Please join this meeting now if you live in ANC 5A01 & 5A09 & are interested in hearing about UDC’s campus development plan for the Bertie Backus campus & the proposed cycletrack on Riggs Road.
UDC is revising its master plan for the Bertie Backus campus site
Riggs Road Cycletrack
DDOT has issued an NOI for a small, one-block cycletrack onRiggs Road to provide a safer connection between residents to the east of South Dakota Ave and the future MBT extension to Takoma
PLEASE NOTE: THE COMMISSIONERS WILL BE LET IN THE ROOM FIRST AND THEN ALL OF THE RESIDNTS AND GUESTS
All residents will be muted. Individuals will be called on once acknowledged by the Chair.
AGENDA
1. Call Meeting to Order 6:45 pm
2. Quorum
3. Agenda Review/Acceptance
4. Commission Business
A. Secretary Update 1. Minutes for Approval (April 2023)
B. Parliamentarian Update
C. Treasurer Report 1. 2nd Quarter Financial Report 2. Cell Phones 3. Comcast for the ANC Office 4. Credit Card Authorization 5. Business cards
D. Commission Action Items/Updates 1. 5A09: Fort Totten Park Toxic Waste Issue Resolution
E. Administrative Matters 1. Task Force Groups A. Public Safety B. Social Media C. Parks Task Force D. Transportation
5. Community Updates A. MPD B. Mayor’s Office C. Councilmember Parker’s office
6. Reports & Presentations A. 5A03: Providence Hospital Reimagined B. 5A04: The Catholic University of America Development Projects C. 5A09: Phase II Modern Development D. The Campaign to Reduce Lead Exposure & Asthma- Shanna Anderson
Reminder: Lamond-Riggs Library will be closed on Saturday, May 20.
—
Original post 5/4/2023
From DC Public Library
Lamond-Riggs Library closure on Saturday May 20, 2023 to enable installation of concrete outdoor benches.
The much awaited outdoor concrete benches and the DDOT approval to set these benches with a crane are in place for Saturday, May 20, 2023 installation and the Library will be closed to the public for the day.
In the small likelihood that a subsequent day is needed to complete installation of these concrete benches with a boom truck, a separate notification will be provided for date and logistics.
Per the DDOT approved traffic control plan:
On Friday, May 19, DDOT will install no parking signs along Kennedy St. & Jefferson Ave.
Starting at 5:00 PM, the no parking will go into effect.
On Saturday, May 20, the crane is scheduled to arrive at 4:00 AM, and the installation of benches will take place until 7:00 PM. The crane will leave around 7:00 PM on Saturday, May 20.
The crane and two tractor trailers will initially be set up at the intersection of South Dakota Ave & Jefferson Street. Over the course of the day, the two tractor trailers will move to Kennedy St. and the crane will move to the library parking lot.
Library parking lot will be off- limits.
Access to Jefferson Street from South Dakota Ave will be blocked.
Kennedy Street will be partially blocked, however, traffic will continue in both directions.
Residents/Visitors that typically turn onto Jefferson St would be rerouted by a flagger at Chillium Pl & Jefferson St.
Sidewalk access on Jefferson Street will be blocked and foot traffic will be diverted across South Dakota Ave.
General traffic will be rerouted per the detour signs installed by DDOT – see diagram below
Traffic detour and crane set-up diagram
Conceptual rendering of benches. Actual placement will be coordinated onsite with landscape architect.
Heritage Wall Update – Installation Coming Soon
The community-sourced photos and fabric swatches for the Heritage Wall have been translated into a digital collage by Artist Michelle Lisa Herman – see rendering below.
The physical wall covering is in production by the graphic wall covering sub-contractor.
Start date finalization is underway for the four-week Heritage Wall Art installation.
During these four weeks, the monumental staircase will not be available to patrons.
The install will include temporary removal of the glass railing, installation of scaffolding, and wall preparation before the wall covering can be adhered.
The work for this will be done during the day, typically between 7:00 AM & 3:30 PM.
