A few days ago, DDOT contractors started work to install a roundabout at the 2nd/3rd Street NE intersection.
We described what the final product will look like in this post. People in cars exiting Walmart’s garage will have to turn right. No more abrupt U-turns in the middle of the road. Two new crosswalks are being installed.
NOI design for 2nd/3rd Street NE.
I have seen people driving the wrong way as installation progresses, so exercise caution over the next few days while workers are in the road.
Wrong way driver in roundabout.
Hopefully once all the signs and arrows are installed, people will understand it’s pretty easy to navigate. Drive on the right around the circle and yield to traffic in the circle.
DDOT still needs to address the intersection at South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE that was poorly reconfigured in 2011 to eliminate the slip lanes. The intersection is too wide. All of the turning radii are completely off. People think they can make U-turns when they cannot. People always block the intersection during the morning commute. And people are still parking right up to the crosswalk and intersection on the corner where Wing Stop will be opening. A few days ago a driver of a large truck got stuck for over 10 minutes trying to make the turn with parked cars in the way.
Absurdity at South Dakota Avenue/3rd Street/Riggs Road NE, May 13, 2024.
It would be nice to have the parking addressed, at a minimum. Something tells me it will continue to take years for simple stuff to be addressed though.
In any case, pack some patience as people get used to the new traffic pattern at 2nd & 3rd streets.
Free shuttle buses replace trains between Takoma and Rhode Island Avenue. Normal Service frequencies with trains operating between Shady Grove and Rhode Island Avenue and between Glenmont and Takoma. No Red Line service at Brookland and Fort Totten stations.
Green Line
Trains single track between Naylor Road and Branch Avenue. Trains run every 8 minutes between Greenbelt and Southern Avenue and every 16 minutes between Southern Avenue and Branch Avenue.
Traffic Pattern Change on Blair Road NW from Kansas Avenue NW to Aspen Street NW Beginning May 6, 2024
(WASHINGTON, DC) — The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is advising all stakeholders to continue to expect intermittent lane closures and traffic pattern changes on Blair Road NW from Kansas Avenue NW to Aspen Street NW in the Northbound Direction. Please see the following information for updated lane closures and traffic pattern changes:
Utility Upgrade Construction
As part of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) Fort Totten to Takoma Project, this area’s utility upgrades will begin on Monday, May 6, 2024. These utility upgrades will improve drainage and pedestrian safety along the new MBT trail section. Vehicle traffic flow of two travel lanes, one in each direction, will be maintained during peak hours (before 9:30 AM and after 3:30 PM). A two-way traffic pattern on Blair Road NW will be maintained during off-peak hours (between 9:30 AM and 3:30 PM). Coordination with the impacted individual locations will be performed by the project public outreach team to accommodate access to these facilities.
These lane closures and traffic pattern changes are necessary to complete utility upgrade work efficiently as part of the Metropolitan Branch Trail Fort Totten to Takoma Project.
Sidewalk and Trail Construction
As part of the planned Metropolitan Branch Trail work in the abovementioned area, intermittent temporary sidewalk closures will be taking place to replace curb/gutter sections at driveway entrances, replace ADA access ramps, upgrade utilities, and place additional traffic signal poles for various locations at the intersections. Due to safety concerns and spacing limitations, pedestrian detours will be put in place, where possible, to move pedestrians to the opposite side of the roadway at the closest accessible crosswalk. Each impacted location will be contacted directly to coordinate a location-specific pedestrian egress plan through that specific section of the sidewalk.
Traffic controls, including signage, will be in place to guide motorists and pedestrians safely through the work zone. All roadway users are advised to stay alert and be observant of signage and work zones while traveling in this area.
Once complete, the Metropolitan Branch Trail Fort Totten to Takoma Project will include improvements such as a new multi-use trail section, sidewalks, streetlights, green area revitalization, and other streetscape elements.
For more information about this project and to stay up to date on traffic-related impacts and construction progress, please visit mbt-forttotten-takoma.ddot.dc.gov.
Images from Metro.Fort Totten Phase 1 bus shelter replacement map
Metro is replacing the bus shelters at Fort Totten Metro station. The first phase will take place April 22 to May 10, 2024 (residents might have noticed preliminary work happening in the area already). The second phase is scheduled to take place May 13 to May 28, 2024.
The following bus bays at Fort Totten will be receiving new shelters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K The installation of new bus shelters will occur in two phases at Fort Totten:
Phase 1 – April 22, 2024 – May 10, 2024 Bus bays A, B, C, and K will temporarily close from April 22nd to May 10th to install the new bus shelters. During this timeframe, customers will board their regularly scheduled buses at temporary stop locations:
Bus bays D, E, F, G, H and J will not be impacted during Phase 1 of the temporary bus stop relocations at Fort Totten.
