A new feature of the Greater Greater Washington blog, called “Walkblock of the Week,” covers sidewalks that have been closed for construction projects. The second installment talks about the Park Van Ness construction site on the east side of Connecticut between Windom Place and Yuma Street.
We’ve been without a sidewalk at that location since November 2013, and it could be at least another year before the site reopens to pedestrians. The GGW article points out the discrepancy between what’s asked of pedestrians (losing the direct route) and what drivers must give up (generally nothing).
The article sparked a debate over how much this truly inconveniences those of us who live here and who regularly visit the school and businesses directly north of the site. The discussion even prompted GGW’s founder, David Alpert, to write a second article on the subject. Using the example of the northbound Franklin Montessori kids who must walk to Albemarle, cross Connecticut, and then double back, he calculated that the extra crossing could add up to 2.5 minutes of walking time when you factor in a wait at the light.
Two and a-half minutes doesn’t seem like much, but Alpert points out that drivers have complained about projects that added even less time to their commutes.
We got to see such a case recently when DC put in (and then removed) a median on Wisconsin Avenue in Glover Park. The traffic count data said that drivers’ trips lengthened by 1-2 minutes. But drivers, including Councilmember Jack Evans, who drives on Wisconsin to and from his kids’ school, screamed bloody murder.
This didn’t come up in either GGW article, but the missing sidewalk is also an inconvenience to the drivers trying to turn onto Connecticut from Albemarle during the morning rush. They can find themselves waiting through a second or third light cycle because of increased pedestrian traffic.
Many these are pedestrians heading toward the Metro from the north. And some can and do cross Connecticut at Brandywine to avoid the construction site. But parents and small children heading to Franklin Montessori from the south must cross at Albemarle to get to the school.
What do you think? Is the missing sidewalk more than a mere inconvenience? How does it affect your commute – by car or on foot?
Eric says
I don’t think it’s much of an inconvenience. I live and walk in the area and the only time I’ve seen cars miss the light trying to turn south on to Conn Ave. coming from Albermarle is when the line for the car wash is stacked up around the block.
I also take issue with Alpert’s calculation of how much time the extra walk-around adds, “Let’s assume an extra 1 minute wait for the light and you have added 2.5 minutes to the trip.” Why simply assume that waiting at the light is an extra 60 seconds for every person? It’s not. Maybe if you just miss the walk signal it’s another 60 seconds, but that’s certainly not the average or typical case.
Laurie says
Eric must be weatching only the west side of Albemarle at Connecticut. Drivers coming from the east side do have to wait for pedestrians crossing Connecticut before they can turn left. Even with the foot traffic getting a head start of a few seconds, the light just isn’t long enough for more than about three cars to get thru the turn legally. Connecticut Avenue traffic clearly has the advantage; perhaps a solution might be to make the cross traffic light a bit longer. The worst part of the whole setup should be behind us soon, as daylight arrives earlier. It’s been very difficult in the morning to clearly see pedestrians, especially when they’re wearing dark clothing or when it’s raining. It will be wonderful (and much safer for all) when a covered sidewalk can be installed along the construction site.
Casey says
I am a parent of two small children at Franklin. The extra walk time is inconvenient but actually not that big of a deal. The bigger problem is that the cars are extremely impatient and often block the crosswalk. I recently had one car that was literally sitting in the crosswalk as we were trying to cross with the walk signal tell me that I had better take more caution with my kids since I wasn’t holding the older one’s hand instead of apologize for the fact that they clearly were not following the traffic rules and were continuing to move with small children trying to get around the cars. This blockage happens often and is quite dangerous for the 0-6 year old children who attend the school. A crossing guard at this hour would be a big improvement.
Marchesa says
The closure of an important pedestrian sidewalk for over a year and maybe two is a major problem. Drivers speed up at the Albemarle intersection and commonly enter crosswalks while pedestrians have the right of way. if the City won’t make the developers reopen the sidewalk or require them to do anything else to help the neighborhood, then DDOT should take a lane from Connecticut for pedestrians. People who live in this neighborhood have the right to a safe walkway. Not sure why people don’t care and it is outrageous that drivers get in the path of children.
Matthew Bruckner says
It’s a hassle. And unfortunate that drivers are prioritized over walkers. Instead of giving up a sidewalk, cars could give up a driving lane by utilizing one lane of the road as a sidewalk. Protect pedestrians with concrete barriers.
We live in an urban neighborhood that’s excellent for walking. Any impediment (even if only 2 1/2 minutes) is not acceptable. As it is, people walk in the traffic lane rather than cross the street.