All the way back in November, when the Park Van Ness project closed the sidewalk along 4455 Connecticut, ANC 3F Commissioner Sally Gresham and I had a list of suggested safety improvements for pedestrians. One of those suggestions involved removing the crosswalk markings across Connecticut at Yuma Street.
We presented this list to Matthew Marcou, who oversees traffic safety plans at construction sites for DDOT.
Better late than never. Eight months later, we found workers scrubbing out the markings, as we’d requested.
Scrubbing out the crosswalk on Connecticut at Yuma on July 11th, 2014.
Pedestrians still do cross there. But with one less invitation, hopefully, fewer will traverse the street.
Another of Commissioner Gresham’s suggestions has been implemented half a block to the north. Perhaps you’ve even noticed it. The sidewalk closure funnels more pedestrians through this crossing, and creates more conflicts with drivers trying to turn from Albemarle onto Connecticut. So DDOT has adjusted the signal to give pedestrians seven more seconds to cross Connecticut Avenue at Albemarle Street.
Gresham has also continued to press DDOT to install a crosswalk at the southern side of Windom at Connecticut, another intersection that is getting a lot of pedestrian action due to the construction site.
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Nicholas Lardy says
Except in the summer when traffic is light, since the closure of the east side sidewalk on Connecticut it has been very difficult for drivers to turn onto Connecticut from Albemarle. The seven seconds of additional time for pedestrians to cross Connecticut sounds good but it cut the times drivers have to turn onto Connecticut by about half. Expect huge back ups post labor day.
marchesa says
The only consequence to drivers of the longer pedestrian crossing time is waiting for another light cycle. The consequence to pedestrians of having too little time to cross is being hit by a speeding car. Which happens all too often in this city. Causing drivers a small delay is well worth the protection it provides to pedestrians.
When will BF Saul rebuild the sidewalk on the east side of Connecticut? It looks like they will not meet their deadlines. The far right lane on the east side should be used to create a pedestrian walkway, with jersey barriers to protect pedestrians from the traffic.