this site from the west seems appropriate, the applicant needs to strengthen the connections from the east, where the future home of the Poplar Point redevelopment is located. Staff believes that this can be addressed by including a new crosswalk to the northeast, which would connect the oval with a proposed traffic island.
and the commission agreed.
In July, they still had not. In the rendering (above) there are some sidewalks in that direction, but there is not a crosswalk across the oval to the center, and the Pedestrian Connection Framework does not show a connection to the NE from the east oval.
Which prompted NCPC to write
At the concept review, the Commission also requested the applicant consider an additional pedestrian access to the oval from the northeast corner of the site. Staff believes this suggestion is still relevant, as a crossing could provide further connectivity from Poplar Point and Howard Road. Therefore, staff recommends the Commission reiterate its request that DDOT explore a direct
pedestrian/bicycle connection to the northeast from the oval, connecting to the proposed traffic island.
In the December report that will be presented next week, they labeled that as a "potential future connection," so that's probably all we're going to get. [A cool feature of the east oval, is an arc of river pebbles marking the historic shoreline of the Anacostia].
In June, DDOT also responded to a request about the width of the bridge path. In response DDOT provided information about other bridges and the widths of their sidepaths. These bridges include the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Tilikum Crossing in Portland, Oregon, and the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, DC.
For comparison, the proposed trails on either side of the Frederick Douglass Bridge will be 18 feet, with two five-foot bicycle lanes, and one-eight foot pedestrian zone. In all the examples provided, pedestrians and bicyclists shared the same path. However, in most cases outside of Washington, DC, the path is marked to denote pedestrian and bicycle zones. Staff inquired as to whether some barrier could be used to provide separation between pedestrians and bicycles. However, such separation would require at least one foot for the structure, and at least one foot of buffer to avoid conflicts with handlebars. Therefore, the additional barrier and buffer zone would limit the usable circulation zone by several feet.
Based upon staff’s analysis and the examples considered, the proposed path widths appear appropriate and provide needed connections to the surrounding neighborhoods and existing trails. DDOT has indicated that after the bridge is completed and in use, there is an opportunity to see how they are functioning and whether operational changes can be necessary. This may include making the bicycle trails directional (one way north and one way south) or other changes. However, such a decision should not be made until real-world observations can be made.
Which prompted NCPC to suggest that DDOT "evaluate whether changes to pedestrian and bicycle operations are necessary after the bridge has been completed and in use."
The rendering at the top shows the connections between the bridge, the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and the neighborhoods; but also the paths across the east oval, which I assume will be multi-use.
The east oval is to be a natural area featuring a meadow and biortention facilities.
The west oval meanwhile will be more like an urban park. It will feature a great lawn with a crossing at Potomac Avenue, which again I assume cyclists can use.
And of course the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail will pass underneath both sides.
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