During these four weeks, the maximum allowable occupants on the second floor will be limited to 49 occupants. Patrons will access the second floor using the elevator, and the back staircase will be used for emergency exit only.
Branch manager David Gaston and his team at the library will enable ease of access to the patrons as this work begins.
Heritage Wall rendering
Any general questions can be directed to Library’s Community engagement liaison Martha Saccocio at her email: Martha.Saccocio@dc.gov.
Any time-sensitive Construction Safety issues can be reported to Consigli Construction Onsite project manager Zachary Turner at 774.573.7192.
DPR Cultural Arts Showcase Highlighting DPR cultural Arts programs and activities May 18, 2023 6:00 PM Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center 501 Riggs Road NE
For voice-only participation on a telephone, dial (301) 715-8592.
Meeting ID: 832 8769 6066. Passcode: 262224.
Call to Order & Roll Call
Administrative Items
Instructions for Participation in Virtual Meeting
Consideration and Approval of Agenda
Approval of April 2023 Regular Public Meeting Minutes
Commissioner Updates
Community Concerns
Please use the “Raise Hand” button via Zoom or *9 via telephone to speak during community concerns. The Commission will provide additional details regarding how to present community concerns via the virtual meeting at the start of the meeting. This is the time for questions or statements from members of the public about issues on the agenda or other areas of concern. Please limit your statement or question to one minute. You may also contact members of the Commission before and after Commission meetings.
Reports
Sophia Tekola, Mayor’s Office on Community Relations and Services (3 min)
Barbara Rogers, Office of Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George (3 min)
Frazier O’Leary, Ward 4 State Board of Education (3 min)
Representative, Metropolitan Police Department, 4th District (3 min)
Housing Justice Committee (2 min)
Vision Zero Committee (2 min)
Community Safety & Support Committee (2 min)
Presentations
Mark Bjorge, Community Relations Specialist, Department of Aging and Community Living, Agency Mission and Services (10-minute presentation; 5-minute discussion)
Cheryl Morse, Consumer Outreach Specialist, Office of the People’s Counsel, Agency Mission and Operations (10-minute presentation; 5-minute discussion)
Arianna Gard, Director, Growth and Resilience Across Development Lab, University of Maryland, Result of Community and Resilient Environments Project (10-minute presentation; 5-minute discussion)
Caren Garfield & Evan Goldman, EYA Multifamily LLC, Takoma Metro Station Project, 327 Cedar Street NW (HPA 23-288) (10-minute presentation; 10-minute discussion)
Letter: Noting Lengthy History of Requests & Calling for Action to Address Illegal Commercial Vehicles (Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Brooks)
Resolution 4B–23-0501: Supporting & Providing Recommendations on B25-0257, Hybrid Meeting Accessibility Act of 2023, to Ensure Accessibility & Inclusivity (Commissioner Brooks, Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Gilligan, Commissioner Yeats)
Resolution 4B-23-0502: Calling for Racial & Demographic Impact Analysis of DC Historic Districts (Commissioner Palmer, Commissioner Yeats, Commissioner Colson)
Resolution 4B-23-0503: Calling for Greater Education Oversight and Accountability of DC Government Adherence to the District of Columbia Human Rights Act (Commissioner Johnson, Commissioner Cohen)
Letter: Requesting Additional Information Related to Pre-Implementation, Execution, and Follow-Up of Lead Service Line Replacement Work Performed by DC Water (Commissioner Cohen, Commissioner Smith)
Adjournment
The next ANC 4B Planning Meeting is scheduled for June 13 at 6:30pm.
The next Regular Public Meeting is scheduled for June 26 at 7:00pm.
[Ed. Note: Looks like North Michigan Park Civic Association (NMPCA) has formed a development task force. Just the messenger.]
From NMPCA
The first meeting for the North Michigan Park Civic Association Community Development Task Force will be Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be virtual.
If you are a North Michigan Park resident and are willing to join this task force, please make sure to join the call. This task force will be to develop community plans, work with developers, owners and the city officials to ensure the needs of the community are met.
