Catching up on news…

On June 1, 2017, the public safety committee of ANC 4B held a meeting with DDOT to discuss the expansion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail from Fort Totten (Riggs Road NE) to Takoma.

See: DDOT ANC 4B June 2017 MBT Fort Totten-Takoma Expansion Presentation (pdf)

An RFP for design-build construction of the Brookland-Fort Totten expansion was announced earlier this year.

As currently planned, the Fort Totten-Takoma expansion will essentially be an enlarged sidewalk (shared use path) with bi-directional lane markings, running along Riggs Road NE, up to Blair Road into Takoma.

Trail under Design (Riggs Road NE to Takoma)

Specific plans for the trail from Riggs Road to Blair Road include:

• New traffic signal at Riggs Road and First Street NE
• New traffic signal at New Hampshire Avenue and McDonald Place NE
• Shared lane markings and speed humps on First Street NE
• Contraflow bike lane on McDonald Place NE

Design plan and alternative plan

So the feel of this portion of the trail will be very different (and perhaps not feel trail-like at all). The land abutting the metro tracks in this expansion area belong to the National Park Service. While there have been murmurings about potentially getting NPS approval to build on federal land, that would require a new environmental impact assessment and therefore would involve even more delay.

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.

From DDOT:

Wednesday, December 7, 2016
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Location: 6896 Laurel Street NW
Building: EF International Language Center
Room: Lecture Hall

Details:

DDOT invites you to a public meeting to discuss the Rehabilitation of Eastern Avenue NE Project (New Hampshire Avenue NE to Whittier Street NW).

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.

DDOT will present design concepts and gather comments from the community at this public meeting.

Be sure to check out www.goDCgo.com to learn about transportation options for getting to this public meeting. (Meeting location is 0.29 miles from Takoma Park Metro Station)

Registration is open to receive a 2017 visitor parking pass. Register online at https://vpp.ddot.dc.gov/vpp/ or call (202) 671-2700.

From October 29 to November 22, 2016, there will be no Metro red line service between Fort Totten and NoMa. DDOT’s goDCgo site provides a handy list of transportation options. To access downtown, use the green line at Fort Totten. Metro plans to increase peak hour service for the Route 80 bus and will have limited free shuttles buses between Fort Totten and NoMa. For up-to-date information, visit Metro’s website.

Metro SafeTrack Surge #6 begins August 1, 2016. Red line trains will continuously single track between Takoma and Silver Spring metro stations from August 1 to August 7. Residents are advised to use the green line to access downtown to mitigate crowding on red line trains. See below for DDOT’s press release with important transportation information for this next round of metro improvements.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, July 27, 2016   Media Contacts Terry Owens — (202) 763-8635, terry.owens@dc.gov Michelle Phipps-Evans — (202) 497-0124, michelle.phipps-evans@dc.gov DDOT Prepares for SafeTrack Surge #6 (Washington, DC) – The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) advises residents, commuters, and visitors to the District of Columbia to prepare for major rush hour delays on Metrorail’s Red Line due to WMATA’s SafeTrack Safety Surge #6.  The next round of repair work runs from Monday, August 1 through Sunday, August 7. Trains will continuously single track between Takoma station in the District and Silver Spring station in Maryland. DDOT Traffic Mitigation Strategy Extended morning and evening rush-hour parking restrictions will be expanded to include the following corridors: 1500-3100 Rhode Island Avenue NW to NE 1500-3000 North Capitol Street 1000-8000 16th Street NW Expanded rush hour times: 7 am-10 am and 4 pm-7 pm Construction Moratorium for the following key corridors: 6900-7800 Georgia Avenue NW 400-900 Butternut Street NW 6900-7000 4th Street NW 200-300 Cedar Street NW 5700-6900 Blair Road NW 5300-5700 North Capitol Street Riggs Road NE from North Capitol Street to 1st Street NE 5200-5300 1st Street NE 300 Block of Galloway Street NE Traffic Management: Enhanced real-time retiming of traffic signals Traffic control officers deployed at key intersections Roadway Operations Patrols during rush hours Additional staging areas for Metro buses Capital Bikeshare Corral service at Union Station 7 am-11 am and 3:30 pm-6:30pm Monday–Friday $2 single-trip fares DDOT will continue to use all of its resources to alleviate traffic impacts during SafeTrack. For more information on the District’s response to SafeTrack and to learn about alternative transit options, visit safetrack.godcgo.com.  ### The mission of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is to enhance the quality of life for District residents and visitors by ensuring that people, goods, and information move efficiently and safely with minimal adverse impact on residents and the environment.  Follow us on Twitter; like us on Facebook and visit the website at www.ddot.dc.gov. Visit goDCgo.com for more information on transportation options in the District.

