(Washington, DC) – Today, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced that residents should continue to use the existing 2020 Visitor Parking Pass (VPP) into 2021. The District plans to launch a streamlined digital parking permit program in 2021.
The VPP program allows District residents to register for an annual pass that is used for guests to park for more than 2 hours on Residential Permit Parking or RPP-zoned blocks.
Residents who are new to the District or need a replacement VPP (due to damage or loss) should visit their local Metropolitan Police Department precinct to request a temporary parking pass instead of a VPP.
Beginning in March 2020, and continuing for the duration of the public health emergency, the District has suspended enforcement for the following infractions:
· Expired residential parking permits and visitor parking permits/passes · Expired District license plates and inspection stickers · Expired meters
For more information, please visit ddot.dc.gov or call DDOT Customer Service at 202-621-2700.
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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.
Metro’s FY2022 proposed budget has been in the news lately because it proposes drastic measures to reduce a large funding gap due to COVID-19. The proposals include eliminating Metrorail service on the weekends systemwide and cutting bus routes. The E4 bus route, the only uptown crosstown route, is one proposed for elimination. Other proposed bus service changes include elimination of the E2 Ivy City-Fort Totten route and modifications to other routes servicing Fort Totten metro station. The budget proposal also includes a recommendation regarding shifting more maintenance costs to the capital budget.
Metro officials hope there will be federal funding relief to stave off drastic cuts. There will be public hearings and a public comment period on the proposed budget so stay tuned for that.
The rehabilitation of Eastern Avenue NE from New Hampshire Avenue NE to Whittier Street NW is near the 95% design stage. At ANC 4B’s meeting on October 26, 2020, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) shared that final design is expected early 2021. There is not funding for construction yet. DDOT stated that the earliest they are looking at getting funding for construction is fiscal year 2023. You can view the livestream of the meeting here (DDOT presentation begins at the 8:22 minute mark).
This project has been in the works for many years. DDOT explained that the delay in completing the design is due to expansion of the scope of work.
DDOT Ward 4 Liaison Sayra Molina stated that DDOT will have another meeting for residents after the design is complete. DDOT will discuss with residents interim, short-term traffic calming measures that may be possible, such as signage and markings. Because Eastern is classified as an arterial road, DDOT will not install speed humps.
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.
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.
Join by Phone (to hear presentation only): 1-443-529-0267; Conference ID – 396 316 663#
Topics of discussion will include:
Construction updates
Construction timelines
Neighborhood impacts
The subject of so many community meetings over the past few years, Pepco’s Capital Grid project has finally made its way to Riggs Road NE. Road work to place transmission cables underground along Riggs Road has commenced. Drivers will encounter lane closures in the work zone. You can view an interactive map of the project at https://capitalgrid.net.
Please pack some patience and pay attention to the flaggers. I have seen drivers become impatient and proceed driving contrary to instructions to stop. Needless to say, that is dangerous. Your best bet is to avoid Riggs Road NE if you can.
Other Construction Work
Site construction has started at the Riggs Park Place townhome development on the southeast corner of South Dakota Avenue and Riggs Road NE. The construction entrance is located on South Dakota Avenue, so you will see flaggers in that area directing traffic to stop to allow construction trucks to enter and exit the site.
There will be occasional lane closures on both sides of South Dakota Avenue.
Finally, there is road work taking place all over the city these days, so probably best to give yourself a few extra mintues to get wherever you need to go.
The District Department of Transportation is conducting a survey on its Slow Streets initiative. Slow streets are limited to local traffic only and the speed limit is 15 mph to facilitate neighborhood-based social distancing while walking, running, and cycling. If you have an interest in this initiative and want slow streets where you live, be sure to fill out the survey.
View of trail under construction from Galloway Street NE
As expected, the National Park Service has completely fenced off the path that was under construction between Gallatin and Galloway Street NE to formally connect North Michigan Park to Fort Totten Metro Station. NPS is still assessing next steps after finding an unexploded ordnance shortly after construction began. NPS expected construction to take no more than 120 days, but this latest development makes the timeline unclear.