Tyeron Boston is the new commissioner for ANC single member district 5A05. With this certification, ANC 5A now has a full commission for the 2023-2025 term.
Last year, Metro released its 10-year strategic plan and included Fort Totten in the list of stations for which Metro would seek a joint development partner in the near term. The Washington Business Journal reports that Metro has given the green light to prepare solicitations for joint development at several Metro stations, including Fort Totten.
At Fort Totten, the proposal could support approximately 680,000 square feet of future development by converting the 408 space Park & Ride lot into a garage and replacing the MTPD precinct.
Aventine Fort Totten is a joint development project that was completed in 2008. In 2013 Metro solicited proposals to redevelop the long-term surface parking lot at Fort Totten station. That solicitation received no bids. Metro subsequently received an unsolicited offer to develop the lot and put out an RFP again in 2014. That solicitation resulted in the selection of Donatelli in 2015. That project was cancelled in 2018. Now Metro is preparing to try again.
Some may or may not know that there is an area development plan for the Riggs Road/South Dakota Avenue NE corridor that was approved by the DC Council in 2009. That plan was fully incorporated into the Comp Plan in 2021. Some also may or may not know that in 2010 Metro released a joint development study for Fort Totten station. All of these combined with the transportation access study that Metro released in 2011 provide good context for plans for the station area. (All of these documents are in the Neighborhood Document Library on the blog).
A lot of development has happened since those plans and studies were released.
Fort Totten Square, which includes a Walmart with a decently sized grocery component, was completed in 2014.
The Cafritz Foundation completed the first phase of its large development project Art Place at Fort Totten in 2017 and is under active construction on the second phase. The second phase is expected to be completed around 2025.
The Brookland to Fort Totten extension of the Met Branch Trail opened in April 2022.
EYA is nearing completion of the first phase of Riggs Park Place at the corner of South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE. A number of families have moved into the new townhomes there. Groundbreaking on the senior building/retail component of the project will be next.
UDC is undertaking a campus plan process for the Bertie Backus Campus at South Dakota Avenue and Galloway/Hamilton streets NE that will see phased campus development over a few years.
In the midst of all of this, we had a pandemic that shifted how people think about designing spaces for large numbers of people to use.
We also have Metro’s decision to stop runing the yellow line to Fort Totten, which is an interesting one from a development perspective. It used to be the case that one could tout the fact that Fort Totten was the only station outside of the downtown core that had three lines servicing the station. Of course, having two lines is not so shabby either, but still just a perspective I have not seen in all the chatter about the yellow line.
Shortly after starting his tenure as the new general manager of Metro last year, GM Randy Clarke made his rounds of the system. I met him at Fort Totten station and told him that hopefully with some lessons learned from what could have worked better with Aventine and previous bids, Metro can put together a package for Fort Totten that will see a high quality project come to the area. I know construction costs are much higher now and there are supply chain issues still. But we can still do better than what Metro did with Aventine. We can have solid, high quality urban architecture & construction; pedestrian friendly design; appropriately scaled spaces; recycling/waste diversion receptacles on the grounds; advanced stormwater management; better connections to the MBT; and wayfinding signs. In other words, we can have what all the plans for this area contemplate, meeting the needs of Metro and the needs of the surrounding neighborhood.
UDC is revising its master plan for the Bertie Backus campus site
Riggs Road Cycletrack
DDOT has issued an NOI for a small, one-block cycletrack onRiggs Road to provide a safer connection between residents to the east of South Dakota Ave and the future MBT extension to Takoma
ANC 5A held its monthly public meeting on April 26, 2023.
Commissioners present: Duvalier Malone (5A01); Karlus Cozart (5A02) – Parliamentarian; Emily Singer Lucio (5A03 – Secretary; Diego Rojas (5A04); Kweku Toure (5A06) – Vice Chair; Gordon Fletcher (5A08) – Chair; Zachary Ammerman (5A09) – Treasurer. At the time of this meeting, ANC 5A05 was vacant.