Speaking of bikes, the facebook group for the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) shared DDOT’s rough timetable for extending the trail from Brookland. The timetable breaks up the next phase into two segments: (1) Bates to Gallatin Street and (2) Gallatin Street to Maple Avenue. Based on this timetable, looks like those of us near Fort Totten should expect to be able to ride south on a permanent trail in 2018, while the ride north on a permanent trail will have to wait until 2019.

MBT Phase II Schedule Source: metbranchtrail.com

Update #2: The crane dismantling will take place as scheduled this weekend. Plan accordingly

Update: According to the construction team safety manager, there is a possibility the street will not be closed if winds are too high to remove the crane. They will know by this afternoon and we will update the post accordingly. If the street is closed, pedestrian access will also be restricted. The dirt path on the south side of Galloway Street is not part of the construction plan so that will remain open, but they do recommend for pedestrian safety that pedestrians not use that dirt path to access the metro station and bus bays. They advise pedestrians to detour around the entire site.

Original Post

According to this construction notice, Galloway Street NE between South Dakota Avenue and Fourth Street will be closed this weekend to remove one of the tower cranes at Art Place at Fort Totten. Bus stops at 4th and Galloway and at South Dakota and Galloway will not be served during the closure.

Bus detour information for routes 80, E2, & E4 is available on Metro’s website at this link (reprinted below):

—

Advisory

Posted: Mar 30, 2016 Expiration: Apr 03, 2016

Detour for Construction on Galloway St NE, April 2-3

Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 3:00 am to Sunday April 3, 2016 at 3:00 am

Routes 80, E2 and E4 will detour due to construction on Galloway St NE at the entrance to Fort Totten Metrorail station.

80 North Capitol St northbound toward Fort Totten Metrorail station
E2 Ivy City-Fort Totten northbound toward Fort Totten Metrorail station

• Buses begin detouring on South Dakota Ave NE at Galloway St NE to resume regular route on Riggs Rd at 1st Place NE

80 North Capitol St southbound toward Kennedy Center
E2 Ivy City-Fort Totten southbound toward Ivy City

• Buses begin detouring on the Fort Totten station roadway at 1st Place NE to resume regular route on Riggs Rd at South Dakota Ave NE

E4 Military Road-Crosstown eastbound toward Riggs Park

• Buses begin detouring on South Dakota Ave NE at Galloway St NE to resume regular route on Riggs Rd at 1st Place NE

E4 Military Road-Crosstown westbound toward Friendship Heights

• No Detour

The following bus stops will not be served:

• Galloway St & 4th St NE (southbound)
• Galloway St & South Dakota Ave, NE (southbound)

We apologize for any inconvenience these detours may cause.

From MPD:

—

Public Information Office 202-727-4383

October 14, 2015

Correction To Traffic Fatality:

5000 Block of Sargent Road at Faraday Place, NE

 (Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Unit are investigating a traffic fatality which occurred in the 5000 block of Sargent Road at Faraday Place, Northeast, on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at approximately 6:30 am.

An adult male was struck by a vehicle while crossing the road in the 5000 block of Sargent Road at Faraday Place, Northeast. The striking vehicle did not remain on the scene. Immediately following the collision, the victim was struck again by a second vehicle. The second driver remained on the scene. The victim succumbed to his injuries, while on the scene. During the investigation, the driver of the initial striking vehicle was identified and is currently cooperating with police.

The decedent has been identified as 62-year-old John O. Lindberg of Northwest, DC.

A release on October 13, 2015 erroneously identified the decedent in this case as Leroy Barnes.  The correct identification for the decedent is John O. Lindberg.

Investigation into the crash is ongoing and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

The Metropolitan Police Department is asking anyone with information about this case to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

####

WAMU reports that Metro’s proposed plan to cut service on four lines to help the blue line is dead for now. We posted about that plan here. According to WAMU, the recent transformer fire that has orange and silver line trains skipping Stadium-Armory metro station during rush hour made Metro take another look at the plan that would have dropped rush plus yellow service and reduced the number of rush hour trains on the green and yellow lines, among other changes.

• Daily Events
• Getting Around Town (to include public transportation road closures, maps & alternate routes)
• Event Security (to include a list of prohibited items)
• Schools Closures

Metro’s public hearing on bus service changes takes place tonight at 6:30 pm at Metro headquarters (600 5th St. NW). Note in particular changes for Route 80 and elimination of Route 5A to Dulles Airport.

