DDOT and Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker recently held two kickoff meetings for the South Dakota Avenue NE Corridor Safety Study. DDOT is looking at ways to address issues on South Dakota from Bladensburg Road NE to Riggs Road NE.

See DDOT South Dakota Avenue Safety Kickoff Meeting Presentation Slides

Let DDOT know what you think about what is needed along the corridor by completing this questionnaire and providing information on this public input map (where you can identify important changes you’d like to see at specific intersections like more visible crosswalks, better pedestrian accommodations, etc).

Councilmember Parker earmarked funds in the FY2024 budget for a road diet on the corridor:

“fund efforts to improve safety on the corridor in the short term, preferably by constructing a road diet on a segment of the corridor […] the Committee recommends that DDOT consider either the segment between Bladensburg Road and Monroe Street NE or the segment between Sargent Road NE and RiggsRoad NE.”

Most agree speeding is a problem on South Dakota. There is a relatively low volume of vehicles during off-peak hours, which makes the wide road ripe for speeding. There are too many crashes and near misses. People feel unsafe crossing the street. Too many pedestrians have been injured or killed walking along the corridor. People want to be able to safely walk and bike to points along the corridor. Everyone wants the situation to be addressed. The question is how to get there.

Project Scope

DDOT is going to study the entire corridor, examine three concepts for a road diet, select one concept, and design and build the concept on one portion of the corridor. DDOT plans to start construction on the southern end (near Bladensburg) because they state that is where there is highest need.

DDOT is looking at three options for the corridor.

Option One: 3 lanes with full-time parking

Option one would have three lanes with parking on each side of the street.

• Maintains one lane in each direction
• Uses curbside space for full-time parking
• Center space can be left turn lanes or pedestrian islands depending on needs

(Currently, no parking is allowed on South Dakota except for limited parking on the west side of South Dakota between Galloway and Ingraham (soon extending to Kennedy). A couple of churches closer to the southern end of the corridor use a lane for parking on Sundays.)

Option Two: 3 lanes with parking and two-way protected bike lanes

Option two would have three lanes with parking and a two-way protected bike lane:

• Maintains one travel lane in each direction
• Uses curbside on one curb face for protected bike lanes
• Uses opposite curb for parking
• Center space can be left turn lanes or pedestrian islands depending on need

Option Three: 3 lanes with protected bike lanes in each direction

Option three would have three lanes with protected bike lanes in each direction.

• Maintains one lane in each direction
• Uses curbside space for protected bike lanes
• Center space can be left turn lanes or pedestrian islands depending on needs

Project Timeline

DDOT plans to gather data, explore concepts, and gather input before holding a second round of public meetings in fall 2024, having a third round of public meetings in winter 2024/2025, beginning work on design plans in spring 2025, and finally starting construction just on the southern end in summer 2025.

Ways to Give Input

Let DDOT know what you think about what is needed along the corridor by completing this questionnaire and providing information on this public input map (where you can identify important changes you’d like to see at specific intersections like more visible crosswalks, better pedestrian accommodations, etc).

Though DDOT is going to focus the limited construction money on the southern end of the corridor, please take the time provide input to DDOT about neighborhood issues through this public engagement effort.

(I am going to exercise restraint from getting too soapboxy about how it would have been amazing if our city agencies would have required safe street design while the streets have been torn up for all of the development plus the city’s own street reconfiguration on the northern end of the corridor the past several years. Would have been amazing if our planning agency did not greenlight a new drive-thru on South Dakota on the northern end. Please complete the surveys & advocate for funding to complete the entire corridor.)