ANC Business
The ANC unanimously voted to stop paying for individual ANC phones for commissioners. Commissioner Ammerman, treasurer for the ANC, stated that in previous years, the ANC had been spending roughly $400/month for each of the commissioners to have a separate phone for ANC-related business. The commissioners will explore use of google voice so that they have a phone number separate from their personal cell phone number that they can use for ANC-related business.
The ANC also voted unanimously to renengotiate their contract for Comcast internet service at their UDC Bertie Backus office, which is costing the ANC roughly $400/month.
The ANC voted to get a bank debit card. Commissioner Cozart voted no and Commissioner Toure abstained.
Commissioner Rojas will look into pricing for ANC business cards.
Mayor’s FY2024 proposed budget (Phil Thomas, Director of the Mayor’s Office of the Clean City)
Phil Thomas presented on the mayor’s FY2024 proposed budget. Information available at budget.dc.gov. One thing that stood out was the mayor’s proposal to replace all of the supercans. Former mayor Vince Gray replaced all of the supercans during his administration nine years ago. Mr. Thomas said the new supercans will be different and better than the supercans residents have now.
ANC Special Resolutions for Grace Lewis
The ANC voted to approve a special resolution recognizing the service of former longtime North Michigan Park resident Grace Lewis. Mrs. Lewis is moving out of the city. Mrs. Lewis served as an ANC commissioner and president of the North Michigan Park Civic Association for a long time. She also worked in the office of former Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr. at one point. The ANC approved spending around $140 to purchase a plaque to present to Ms. Lewis for her service.
DC Super Mart/Z-Burger Gas Station Proposal (5A08)
The Board of Zoning Adjustment hearing for the gas station proposal in front of the Z-Burger/convenience store has been rescheduled to September 2023. Representatives for the gas station will present at the ANC’s June meeting. The property sits in ANC 5A08.
McDonald’s Public Space Permit Application Related to Building Drive-Thru (5A08)
The ANC voted 4-3-1 to support the public space permit application of McDonald’s in relation to its plans to build a drive-thru. Commissioners Malone, Hardy, and Ammerman voted no. Commissioners Lucio, Rojas, and Toure voted yes. Chair Fletcher cast the deciding vote to support the public space application. Commissioner Cozart abstained. The Public Space Committee hearing is scheduled for May 25, 2023. The property, located at 4950 South Dakota Avenue NE, sits in ANC 5A08.
Following a change to the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) in the Comp Plan Update, a separate Zoning Commission process resulted in a map amendment (rezoning) of the McDonald’s property that permits rebuilding the restaurant with a drive-thru as a matter of right. The restaurant does not currently have a drive-thru. Part of the public space permit application involves where McDonald’s will be able to have curb cuts for the drive-thru.
At previous meetings, McDonald’s stated that DDOT was opposed to having any curb cuts at all on South Dakota Avenue. Then McDonald’s said that DDOT was fine with one curb cut on South Dakota Avenue. McDonald’s wants two curb cuts on South Dakota Avenue because they said having the drive-thru entrance and exit on South Dakota Avenue would keep traffic out of the residential neighborhood. The curb cut issue is primarily what the ANC focused on for purposes of the vote, though the vote was stylized as support for the entire public space application. The public space permit application covers everything in the public space, not just curb cuts.
The ANC resolution contains a few conditions for supporting the application, including that McDonald’s will install signage near the shared alley, propose other signage and road markings for DDOT approval, conduct a “post-construction operations study,” and consider certain mitigation measures.
(Bit of commentary: The ANC did not share a copy of the resolution before the vote and it is not clear if any of the commissioners saw a copy of the resolution before voting. Chair Fletcher did not want to have a full discussion and presentation about this topic, stating he just wanted to take a quick vote. McDonald’s ended up showing just a few slides from their presentation. The presentation is not available on the ANC’s website.