Customers should be aware that the Kiss & Ride shelter will close temporarily on Wednesday, April 10th and will reopen at the end of Phase 1. Additionally, four parking spaces at the Kiss & Ride will be temporarily unavailable during Phase 1. Sidewalk accessibility will be maintained outside of the Kiss & Ride shelter construction area.
For more information on temporary bus stop locations and accessibility during phase 1, see map.
Phase 2 – May 13, 2024 – May 28, 2024 Bus bay D, E, F, G, H and J will temporarily close. The Kiss & Ride will also be closed during this period. Customers may board buses at temporary stop locations:
Bus routes serving temporary bus stops T1, T2 and T3 during Phase 1 will be relocated to new temporary bus stop locations during Phase 2. Customers may board buses at temporary stops locations:
Bus bay K and the shelter at the Kiss & Ride will not be impacted during Phase 2 of the temporary bus stop relocations.
Customers should be aware that the Kiss & Ride will be closed during Phase 2.
For more information on temporary bus stop locations and accessibility during Phase 2, see map.
Please plan on additional travel time to access these temporary locations.
Station entrances and exits will not be impacted during construction.
DDOT is helping make e-bikes more affordable for DC residents through the District E-Bike Incentive Program! Preferred Applicants (DC residents enrolled in SNAP/TANF/Medicaid or DC Health Alliance) can apply between April 1 – 15 to receive up to $2,000 towards the purchase of an e-bike, cargo e-bike, e-bike maintenance, or other qualified accessories. To learn more, visit ddot.dc.gov/ebikes.
Things to Know
Applicants can apply anytime between April 1 – April 15.
Voucher recipients will be chosen at random after the application window closes.
Preferred Applicants (District resident enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, or the DC Healthcare Alliance) are the only applications being accepted during this round.
Applicants must apply and be an approved voucher recipient BEFORE purchasing an e-bike.
Approved applicants can redeem their vouchers only at authorized bike retailers.
Voucher amounts vary based on applicant status and the item intended for purchase. See website for details.
Yesterday, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that applications for the e-bike voucher program will be accepted from eligible “Preferred Applicants” from April 1 to April 15, 2024.
A Preferred Applicant is “a District resident enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, or the DC Healthcare Alliance.” Proof of District residency and proof of enrollment in one of these programs will be required if applying as a Preferred Applicant. Residents must apply for and receive a voucher before purchasing an e-bike.
If funds remain, a second application window will open for Standard Applicants.
E-bikes are a great way to travel around the city, especially with the completed Metropolitan Branch Trail extension to Fort Totten station and the gradual progress the city is making to construct more protected bike infrastructure.
For more information about the e-bike voucher program, visit ddot.dc.gov/ebikes.
Metro is seeking input on its proposed fiscal year 2025 budget. Potential service cuts/reductions would impact several neighborhood bus routes and rail service. See details of the revised FY2025 budget (with jurisdictional funding) at wmata.com/budget. Submit survey responses and comment letters by 5:00 pm on March 5, 2024.
Metro has released a revised FY25 proposed Budget based on public funding commitments that keeps operating spending flat with Fiscal Year 2024 and minimizes service changes. Pending this funding, the FY25 Budget proposal would severely limit service and increase costs for customers. These include:
Fares
Up to 25 percent fare increase
20 percent parking rate increase
Metrobus
Eliminate service on 83 of 184 routes
Reduce service on 51 of 184 routes
Shorten routes with rail service
Metrorail
Close 10 lower ridership stations
Turn back every other Red Line train at Grosvenor-Strathmore and Silver Spring
Turn back Silver Line trains at Stadium-Armory
Decrease service on all lines – weekdays every 15 minutes, weekends every 20 minutes
Decrease Hours of operation: Close the rail system at 10pm; or
Keep existing rail system hours and open earlier and close later weekends: open at 6am on Saturdays and Sundays, close at 2am on Fridays and Saturdays
MetroAccess
Reduced service area due to a reduction in fixed route bus service
Approximately 20 percent of MetroAccess trips would no longer be served
How to provide feedback
Take the Survey
Take the survey and upload documents, letters, and written comments
Public Hearings
Metro will host three in-person and one virtual public hearing. Information about the FY25 Proposed Budget will be available during a “Your Metro” Open House along with staff to answer your questions. The Open House will begin one hour prior to the start of the hearing.
If you’re interested in providing in-person testimony at a hearing, pre-registration is strongly encouraged, but not required. Email speak@wmata.com or call 202-962-2511 by 12 p.m. the day of the hearing.
Monday, Feb. 26 Open House at 5 p.m. and Public Hearing begins at 6 p.m.
Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans’ Plaza 1 Veterans Pl Silver Spring, MD
Nearest rail station: Red Line Silver Spring Station
Bus routes: Metrobus Z6, Z8; Ride On 9, 12, 15, and Flash
Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. Open House at 5 p.m. and Public Hearing begins at 6 p.m.
Metro L’Enfant Plaza HQ 300 7th Street SW Washington, DC
Virtual only (via telephone or video) on Microsoft Teams*.
To provide video testimony, pre-register by emailing your name and organizational affiliation, if any, to speak@wmata.com or calling 202-962-2511 by 5 p.m. the day before the hearing.
To take part by phone, call 206-899-2028 during the hearing and enter meeting code 164 729 013. No advance registration available.
*You do not need to download Teams or have a Microsoft account to join the meetings.
Watch the Public Hearings Live
You can watch the Public Hearings live on our YouTube channel.
Slide from Metro board presentation on planned outages, February 8, 2024.
Metro is planning to shut down the red line between Fort Totten and Glenmont from June to September 2024. Metro will provide more details about the planned outage at a later date. At its board meeting on February 8, Metro stated this closure is needed to support Maryland’s work on the purple line:
June 2024 – September 2024: Fort Totten Metrorail Station to Glenmont Metrorail Station Red Line service will be shutdown to allow the Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) access to construct the Purple Line mezzanine at Silver Spring. The work must be completed during a shutdown as the scope of work involves both tracks for extended timeframe. Additional work scheduled includes leak mitigation, automatic train control system replacements, traction power cables installation, drain pumping station replacement, tunnel standpipe replacement, and elevator/escalator maintenance. Shuttle Bus Service will be provided to customers.
Metrorail weekend service for Saturday, February 10 through Sunday, February 11
Advisory Effective: 2/10/24 – 2/11/24
Hours: Sat 7 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Sun 7 a.m. – 12 a.m.
Service-At-A-Glance
Red Line
Free shuttle buses replace trains between Rhode Island Ave and Takoma. No Red Line service at Brookland-CUA and Fort Totten stations. Trains operate Normal Service frequencies between Shady Grove and Rhode Island Ave and between Takoma and Glenmont.
Blue Line
Modified service with trains operating between Foggy Bottom and Franconia-Springfield only. Trains single track between McPherson Sq and Smithsonian and run every 20 minutes between Foggy Bottom and Franconia-Springfield.
Silver Line
Trains single tracking between McPherson Sq and Smithsonian. Trains run every 20 minutes between Ashburn and Downtown Largo.
Orange Line
Trains single tracking between McPherson Sq and Smithsonian. Trains run every 20 minutes between Vienna and New Carrollton.
Green Line
Trains run every 6 minutes between approximately 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and 8 minutes all other times.
Yellow Line
Trains run every 6 minutes between approximately 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and 8 minutes all other times.
Neighbor Gavin noted that a recent newsletter from Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George shared information about the District Department of Transportation’s Sidewalk Gap Program. DDOT has a scoring system in place for missing sidewalks, which you can view on the sidewalk gap dashboard. In 2024, DDOT plans to install sidewalks on the even side of 3rd Street NE, from Oglethorpe Street to Peabody Street and from Quackenbos Street to New Hampshire Avenue.
There are of course lots more missing sidewalks around the neighborhood, including along Kennedy Street, 4th Street, 5th Street, Nicholson Street, Jefferson Street, Jamaica Street, Oglethorpe Street, Rittenhouse Street, Chillum Place, 1st Place, 2nd Street, Sligo Mill Road, and Galloway Street.
We have been waiting for a sidewalk on the south side of Galloway Street NE from South Dakota Avenue to 4th Street for a long while now. There is a plan for a 10-foot-wide multi-use path (this is separate from the planned pedestrian trail between Gallatin and Galloway). The Galloway Street sidewalk had to be redesigned after a couple of missteps. Complicated by the grade changes and large tree roots, the design required the collaboration of the National Park Service and DDOT. The project is being funded partially with federal funds. Construction is planned for 2025-2026.
View of south side of Galloway Street NE looking west towards 4th StreetView of south side of Galloway Street NE looking east towards South Dakota Avenue
Metrorail weekend service for Saturday, January 6 through Sunday, January 7
Advisory Effective: 1/6/24 – 1/7/24
Hours: Sat 7 a.m. – 1 a.m.; Sun 7 a.m. – 2 a.m.; Mon 7 a.m. – midnight
Service-At-A-Glance
Red Line
Free shuttle buses replace trains between Noma-Gallaudet and Brookland. Rhode Island Ave closed. Trains run every 6 minutes (daytime) and 10 minutes (evening) between Shady Grove and Noma-Gallaudet; every 15 minutes between Brookland and Glenmont.
