This post is long overdue, but still timely because of a couple of events coming up.  At the Ward 5 budget townhall meeting, I raised a question about connectivity around Fort Totten.  Of course, Fort Totten metro station with its three lines and several bus bays is a huge plus for the neighborhood, but the neighborhood could benefit from a bit more connectivity.  More specifically, I asked if funding would be made available to improve connectivity through completion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail, installation of bikeshare stations in the neighborhood, and a study of the feasibility of a north-south streetcar route along South Dakota Avenue NE to Riggs Road NE.

Metropolitan Branch Trail

Currently, the northbound off-road portion of the MBT ends in Brookland.  From there, an on-street route continues (partly up a steep hill) to Fort Totten.  DDOT previously held workshops and planning sessions to determine the best route for completing the MBT north of Brookland.  The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board’s (TPB) May meeting included proposed amendments to update DDOT’s section of the FY 2013-2018 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  One of the items is completion of the Fort Totten portion of the MBT in 2015.

Bikeshare

Residents have been asking for bikeshare stations in the neighborhood for a while.  JBG/Lowe, developers of Fort Totten Square, have said they are committed to paying for installation of a bikeshare station at the corner of the FTS development on 3rd Street & Riggs Road NE.  However, that station will not be installed until the development delivers in spring 2015.  They also said Walmart, which will anchor the development, has promised to pay for installation of a bikeshare station at Fort Totten metro station, but it’s not clear if Walmart will pay for that station to be installed before the development is complete.   In any event, the neighborhood will be getting at least one, maybe two, stations by spring 2015.

Opportunities for input

In the next couple of weeks, there will be two really good opportunities to speak directly to and hear from the agencies that are responsible for shaping the way residents connect and move around the city.  The first is DDOT’s moveDC public workshop on Thursday, June 6, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. at Lamond Riggs Library.  MoveDC is DDOT’s initiative to develop a strategic, multimodal long-range transportation plan for the city.  The workshop will provide a chance to talk about how residents travel around the city and share ideas on projects and priorities and what residents hope to see in the future.  Residents are strongly encouraged to participate.  Visit the moveDC website  for more information.

The second opportunity is a walking tour hosted by the Coalition for Smarter Growth called “Fort Totten:  More than a Transfer Point,” on Saturday, June 15, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.  This tour is more of an opportunity to learn about what is happening in the neighborhood.  Plenty of agency officials will be on hand.  CSG’s policy director Cheryl Cort will lead the tour.  A representative from WMATA will discuss plans to develop the parking lot parcels at Fort Totten metro station.  A representative from DDOT will discuss the streetscape improvements in the neighborhood and the reconfiguration of the South Dakota Avenue & Riggs Road NE intersection.  A representative from JBG will discuss the vision for Fort Totten Square as a placemaking development.  A representative of the tenants of the Riggs Plaza apartments will discuss the Art Place at Fort Totten development.  Finally, a representative from the Office of Planning familiar with the neighborhood will tie it all together.  Hopefully residents were able to sign up because registration is now full.