Public Hearing On Proposed Metrobus Service Changes, September 17

Date: September 17, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Metro’s headquarters at the Jackson Graham Building, 600 5th Street NW Washington, DC

Metro will host a public hearing to obtain feedback on proposed bus service changes that will enhance service for many customers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Routes for proposed improvements in the service change proposal are:

District of Columbia: 63, 64, 79, 97, A8, D4, E2, E4, G8, S9, U8, X1, X8, X9
Maryland: F4, G12, Q9, V14
Virginia: 1C, 2B, 10B, 15K, 15L, 16X, 23B, 23T, 26A, 29N

Routes proposed for elimination:

District of Columbia: 5A, 93, B8, B9, D3, N3
Maryland: J13, K11, R3, W19
Virginia: 1E, 5A, 7H, 9A, 10R, 10S, 15M, 18E, 18F, 21A, 21D

Proposed route changes, service reduction or alterations:

District of Columbia: 34, 54, 80, 82, A42, A46, A48, D1, H6, W4, X3
Maryland: 81, B31, C2, C4, G13, G14, G16, Q1, Q2, Q4, Q5, Q6, V15, Z6, Z8, Z9, Z11, Z13, Z29
Virginia: 1A, 1B, 1Z, 2T, 3A, 3T, 4A, 4B, 7A, 7X, 7Y, 16H, 23A, 28X, 38B

Proposed fare changes are:

Q Line

Transfer to/from Metrorail’s Red Line and travel between Wheaton and Silver Spring at no charge.

Capitol Heights and Addison Road Metrorail stations
Bus riders transferring between certain routes can ride between stations at no charge.

Transit Link Card (TLC)
$2 will be added to the TLC price if a new SmarTrip® card is issued. Online purchases require a new card each month.

Metrobus service adjustments are designed to increase on-time performance and customer satisfaction, while increasing ridership and improving cost efficiency.
The current proposal includes input gathered through service evaluations, priority corridor studies, customer surveys, and feedback from customers and jurisdictions. Input gathered from public hearings will help shape the final plan before it is implemented.

Can’t attend the public hearing? There are three additional ways to share your input.

Take a survey. Complete a survey about how these changes would affect you.

Follow the Better Bus Road Show. Metro staff will tour bus stops and attend community meetings and festivals near you to collect your input. There may even be special guests and giveaways. Find the schedule on the Better Bus Road Show Page.

Send an email. Provide written or audio comments to writtentestimony@wmata.com

Pope Francis will visit DC September 22 – 24, 2015. Metro released preliminary plans. Telework is being encouraged. Large crowds are expected. Shuttle buses will run from Fort Totten and Rhode Island stations to relieve expected congestion at Brookland metro station, which is the closest station to the Basilica.  Visit metro’s website for more information about public transit service during this visit.

From Metro:

—

Advisory
Posted: Aug 27, 2015 Expiration: Sep 18, 2015

Public Hearing On Proposed Metrobus Service Changes, September 17

Date: September 17, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Metro’s headquarters at the Jackson Graham Building, 600 5th Street NW Washington, DC

Metro will host a public hearing to obtain feedback on proposed bus service changes that will enhance service for many customers in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.

Routes for proposed improvements in the service change proposal are:

District of Columbia: 63, 64, 79, 97, A8, D4, E2, E4, G8, S9, U8, X1, X8, X9
Maryland: F4, G12, Q9, V14
Virginia: 1C, 2B, 10B, 15K, 15L, 16X, 23B, 23T, 26A, 29N

Routes proposed for elimination:

District of Columbia: 5A, 93, B8, B9, D3, N3
Maryland: J13, K11, R3, W19
Virginia: 1E, 5A, 7H, 9A, 10R, 10S, 15M, 18E, 18F, 21A, 21D

Proposed route changes, service reduction or alterations:

District of Columbia: 34, 54, 80, 82, A42, A46, A48, D1, H6, W4, X3
Maryland: 81, B31, C2, C4, G13, G14, G16, Q1, Q2, Q4, Q5, Q6, V15, Z6, Z8, Z9, Z11, Z13, Z29
Virginia: 1A, 1B, 1Z, 2T, 3A, 3T, 4A, 4B, 7A, 7X, 7Y, 16H, 23A, 28X, 38B

Proposed fare changes are:

Q Line

Transfer to/from Metrorail’s Red Line and travel between Wheaton and Silver Spring at no charge.

Capitol Heights and Addison Road Metrorail stations
Bus riders transferring between certain routes can ride between stations at no charge.

Transit Link Card (TLC)
$2 will be added to the TLC price if a new SmarTrip® card is issued. Online purchases require a new card each month.

Metrobus service adjustments are designed to increase on-time performance and customer satisfaction, while increasing ridership and improving cost efficiency.
The current proposal includes input gathered through service evaluations, priority corridor studies, customer surveys, and feedback from customers and jurisdictions. Input gathered from public hearings will help shape the final plan before it is implemented.

Can’t attend the public hearing? There are three additional ways to share your input.

Take a survey. Complete a survey about how these changes would affect you.

Follow the Better Bus Road Show. Metro staff will tour bus stops and attend community meetings and festivals near you to collect your input. There may even be special guests and giveaways. Find the schedule on the Better Bus Road Show Page.

Send an email. Provide written or audio comments to writtentestimony@wmata.com