Neighbor Gavin Baker sent me an article from DCist regarding the approval of the National Capital Trail Network. Last week, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board, an arm of the regional Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, approved the trail network via a board resolution. The plan includes a paved trail near/through Fort Circle Park, connecting to the Metropolitan Branch Trail near Fort Totten, and a trail along Eastern Avenue. The Fort Circle Park trail (named as a part of the Met Branch Trail) was previously included in the District Department of Transportation’s moveDC plan. The resolution calls for annual progress reports and priorization for funding for the trail network.
Temporary Lane Closures and Parking Restrictions on South Dakota Avenue from Gallatin Street to Kennedy Street NE Starting Saturday, July 25, 2020
(Washington, DC) — The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduled to temporarily close travel lanes and restrict curbside parking on South Dakota Avenue from Gallatin Street to Kennedy Street NE starting on or about Saturday,July 25, 2020, weather permitting. At least one lane will be open to traffic in each direction.
The closures and restrictions are needed for resurfacing. The contractor is authorized to work Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Work will be authorized on some Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. when necessary. Construction is scheduled to be completed by Friday,August 14, 2020, weather permitting.
Parking restriction signs will be posted at least 72 hours in advance at locations where parking will not be allowed. These signs will notify the duration and dates of “No Parking” and provide contact information of the engineer in charge.
Traffic control devices will be in place. Motorists should anticipate moderate delays due to the lane closures. Drivers are advised to stay alert while traveling through these locations and to be observant of the work zone.
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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 for transportation-related updates and more; like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. Visit the website at www.ddot.dc.gov. Visit goDCgo.com for more information on transportation options in the District.
The construction of a pedestrian path linking Gallatin Street NE and Galloway Street NE across Fort Circle Park near Fort Totten metro station will soon become a reality. The project has been fully designed and awarded according to the National Park Service (NPS). The contractor is currently submitting the paperwork needed to begin construction.
Construction is anticipated to begin no later than June 30, 2020, and it should be completed within 120 days. The area will be closed to the public during construction, so the public will have to use the sidewalks on Gallatin, Galloway, and South Dakota Avenue until project completion. With luck, we should have a paved, lighted path this fall.
View of proposed path across Fort Circle Park between Gallatin Street NE & Galloway Street NE
But, the good news does not stop there. Progress is ongoing on project development for a sidewalk on the south side of Galloway Street NE across from The Modern at Art Place. As noted in this post, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is working with the National Park Service on design. Bid solicitation for contractors is anticipated in 2021 with construction anticipated in 2022. Click here for more information on the project.
Let us keep our collective fingers crossed and hope for the best.
View of Galloway Street NE between South Dakota Avenue NE and 4th Street NE where sidewalk will be constructed
At ANC 4B’s meeting on February 24, 2020, DDOT shared updates about a couple of projects that have been on the backburner.
Rehabilitation of Eastern Avenue NE
DDOT Eastern Avenue NE Rehabilitation Project Fact Sheet
The long-awaited rehabilitation of Eastern Avenue NE between New Hampshire Avenue NE and Whittier Street NW has been delayed. DDOT tweaked the design to add a few items to the scope of the project. Construction is now anticipated to start in summer 2021. The project website is https://ddot.dc.gov/page/rehabilitation-eastern-avenue-ne. View DDOT’s handout here.
Metropolitan Branch Trail Fort Totten to Takoma
DDOT is working on the design for the extension of the Metropolitan Branch Trail from Fort Totten to Takoma. According to DDOT’s handout, DDOT expects to complete the design in spring 2021 and for construction to start in summer 2021.
DDOT will be back to visit ANC 4B to give fuller updates on both of these projects later this year.
Last week, the Washington Post reported on pretty gross behavior by the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD). According to the report, an MTPD supervisor based at Fort Totten metro station came up with a really terrible idea in which MTPD officers would get points leading to prizes for different enforcement actions, such as an arrest or citation.
There have long been complaints about the actions of MTPD officers. According to WAMU, DC At-Large Councilmember Robert White and Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen are introducing a resolution to request establishment of an MTPD civilian complaint board, among other measures.