The resolution endorses a misrepresentation that counsel for McDonald’s has repeatedly made regarding DDOT’s report on the map amendment request to the Zoning Commission. Counsel used to say DDOT wants McDonald’s to put 93 apartments on the property before I pointed out that the report does not say that. So she instead shifted to saying that DDOT wants McDonald’s to build mixed-use. The report does not say that either. This misrepresentation is usually paired with a statement that “McDonald’s knows that the community does not want mixed-use,” to essentially say therefore pay no attention to what DDOT says. People can read DDOT’s Zoning Commission report for themselves.
This misrepresentation is just unnecessary to even keep repeating, especially at this point. If anything, these statements by counsel continue to show why OP’s decision to support a change to the FLUM at McDonald’s request during the Comp Plan Update, a request made only in order to support a future map amendment request that would permit a drive-thru as a matter of right, is an interesting (read unsupportable) one. It is unfortunate that some ANC commissioners continue to co-sign mispresentations about what happened during this whole process. Moving on.)
Fort Totten Park Soil Testing Resolution (Commissioner Ammerman)
The ANC voted to support a resolution requesting comprehensive soil testing in Fort Totten Park following the additional discovery of questionable munitions material in the park. Commissioner Cozart voted no. Chair Fletcher said that the office of the DC Attorney General wants to work with the ANC on this issue. Commissioner Ammerman said he had spoken with someone from the Attorney General’s office the day of the ANC meeting.
ANC Committees
It sounded like Chair Fletcher said that the ANC will send an email soliciting interest from residents who want to serve on ANC committees. Unclear when that solicitation will take place.
Ward 5 Mayor’s Office Report (Ward 5 MOCR Anthony Black)
The mayor was scheduled to have a public safety presser the day after the ANC meeting.
DPR is hiring for many positions and is offering free lifeguard training. Visit earnwithdpr.com.
Mr. Black said he is still trying to get DDOT director Everett Lott to an ANC 5A meeting.
Faith United Church is installing a rain garden on its property.
A resident inquired about activity at the DC Super Mart convenience store where plans for a gas station are stalled. Mr. Black said he will look into it.
Councilmember Parker had a conversation with the National Park Service (NPS) about the soil testing issues at Fort Totten Park. The U.S. Army is still working to determine what is in the canisters found on the west side of the park. Once that testing is done, they will determine next steps.
Councilmember Parker introduced a firearms bill that would empower the DC Attorney General to sue for harms caused by the failure of the firearms industry to take reasonable precautions in the manufacturing and sale of their products.
Councilmember Parker is scheduled to have a walk with Director Lott along the southern portion of South Dakota Avenue near Rhode Island Avenue. CM Parker’s team will work to schedule a walk for the northern stretch of South Dakota Avenue.
UDC officials presented on the campus development plan that is part of the UDC Bertie Backus Campus Plan process. The campus sits in ANC 5A01. The first phase will consist of modernizing the existing buildings on the campus. The second phase will consist of a 55,000 square foot new wing. UDC officials said the second phase is not fully funded yet. UDC continues to make smaller facade improvements around the campus. University officials plan to submit the Bertie Backus campus plan application to the Zoning Commission in May. (Note: I covered this presentation in this post).
On May 8, ANC 5A circulated the announcement from National Park Service below
The National Park Service has announced today that it will install “No Trespassing” signs around an area of Fort Totten Park where two canisters were found a few weeks ago. Fencing and barriers will be installed around the area where the munitions were found until further testing can be completed. Unofficial trails through the woods are also closed off.
The park is closed east of Fort Totten Drive, south of Gallatin Street/Metropolitan Branch Trail and north of Brookland Ave NE/Farragut St. A majority of Fort Totten Park is open for recreation, but visitors should stay on the Metropolitan Branch Trail and the grassy areas of the fort itself (near Fort Totten Dr. and Crittenden St. NE).
We are still awaiting the results of testing of the two objects found.
UDC officials presented on the Bertie Backus Campus Plan at ANC 5A’s meeting on April 26, 2023. UDC officials said they plan to submit the campus plan application to the DC Zoning Commission this month. For information about the campus plan process, visit https://www.udc.edu/campus-master-plan.
