On December 7, 2016, DC’s Department of Transportation held a public meeting to present draft plans for improvements to Eastern Avenue NE between New Hampshire Avenue NE and Whittier Street NW. Those familiar with the area know it is a difficult road to travel. According to DDOT, the project’s goal is to “improve the existing pavement and landscape of this study area and to determine the best solution to address deteriorated sidewalks, retaining walls, curbs, gutters, manholes, catch basins and ADA ramps; to improve traffic and pedestrian/bike safety; and to introduce public realm improvements along this corridor.”

To view a copy of the presentation, click here: DDOT Eastern Avenue NE Rehabilitation Presentation 12-7-2016

DDOT is still finalizing design plans. Much of the work will consist of full pavement reconstruction, except for one small section between Sligo Mill Road and Kansas Avenue, which will consist only of pavement milling and overlay.

DDOT asked its contractor to analyze a possible roundabout at Eastern Avenue and Sligo Mill Road. Because the contractor concluded that a roundabout in that location would result in backups towards New Hampshire Avenue, that possibility will likely be rejected. DDOT will not approve a plan that would result in traffic backups at a major intersection. ANC 4B07 Commissioner Judi Jones asked about the possibility of a roundabout at Kansas Avenue to slow down traffic and make it easier for drivers to make a left-hand turn onto Kansas Avenue. DDOT said they would consider it, but thought its feasibility was unlikely because of the results of the analysis of a roundabout at Sligo Mill showing traffic backups. Draft plans currently show a left turn lane will be installed at Eastern and Kansas Avenue with bump-outs at the corners.

The plan also includes installing a sidewalk on the north side (Takoma Park, MD side) and landscaping on both the north and south side (DC side). Unfortunately, DDOT said there is not much room to install more than just a few new trees on the south side because of gas and water lines, but the agency will install other landscaping and bioretention and stormwater facilities (such as permeable pavement in the parking lanes) where possible.

There was protracted discussion about the location of a potential staircase leading from Eastern Avenue to Old or Little Eastern Avenue in Takoma Park, which runs parallel to the road. The draft plan proposes a staircase on Eastern Avenue between North Capitol Street and Whittier Street. Some residents expressed a preference for the alternate location, which would be at the corner of Eastern Avenue and North Capitol Street. Some residents believed the proposed location would have the undesired effect of encouraging individuals to cross the street mid-block and would also put a staircase right next to a resident’s front yard. A couple of residents expressed concern that a staircase in either location would abet crime by making it easier for individuals to move between Maryland and DC jurisdictions more quickly and evade police.

 

The good thing about the plan is that bike facilities are included. The not so good thing is that plans currently show a combination of bike lanes and sharrows on both the north and south side due to bump-outs in some locations. The bump-outs are ostensibly designed to narrow the road and slow down traffic, making it safer for pedestrians. But we are not big fans of forcing cyclists to cycle in and out of travel lanes because that can be dangerous if drivers are not anticipating that cyclists will be traveling in a bike lane for some distance, share the road for a short distance, and then go back to a bike lane. Drivers do not really pay attention to sharrows. So it seems that a continuous bike lane would be preferable to protect cyclists and still have the desired effect of reducing speeds. One resident asked about extending the project area to Laurel Street in order to make bike lane connections to the Old Takoma commercial district. DDOT said there is a limited pot of money and that there has to be a defined project area where work is most necessary. Bike lanes can always be installed outside of the project area.

Preliminary plans call for the work to be done in four phases. Only the first phase is expected to result in full road closure. Expect partial roadway closures and detours for the other phases of work. DDOT was not ready to discuss possible relocations of bus stops while construction is ongoing or after the project’s completion.

 

Current timeline anticipates design to be finalized in fall 2017; construction to begin in summer 2018; and construction to be completed in winter 2019.

Take a look at the plans and send any comments to the project manager Paul Hoffman at paul.hoffman @dc.gov.