Silver Line
Modified service between Ashburn and Smithsonian. Trains run every 18 minutes.
Blue Line
Trains single tracking between Smithsonian and Federal Center SW. Trains run every 18 minutes between Franconia and Downtown Largo.
Orange Line
Trains single tracking between Smithsonian and Federal Center SW. Trains run every 18 minutes between Vienna and New Carrollton.
Yesterday, Metro announced that all red line stations will be open for normal service starting December 30, 2023, at 7:00 am. Red line service has been suspended between Gallery Place and Dupont since December 18 for construction. Metro will finish construction activities one day earlier than planned.
Reminder, Metro will be doing construction on a portion of the red line December 18-30, 2023. Red line trains will be running every 10-12 minutes. Details on station closures, transit options, shuttle bus information, FAQs at https://wmata.com/initiatives/plans/red-line-construction/index.cfm.
It seems like almost every year, Metro releases a doomsday budget because of its unfortunate funding structure. For its fiscal year 2025 budget, Metro states that in the absence of additional funding, it is looking to close a $750 million budget gap in several ways.
Financial Management – $95 Million in contract services management, office consolidation efficiencies, vacancy, and personnel expense management
No salary increases for employees (administrative staff and union staff)
Half of bus routes cut
Train frequency increases to trains every 15 minutes on weekdays, 20 minutes on weekends
20% fare increase
Metro Access service area limited which will limit travel
10 p.m. early closures for rail system
Close 10 stations (exact stations TBD)
Turn back half of Red Line Trains at Grosvenor and Silver Spring
Turn back Silver Line Trains at Stadium-Armory
Use of Preventive Maintenance funds which put priority investments at risk
A neighbor took a look at the neighborhood impacts of the threatened severe cuts in the FY2025 budget. Out of the various proposed cuts, the bus service cuts include several specific impacts to the neighborhood. Most of the buses serving Fort Totten Metro station would be affected. Routes E2 (Fort Totten to Ivy City), 70 (Fort Totten to Petworth), and K2 (Fort Totten to Takoma) would be eliminated. Routes 80 (North Capitol Street, K6 (New Hampshire Avenue), 64 (Fort Totten to Federal Triangle), and R1 and R2 (Riggs Road) would be reduced. Routes F1 and F2, which have a few stops in Lamond, also would be eliminated.
Metro is requesting a one-time adjustment of the baseline subsidy from DC, Maryland, and Virginia in order to avoid having to implement this doomsday budget. Metro would have to start taking steps to freeze hiring and reduce staff as early as January 2024, so Metro states that the sooner it has clarity from the jurisdictions, the better.
Metro’s board is meeting today. Over the next couple of months, Metro’s board and staff will work together to finalize a proposed budget. Metro plans to provide information about a public hearing and an opportunity to submit comments in February 2024.
Starting December 17, 2023, Metro will begin operating overnight bus service on 14 routes, including route 80. Between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m., bus service will operate every 20 minutes or better on the following routes:
When boarding, let our Bus Operator know you’ll be requesting a Courtesy Stop
In approach to your desired drop-off, pull the Stop Requested cord to signal to the Operator
Walk to the front and inform the Bus Operator of your Courtesy Stop location
A Courtesy Stop may only be made at the front of the bus and not through the rear doors. Courtesy stops are at the discretion of the Bus Operator to ensure the safety of our customers and to not interfere with any other traffic or road conditions when stopping the bus.
In her recent newsletter, Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George shared news that DC School Connect has launched a new pilot that will transport neighborhood students to Ida B. Wells Middle School. Councilmember Lewis George notes that the walk from Riggs Park to the feeder middle school is roughly 1.5 miles (longer from certain parts of the neighborhood) and involves crossing busy roads. The DC School Connect shuttle will pick up students near LaSalle-Backus Elementary School in the morning and drop them off back there after school. More info and sign-up at https://www.dcschoolconnect.com.
From the District Department of Transportation (DDOT)
DDOT is giving away 170 bikes at Open Streets Georgia Avenue on Saturday, October 7th! 50% of the bikes will go to low-income families, and the rest will be raffled off to lucky DC residents! Enter the raffle here: https://forms.office.com/g/fUn2rFgwUq
DC Family Bike Fest 2023 is happening this Sunday, September 17, 10:00 am-2:00 pm at Alethia Tanner Park.
Ward 5 Biking will be celebrating completion of the 8th Street NE cycletrack at 10:00 am at Brookland Arts Walk before heading down the Met Branch Trail to the park. The cycletrack is quite lovely (hats off to the Ward 5 ANC commissioners who worked with DDOT to close this gap along the MBT).