(This post described initial meetings about this process).
DC zoning regulations require universities to update campus plans every 10 years. According to UDC, the goal of the regulations are to ensure that university campuses “(1) are well-planned and designed; (2) have long-term facilities plans; (3) minimize any negative impacts the university may have on the surrounding residential neighborhood; and (4) are consistent and transparent with their planning processes.” The Bertie Backus plan under development is the first one for the campus.
The April presentation provides a few more details on the phased development plan for the campus. I have asked for a fact sheet about the Backus campus plan. I will update the post when I receive that information.
The existing campus, located at 5171 South Dakota Avenue NE, sits on a large city block along South Dakota Avenue between Galloway and Hamilton streets. The campus houses UDC’s community college programs (which were relocated from the university’s North Capitol Street campus) and UDC’s Bertie Backus food hub. There is also a DOES American Job Center located on the grounds with an entrance on Hamilton Street NE. The campus sits in ANC 5A01.
(Separately from the campus plan process, the university is currently completing a few beautification projects on the campus.)
Phase One
The first phase would consist of modernizing the existing buildings on campus.
Upgrade utilities
New HVAC
Solar panel installation
Addition of a few long-term bicycle parking spaces
New green/bioretention spaces, new trees, new wayfinding signs in a reconfigured parking lot (160 parking spaces)
New food court/coffee station on first floor
New loading area close to Hamilton Street
Phase Two
The second phase would consist of an expansion. UDC officials said there is no funding for this phase.
New 55,000 square foot wing and courtyard on part of the existing parking lot.
New main entrance
Reconfigured parking lot with 100 spaces
Green roof on the new wing
Removal of chain link fence
New bike parking along South Dakota Avenue
New UDC clock tower with UDC logo
Improved signage/facade improvements along South Dakota Avenue
New green spaces
Food Hub components and 9/11 memorial will remain
Campus Plan Timeline
May 2023: UDC submits Bertie Backus campus plan application to DC Zoning Commission
Built from Washington Union Station to Point of Rocks, MD, today the Metropolitan Branch is owned by CSX. For passenger service, today it’s used by MARC’s Brunswick Line to Frederick, MD, and Martinsburg, WV, as well as Amtrak’s Capitol Limited to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Chicago.
The Metropolitan Branch is also the backbone for two other important routes near our neighborhood. Metrorail’s Red Line follows the Metropolitan Branch between Union Station and Silver Spring. In addition, the Metropolitan Branch Trail follows its namesake from NoMa from Fort Totten, then continues on-street (for the time being) until Takoma Park, where its route again follows the railroad to the north.
The Metropolitan Branch doesn’t just go through the neighborhood – its trains also used to stop here. There were stations at Terra Cotta, near today’s Fort Totten Metro station; Lamond, apparently near Whittier Street; and Chillum, somewhere in between Terra Cotta and Lamond, possibly near Riggs Road. For instance, here’s a timetable from 1919, when the train stopped at all three stations. However, the area was probably less well known for the stations than for the train wreck near Terra Cotta in 1906 that killed 53 people.
With regard to the 150th anniversary: Service on the line actually began in 1869, but it only went as far north as Silver Spring at that time. It took another four years to complete construction to Point of Rocks.
On April 30, 1873, an inspection tour of the new line left from Washington. The opening was evidently a major event; notable guests on the train included General William Tecumseh Sherman, Alexander “Boss” Shepherd (the last Governor of D.C. and namesake of the Shepherd Park neighborhood), two U.S. Senators, and the Postmaster General.
Regular passenger service on the full line started on May 25, 1873.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary, our neighbors in Montgomery County are hosting a variety of activities this month.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is soliciting public comment on the 30% design of the Riggs Road NE two-way cycletrack (NOI #23-75 PSD; 30% design plan). This is the proposed cycletrack on eastbound Riggs using part of the existing dedicated right-turn only lane between South Dakota Avenue and 1st Place NE that DDOT mentioned at ANC 5A and ANC 4B meetings last year. The project sits in ANC 5A09. Send comments to sean.burnett@dc.gov by May 22, 2023.
