At ANC 4B’s public meeting on June 22, 2020, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) presented design plans in progress for the Metropolitan Branch Trail extension from Fort Totten to Takoma. View the presentation here.

A more detailed presentation of the design plans released in May 2020 is available on the MBT Fort Totten to Takoma extension website at http://metbranchtrail.com/met-branch-trail-fort-totten-to-takoma. The 100% final design plan is expected to be completed by winter 2020 with construction anticipated to begin in fall 2021.

DDOT plans to expedite installation of a full traffic signal at Riggs Road and 1st Street NE. DC Bilingual Public Charter School is near this intersection and residents and school staff have long advocated for pedestrian safety improvements along this corridor. The traffic signal will be installed in early 2021 and DDOT will later add bike specific signals when the MBT extension is constructed. There will also be a full traffic signal installed at New Hampshire Avenue NE/South Dakota Avenue NE/McDonald Place NE as part of the extension.

ANC Commissioner Alison Brooks (4B08) noted that some residents continue to express concern about the plan to have the trail along 1st Street NE and along McDonald Place NE. DDOT noted that separate from this design plan, the agency continues to look at an alignment closer to the red line train tracks through National Park Service land.

ANC Commissioner Geoff Bromaghim (4B07) commented about the need to look at east-west connections to the trail and to make the experience riding through a fairly industrial area a little more friendly. DDOT noted that the agency has worked with the DC Commission on Arts and Humanities to commission public art along completed portions of the trail and so that could likely be an option for the extension as well.

There are still design decisions the agency needs to make. I have always thought the plans for the segment along Blair Road look more like an extra wide sidewalk rather than a trail, but there are a lot of driveways that the agency has to take into consideration. DDOT is considering an alternative that would remove the northbound curb lane along Blair and put a protected bike lane on the street, but there are drawbacks to that option.

In early June 2020, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association distributed communication about the design plan for the Fort Totten to Takoma extension with four recommendations:

Full time Parking for Blair Road at Rittenhouse Street (Option 3) – North of Kansas Ave, speeding is a chronic problem on Blair Road. To help calm traffic, create parking for local businesses, add new safe crosswalks and make a more pleasant trail experience, DDOT should convert the extra northbound travel lane into full-time parking, add curb extensions, and add new crosswalks starting at Rittenhouse Street

Trail Priority at Driveways – Frequent driveway crossings are the biggest challenge to a low-stress and safe trail along Blair Road. DDOT must take great care in designing how and where vehicles are permitted to cross the trail, so that trail users are always given priority. Where possible DDOT should:

1. Close curb cuts to eliminate conflicts entirely
2. Shrink the width of driveway entrances and reduce turn radius to reduce speeds
3. Use striping, different paving materials, and signage to highlight the trail’s path across a driveway and communicate that trail traffic has priority

Keep the Trail in Met Branch Trail – On Blair Road, DDOT proposed an alternate design which would send walkers onto an existing sidewalk and people on bikes onto a new curbside protected bike lane. While it may be simpler to build, this design will be too stressful for kids or less confident bicyclists as iit puts people on bikes right next to car traffic and leaves them completely exposed at every driveway.

Aggressive Traffic Calming on First St NE – To ensure the trail is actually safe and low-stress, First St NE needs far more than speed bumps to slow car traffic and discourage non-local trips. DDOT should explore mini-roundabouts, chicanes, diverters, and traffic calming techniques.

If you have thoughts about specific segments of the extension, let your ANC commissioner know. In addition, written comments may be sent to metbranchtrail@dc.gov.