There is a lot to say about this that I am finding difficult to put in a post. The one thing I will say is that I often hear people clamoring for more and more police in this community and I think we need to be a little more thoughtful and very specific and intentional in what we ask of public safety and elected officials.
MTPD Chief Ronald Pavlik, Jr. has been invited to the next ANC 5A meeting.
Catching up on posts, starting with a few updates from the DDOT Ward 5 Open House held on February 8, 2020.
Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) Fort Totten Extension
MBT Extension Brookland to Fort Totten Construction Phases. Source: District Department of Transportation
DDOT’s Metropolitan Branch Trail Project Manager Nannette Bowles shared a few updates about the MBT extension from Brookland to Fort Totten metro station (see handout here). DDOT has finally gotten the necessary easements and rights-of-way from various property owners (Metro, National Park Service, Aggregate Industries) in order to proceed with work on the middle portion (Phases C-D) of the extension, which is also the most complicated part.
As spring approaches, there will be more activity along 1st Place NE by Fort Totten metro station. Replacement of the existing trail alongside the Mamie D. Lee garden and Mary’s Center/Briya/Bridges is nearly done.
After a long pause in posting updates after March 31 of last year, DDOT has started updating the two-week look ahead reports (the weekly progress reports are still a work in progress). They have also revised the timeline again so projected completion is now expected in winter 2020 rather than September 2020. It is entirely possible that this date will change again, but at least it sounds like progress is being made.
Sidewalk on South Side of Galloway Street NE
DDOT’s Ward 5 liaison Kelly Jeong-Olson shared that DDOT and NPS are working to finalize an MOU to construct a trail on the south side of Galloway Street NE between South Dakota Avenue and 4th Street (where there is not a sidewalk). NPS is responsible for design, which DDOT will need to approve. DDOT hopes to have a design finalized by the middle of this year. Once the design is done, DDOT will present it to the community for feedback, likely at an ANC meeting.
This project has been delayed because the original trail NPS designed was not done to proper specification, with NPS designing a 6-foot wide trail rather than a 10-foot wide trail. There will need to be a retaining wall. The design team was also working out how to work around all of the deep tree roots. Stay tuned for an update from your ANC.
Also, folks probably noticed the sidwalk leading from South Dakota Avenue to the bus stop on the south side of Galloway Street was repaved. In addition, the broken sidewalk on Galloway leading to the metro station was finally repaired last week, thanks to attention from two residents, Deborah Grimstead and Robert Oliver.
Crosswalk 400 block of Galloway Street NE
View of crosswalk 400 block of Galloway Street NE pre-corral installation and post-corral installation
In December 2019, DDOT installed an off-sidewalk parking corral in a portion of the no parking zone near the crosswalk in the 400 block of Galloway Street NE. People still park cars directly behind the crosswalk though so visibility of pedestrians attempting to use the crosswalk is still a problem. At the open house, DDOT said they would investigate placing a second corral behind the crosswalk so that cars are not parked there.
This has been an ongoing issue since fall 2017 when The Modern at Art Place opened. The crosswalk was removed during construction of The Modern. Once the building was completed in 2017, no one thought to put the crosswalk back in and there were conflicting reports about whether DDOT expected the crosswalk to be replaced. It took months for the crosswalk to be replaced and then cars were being parked in the crosswalk and directly surrounding the crosswalk because there was not a curb cut. It took another couple of months for a curb cut to be installed. DDOT piecemealed improvements and repeatedly declined to put in additional signage to indicate that cars should not be parked directly behind the crosswalk.
This is one example of why there needs to be a better method to address the pedestrian safety impacts of development (see also the Ingraham Street NE hawksignalsaga). When development projects are completed, there needs to be a more effective way to ensure that the developer has addressed issues in its transportation demand management plan instead of making residents jump through unnecessary hoops to have basic things addressed that should have been addressed during the development and construction process.
The other issue that will need to be addressed here is that a daycare center is scheduled to open in the 400 block of Galloway later this year. Children will undoubtedly be dropped off in cars so there will need to be some accommodation to handle dropoff and pickup around this area that also gets a lot of bus and vehicle traffic.