Rendering of proposed cycletrack from NOI
According to the notice of intent (NOI), “DDOT proposes to reconfigure the 100 block of Riggs Road between First Place NE and South Dakota Ave NE to remove the curbside eastbound travel lane for 800 feet, and convert that space to a two-way protected bike lane (aka cycletrack).” DDOT says the purpose is to “create a dedicated and safer connection for people biking under the railroad tracks to reach the Metropolitan Branch Trail. This will reduce conflicts between people walking and people biking on the sidewalk.”
The cycletrack is less than 800 feet in length, about 0.13 miles. Traveling eastbound Riggs from 1st Place, it looks like the cycletrack would take up the right-turn only lane to just past Food & Friends’ main entrance/driveway, leading to a bike ramp that DDOT proposes to build that would take the rider to the sidewalk before reaching South Dakota Avenue. So there would still be a dedicated right-turn lane from Riggs to South Dakota Avenue, just a shorter one.
Section from Riggs Road/1st Place NE
Section leading to South Dakota Avenue
I cannot say I have strong feelings either way about this cycletrack. (I really want DDOT to completely overhaul the South Dakota Avenue/Riggs Road NE intersection because it was poorly reconfigured in 2011. This cycletrack is so short I am not sure how useful it will be. And a good chunk of the MBT extension from Fort Totten to Takoma is largely on the sidewalk anyway, including the part leading from 1st Place & Riggs to 1st Street and Riggs).
(Edited to add 5/4/2023: A reader emailed a good point regarding east-west connections to the MBT in Riggs Park. If DDOT is interested in making safe east-west connections, DDOT should work on constructing the Avondale segment approved in the National Capital Trail Network. Also the reader stated DDOT should look at other neighborhood streets to make an east-west connection rather than what is proposed for Riggs.)
But I absolutely think that without any barrier, drivers will “accidentally” drive in the cycletrack to get to South Dakota Avenue. There is a dedicated right turn lane on eastbound Riggs to turn onto 1st Place NE. This right turn lane is useful for all of the buses that go to Fort Totten Metro station. Non-bus drivers, however, often get in this dedicated right turn lane and just keep driving straight to continue on Riggs to turn onto South Dakota. I do not think this practice will change at all just because DDOT puts in a clearly marked cycletrack.
I think DDOT really needs to be careful to have clear signage and road markings directing vehicle traffic on this stretch so that drivers do not use the dedicated right turn lane leading to 1st Place to continue straight onto Riggs only to run into the cycletrack and then have to either keep going (because why not), or swerve into the travel lanes at the last second. It is easiest to see what I am talking about by looking at the Riggs Road/1st Place section in DDOT’s plans.
There is an ever so slight downhill descent on eastbound Riggs from 1st Place to South Dakota Avenue, but it is enough for drivers to pick up quite a bit of speed along this stretch (which is why there is a speed camera on the southeast corner of 1st Place & Riggs). Anyone familiar with this area knows that weekday evening rush hour sees a lot of cars on this stretch and drivers feel entitled to take all sorts of illegal actions and drive at whatever speed they want to get to where they want to go. DDOT really should consider having concrete barriers.
Also, I do not have any data on how often delivery vehicles enter and exit Food & Friends, but I do know that adding this bike facility here will introduce one more thing for delivery drivers to have to watch out for as they enter and exit. Food & Friends drivers have to watch out for pedestrians and bike riders using the sidewalk now. While there is a sign warning drivers not to block the Food & Friends driveway, people often do, so I can see delivery drivers deciding to pull out into the cycletrack and sitting for a bit in order to enter the travel lanes.
All that to say, let’s help DDOT get this right by sending constructive feedback to DDOT.
Send comments to sean.burnett@dc.gov by May 22, 2023.
Lamond-Riggs Library closure on Saturday May 20, 2023 to enable installation of concrete outdoor benches.
