We noted in this post that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is soliciting public input to update the moveDC long-range transportation plan that was adopted in 2014. Thanks to neighbor Gavin Baker for pulling together some proposed update highlights for Lamond-Riggs outlined below.

DDOT is asking for survey responses by November 10 about goals and priorities for updating moveDC. DDOT is also asking for feedback by November 10 on three maps of proposed mobility priority networks for transit, bikes, and freight.

With respect to the bike map, there are some differences from the 2014 plan, if you are inclined to leave comments on and propose changes to the map.

• The 2014 plan proposed bike facilities for Riggs Road NE/Missouri Road NW/Military Avenue NW, but in the draft 2020 map, it looks like bike facilities for the Riggs Road NE portion east of North Capitol Street have been removed. Riggs Road is one of the few places where bicyclists can cross the train tracks. It does not make sense to stop the bike network on Missouri/Military at North Capitol Street. DDOT should continue the bike network on Riggs Road NE (as proposed in the 2014 plan) especially given that there are bike lanes east of Eastern Avenue into Prince George’s County. Removing the Riggs Road NE portion from the bike network would leave a gap for no seemingly identifiable reason.

• The 2014 plan did not include bike facilities on New Hampshire Avenue north and east of North Capitol Street, but these facilities are proposed in the draft 2020 map, so feel free to indicate that you like that on the map.

• The draft 2020 map proposes to close the gap on Kansas Avenue between Blair Road and Chillum Place, which was not included in the 2014 plan. Again, feel free to leave a comment indicating you like that piece.

• The Eastern Avenue trail is new to the 2020 draft. It looks like a lot in the National Capital Trail Network plan recently approved by MWCOG is in this draft, at least the segments for this neighborhood.

• The 2014 plan included two new street connections over/under the train tracks between Kansas and Riggs, which are not shown in the 2020 draft. It is not clear if that is because they are not “bicycle facilities” and so they are not shown on the bike map, or if it is because DDOT has dropped the idea.

As for why DDOT is updating a plan that was adopted in 2014 and that still has a lot left to be implemented, DDOT stated in a virtual townhall that it is general practice to update long-range plans every five to eight years.

One key point to note is that on September 22, 2020, the DC Council unanimously passed a Vison Zero omnibus bill. The legislation is under review by the mayor’s office. Assuming the legislation goes into effect, it would require DDOT to build transit and bike facilities listed in the long-range plan when they are doing other major work on that road segment, so it would give some teeth to these maps.

The project website is wemovedc.org.