DDOT issued a response to ANC 6D on the proposed P Street cycletrack and they intend to go forward despite the ANC's concerns. The project, as noted by GGW, is a part of the long-planned Anacostia Riverwalk Trail - connecting the Buzzard Point section to the Washington Channel/Wharf Section. The ANC submitted a list of concerns including the route, the removal of 26 parking spaces, damage to the tree canopy, safety and the process.
DDOT replied that the route was made necessary by Fort McNair, but that if the Army should become open to a Waterfront trail then DDOT will revisit it. Despite the concern for the mature pin oaks along P, one of the reason the current path was chosen was to avoid damaging them, and their urban foresters confirmed this.
Most of the negative comments were about parking and DDOT said that it has a role in managing space for the safety of all travelers, not just for storing vehicles, and that the PBL design is the best one for making the road safer. Furthermore, DDOT policy is to only provide residential parking on the side of the street where there are residents, meaning the parking along the Fort side violated this policy.
DDOT hopes to install the lane by the end of November. No one likes an outcome with disgruntled neighbors, but this is the right call.
The most significant item is DDOT deciding to overrule an ANC.
This really all points to City Council creating a law that allows DDOT to build these bike lanes without these ANC battles.
Long overdue
Posted by: brett young | November 08, 2019 at 02:36 PM