The much awaited outdoor concrete benches and the DDOT approval to set these benches with a crane are in place for Saturday, May 20, 2023 installation and the Library will be closed to the public for the day.
In the small likelihood that a subsequent day is needed to complete installation of these concrete benches with a boom truck, a separate notification will be provided for date and logistics.
Per the DDOT approved traffic control plan:
On Friday, May 19, DDOT will install no parking signs along Kennedy St. & Jefferson Ave.
Starting at 5:00 PM, the no parking will go into effect.
On Saturday, May 20, the crane is scheduled to arrive at 4:00 AM, and the installation of benches will take place until 7:00 PM. The crane will leave around 7:00 PM on Saturday, May 20.
The crane and two tractor trailers will initially be set up at the intersection of South Dakota Ave & Jefferson Street. Over the course of the day, the two tractor trailers will move to Kennedy St. and the crane will move to the library parking lot.
Library parking lot will be off- limits.
Access to Jefferson Street from South Dakota Ave will be blocked.
Kennedy Street will be partially blocked, however, traffic will continue in both directions.
Residents/Visitors that typically turn onto Jefferson St would be rerouted by a flagger at Chillium Pl & Jefferson St.
Sidewalk access on Jefferson Street will be blocked and foot traffic will be diverted across South Dakota Ave.
General traffic will be rerouted per the detour signs installed by DDOT – see diagram below
Traffic detour and crane set-up diagram
Conceptual rendering of benches. Actual placement will be coordinated onsite with landscape architect.
Heritage Wall Update – Installation Coming Soon
The community-sourced photos and fabric swatches for the Heritage Wall have been translated into a digital collage by Artist Michelle Lisa Herman – see rendering below.
The physical wall covering is in production by the graphic wall covering sub-contractor.
Start date finalization is underway for the four-week Heritage Wall Art installation.
During these four weeks, the monumental staircase will not be available to patrons.
The install will include temporary removal of the glass railing, installation of scaffolding, and wall preparation before the wall covering can be adhered.
The work for this will be done during the day, typically between 7:00 AM & 3:30 PM.
During these four weeks, the maximum allowable occupants on the second floor will be limited to 49 occupants. Patrons will access the second floor using the elevator, and the back staircase will be used for emergency exit only.
Branch manager David Gaston and his team at the library will enable ease of access to the patrons as this work begins.
Heritage Wall rendering
Any general questions can be directed to Library’s Community engagement liaison Martha Saccocio at her email: Martha.Saccocio@dc.gov.
Any time-sensitive Construction Safety issues can be reported to Consigli Construction Onsite project manager Zachary Turner at 774.573.7192.
[Note, this year’s Tour de DCPL starts at Lamond-Riggs Library!]
From DC Public Library
Tour de DCPL is coming back for its 13th year! On Sunday, May 14 at 12:30 p.m. explore the ongoing transformations at DC Public Library by bike! The Tour de DCPL was born in 2010, a free community bike ride that visits a selection of our 26 library locations. Every year, to celebrate National Bike Month, a group of library staff, advocates, and community members strap on their helmets and hop on their bikes to help the DC Public Library promote environmentally friendly transportation and explore how our libraries connect with the communities they serve. Check out the route on the website and get ready for the big ride!
Metro’s yellow line will reopen on May 7, 2023, but it will not go to Fort Totten. Yellow line service will operate only between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Square. Metro has offered reasons for this change, the main one being to support better headways for the southern end of the green line. Color me skeptical. Maybe we will all be pleasantly surprised if Metro does in fact operate six-minute headways on the green line. We do know those promised six-minute headways will not happen during planned summer construction on the green line.
Image from MetroImage from Metro
Metro is planning a long shutdown of green line stations north of Fort Totten from July 2023 to September 2023, for installation of fiber optic cables.
There will be no green line service at all at Fort Totten station July 22-23. Red line service will be available.
From July 24 to September 4, green line service will operate only between Branch Avenue and Fort Totten. Metro says green line trains will operate with eight-minute headways during this time.
Next Stop...Riggs Park 