From ANC Commissioner Shelagh Bocoum (5A09)
5A09 SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT MEETING
Thursday 07/18/2024 at 06:00 pm
Special SMD 5A09 Meeting Agenda
Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87417402172?pwd=uD2EbYSUgRD4u0PmijR4jZTY0d1mOT.1
Meeting ID: 874 1740 2172
Passcode: 390073
Agenda (times are tentative)
6:00 Aldi alcohol sale license request
6:30 Planned one-block bike lane at Riggs and South Dakota
7:00 Possible future bike lane on South Dakota Ave
Anyone who lives in 5A09 or near Fort Totten Metro Station, please attend the meeting to discuss these issues.
You can also email bike.lanes@dc.gov (please provide your address / distance from Fort Totten) so your opinions will be given more weight) and [copy Commissioner Bocoum at 5A09@anc.dc.gov].
Surveys regarding South Dakota Ave Safety Study can be found at South Dakota Ave Safety Study – Official Website of Ward 5 Councilmember Zachary Parker (zacharyparkerward5.com)
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[Ed. note: I am not sure why Commissioner Bocoum is having another SMD meeting about the alcohol license issue when the protest deadline is July 22. (The hearing was pushed back because Aldi did not post the placard until June 7). It seems Commissioners Fletcher and Lucio are telling her what to do, but neither of them is giving good advice. One or both told her that the license had been approved already, which was obviously not correct, and residents told her that was not correct. Then one or both told her she should have another SMD meeting, which does not make any sense and residents told her that does not make any sense. The full ANC should be having a special meeting to vote on a resolution. So, I am not sure what the ANC is doing and why other commissioners are telling Commissioner Bocoum things that do not make any sense.]
Next Stop...Riggs Park 
I don’t understand. We just meet to provide feedback on these same topics.
Plus, I don’t like that there is so much debate on bike lanes on SD when DDOT hasn’t even done its study on the transit needs of the area and options. They only presented very early ideas and nothing concrete. We should be discussing goals and objectives that will guide DDOT’s planning.
There is a lot of mistrust towards DDOT. For example, a full-service traffic light was requested for the intersection of South Dakota Avenue (SDA) and Eighth Street NE. The request was made on behalf of a blind resident who often traveled by bus. DDOT performed several traffic studies, restriped the intersection, and proposed a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB). The RRFB was abandoned because the low traffic volume outweighed the cost according to DDOT.
However, after a senior was struck and killed a few blocks away along SDA, the RRFB was quickly installed. DDOT has been slow to respond to legitimate concerns for years. While traffic safety is a legitimate concern, many do not trust DDOT’s motives.