TheWashCycle

Highlights from the DDOT's January report to the BAC

At every DC Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting, DDOT gives a report to the BAC. Here are some highlights from this month's.

DDOT

• Anticipates starting Environmental Assessment for new Metropolitan Branch trail route through NPS property north of Fort Totten this summer.
• Has been installing New MBT Wayfinding singage between Union Station and Brookland and will be done by the end of the month. 
• Has awarded the contract to replace all MBT overhead lights between Florida Ave and Franklin St, and work is expected to begin in the spring.
• Is planning a public meeting for as early as this month on the new design of the Anacostia River Trail's Arboretum Bridge. It takes into account input from the rowing community.
• Expects to advertise the Rock Creek trail construction contract (widening, resurfacing, and new segment along Piney Branch) between P Street and Tilden this spring, with the bids due in the fall.
• Kicked off the feasibility study for the Palisades Trolley Trail in November 2018. They tentatively plan to have Public meetings in February or March.
• Expect to begin designing improvements to the Suitland Parkway Trail this spring.
• Is expanding CaBi by 40 stations across all 8 wards
• Started a CaBi Pedal Assist pilot in September with 100 bikes and is exploring how to expand it.
• Has nearly completed construction of the Virginia Avenue Trail in SE
• Is working on the 2019 bike lane list
• Is planning the final meeting on the Western downtown cycletrack (20th, 21st and 22nd Streets NW) project for this winter or spring
• Is about halfway done with the 14th Street Reconstruction project. The project will move the existing bike lanes behind bus stop islands.
• Has chosen a consultant to create the 100% plans for the Florida Ave NE Streetscape Project (2 nd to H Streets). This project includes a 2-way protected bike lane on the south side of the road.
• Will break ground on the Maryland Ave NE Streetscape (2 nd to 14 th Streets) this spring. This project reduces travel lanes from 4 to 3, and includes bike lanes.
• Has begun the 30% design for the Pennsylvania Ave NW Streetscape Project (17 th to 22 nd Streets). This will have a protected bike
  lane on both sides of the road. The preliminary designs are expected by fall.

So, lots of irons in the fire. 

2019 to be a very busy year in DC trails (if the TIP is to be believed)

Last November, DC amended the FY 2017-2022 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and it puts a lot of work of interest to cyclists into 2019. 

One of the most important changes to cyclists is that the bulk of funding for construction of the Metropolitan Branch Trail ($11M) was placed in 2019 signaling that DDOT plans to start construction on L&M Streets and Fort Totten soon. 

Meanwhile the "Safety Improvements Citywide" program, which pays for things like lighting, safety studies, roadway improvements (like at Blair Circle) and such received an addition $918,000 in SPR and local funding. This comes on top of previous increases that more than doubled funding for the program. They also added millions for additional streetlight upgrades citywide, which is nice for those who bike at night. 

Though not a change, DDOT plans to reconstruct C Street NE with a cycletrack in 2019. In the same year they will perform more construction on Pennsylvania Ave SE/Potomac Circle/Barney Circle which includes improving "pedestrian and bicycle access to the Sousa Bridge and along proposed Southeast Boulevard to the 11th Street Bridges."  They also have more than $11M set aside for construction of the South Capital Street Trail, $3.5M for the trail bridge across the Anacostia at the National Arboretum, $14M to replace the bike/ped bridges over Kenilworth Avenue, $27M for improvements to Southern Avenue

In 2018, they have funds set aside to rebuild Virginia Avenue (which they're currently doing) with a new Virginia Avenue Trail on the south side. There's also more than $10M for the Rock Creek Park Trail rehabilitation project, and $19M for the Maryland Avenue road diet. 

The reconstruction of South Capitol Street and a new more bike-friendly Frederick Douglass Bridge, which just started, gets oodles of money over multiple years as does "multimodal" roadway improvements around St. Elizabeths. 

The Florida Avenue Streetscape project is funded in 2020, which is also new. 

Oddly, there's $3.3M in the TIP for construction of the New York Avenue Trail in 2017. I don't think that happened. 

Many of the programs that support cycling in part or in whole, like goDCgo, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Management Program, Safe Routes to School, Roadway Reconstruction, Transportation Alternatives,  and the National Recreational Trails will continue to be funded as before.

There's also $500k in planning money to improve Aspen Street NW from Georgia Avenue NW to 16th Street NW to include new turn lanes and a multi-use trail on the north side of the street to support the Walter Reed redevelopment.

Maryland Avenue 90% design to be presented at July 19 ANC6A Committee Meeting

DDOT will be presenting an update on the 90% designs for Maryland Avenue NE at the July 19th ANC 6A transportation committee meeting.  The Maryland Avenue redesign will put Maryland on a road diet and add bike lanes. . The meeting takes place at Capitol Hill Towers, 900 G St NE, at 7 p.m.

The 90% Designs are online if you would like to review them (go to the bottom of this page).