Path between Gallatin and Galloway Street NE
The saga that is the informal trail between Gallatin Street and Galloway Street near Fort Totten metro station is not something I spoke with anyone about at the open house, but I am putting information about the path here that was shared in a comment by resident (and blog contributor) Robert Oliver on my post with 2020 development updates. Construction of a paved, lit path is scheduled for spring of this year.
Assaults have occurred from time to time on the existing informal path. For decades, residents have requested Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to get NPS to do something about this informal trail. When the paved path is finally installed, people should still be aware of their surroundings. After all, there is a fully paved trail just west of Fort Totten metro station and people still complain about assaults happening there (not to mention the muggings that happen on sidewalks across the city in broad daylight).
Metro is soliciting feedback on its proposed budget until March 2, 2020. You can fill out a survey, submit written comments, and attend an open house and public hearing. There will be an open house at Metro headquarters in DC (600 5th Street NW) on February 26, 2020, starting at 4:00 pm.
There are a number of proposed changes, including a peak fare increase, a flat fare weekend rate proposal, adjustment to service routes and hours for metrobus (including for the 80, E2, and E4 routes in this area), and adjustment to service hours and frequency for metrorail. If you are a metrobus or metrorail user, it is worth visiting Metro’s website to view the proposed changes.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will host an Open House for residents in Ward 5 to learn about current and future safety improvement projects that are advancing Mayor Bowser’s Vision Zero and infrastructure goals.
At the event, DDOT project managers and staff will be available to discuss safety and infrastructure projects in Ward 5, including the Florida Ave NE project, Florida/New York Ave intersection (also known as “Dave Thomas Circle”) project and the Metropolitan Branch Trail (Brookland – Fort Totten) project among other improvements in the Ward.
This Open House is an opportunity for residents to engage directly with DDOT staff to facilitate one-on-one conversations and receive answers for specific questions. There will not be a formal presentation, so residents can come and go when they are able without missing any of the content. Residents should click here.to register for this event.
WHAT: DDOT Ward 5 Open House WHEN: Saturday, February 8, 2020 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. WHERE: Trinidad Recreation Center 1310 Childress St NE Washington, DC 20002
DDOT Ward 4 Open House December 7, 2019 12:00 pm-2:00 pm Roosevelt High School (Gym) 4301 13th Street NW
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will host an Open House for residents in Ward 4 to learn about current and future safety improvement projects that are advancing Mayor Bowser’s Vision Zero and infrastructure goals.
Registration is open for the 2020 visitor parking pass program. If you live on a block zoned for residential permit parking, visit https://vpp.ddot.dc.gov/vpp to obtain your pass.
NBC Washington has a nice two-minute video featuring contributor David Kosub on the new HAWK signal that was finally installed at South Dakota Avenue and Ingraham Street NE on September 26. The new signal is really helpful in helping pedestrians cross this busy intersection, but a few residents have reported that drivers sometimes do not stop when the signal is red. Also, the signal has malfunctioned a couple of times already, so if you see that it is flashing yellow constantly, please submit a 311 request so that it can be fixed. Please continue to contact your Ward 5 MOCR Malik Miller and ANC Commissioner Gordon Fletcher (5A08) with concerns about how this signal is operating.
(Washington, DC) – The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduling lane closures on Riggs Road eastbound from North Capitol Street to 1st Street NE starting on Saturday, October 12, 2019, weather permitting. At least one lane will be open to traffic in each direction.
The closures and restrictions are needed for roadway repairs. The contractor is authorized to work Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Construction is scheduled to be completed by October 15, 2019, weather permitting.
Parking restriction signs will be posted at least 72 hours in advance at locations where parking will be prohibited. These signs will notify the duration and dates of the parking restriction and provide contact information of the engineer in charge.
Traffic controls will be in place to warn drivers approaching the areas. Motorists should anticipate moderate delays due to the lane closures. Drivers are advised to stay alert while traveling through these locations and to be observant of the work zone.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 
