DDOT might extend the current 36th Street “slow street” to Broad Branch Road. Or mark the length of Yuma Street between Connecticut and Massachusetts Avenues with barriers and “15 mph” signs. These are among the proposed additions to the District’s Slow Streets Initiative, which will eventually reserve 20 miles of streets for shared pedestrian, bicycle and motorist travel.
The intention is to give people on foot and on bikes more room to spread out and practice social distancing while traveling to shopping and services in the neighborhood, or simply getting some exercise. There are seven slow streets covering five miles in DC’s 8 wards. Eventually, the slow streets will cover 20 miles. DDOT engineer Emily Dalphy, who recently explained the purpose and criteria for slow streets, said on Twitter on July 1st that the agency has identified 40 miles of potential slow streets. And now DDOT is asking ANCs and other community leaders for feedback.
These are the proposed slow streets in Ward 3 (the streets in the Forest Hills Connection coverage area are in bold):
36th St NW | Broad Branch Rd to Connecticut Ave NW |
39th St NW | Massachusetts Ave to Fulton St NW |
41st St NW | Military Rd to Belt Rd/Chesapeake St NW |
Chain Bridge Rd NW | Nebraska Ave to MacArthur Blvd NW |
Chesapeake St NW | 41st St/Belt Rd to Connecticut Ave NW |
Davenport St NW | Reno Rd to Broad Branch Rd NW |
Idaho Ave NW | Rodman St to 39th St/Massachusetts Ave NW |
Rodman St NW | Idaho Ave to Connecticut Ave NW |
Sherier Pl NW | Norton St to Chain Bridge Rd NW |
Yuma St NW | Massachusetts Ave to Connecticut Ave NW |
DDOT sent a spreadsheet and map of the proposed slow streets to the District’s ANCs on June 30th. We first saw the list on Twitter, thanks Street Justice reporter Gordon Chaffin.
EXCLUSIVE Here’s 70+ list of possible slow streets @DDOTDC sent to District community leaders today. The agency wants public, ANCs, BIDs to send comments by 7/10. I’m not paywalling this. Pls subscribe/donate to https://t.co/vwAVIMcnLK | https://t.co/JJmvC6vk4o #bikeDC #walkDC pic.twitter.com/JjBjDlU54D
— Gordon Chaffin (@GordonAChaffin) July 1, 2020
Charlie says
Some comments:
1. If they turn Davenport from Connecticut to Broad Branch into a slow street, they will drive the commuter traffic over to Brandywine, and we all know how the residents along Brandywine hate commuters and keep requesting traffic calming measures.
2. I have never seen bikes or pedestrians on 36th Street between Connecticut and Broad Branch, so I don’t see the point of making it a slow street. This would likely force commuter traffic over to Fessenden and Linnean. Why not keep 36th for normal traffic and make Fessenden a slow street? At least people live along there.
3. If they make Chesapeake a slow street, and I think they should, then they should extend the slow street designation east of Connecticut to include the Forest Hills Playground and the Adventist Church.
4. Yuma Street? Yawn….
Roberta Carroll says
I live on Yuma near Conn. Ave. and this would be outrageous to make it a slow street. What will the trucks and traffic do for getting around town? Where do you think this traffic will go? Actually with 36th Street a slow street it is dangerous now as fewer people are walking and biking so cars are dogging other cars pulling in and out and not sure whose turn it is to go. Do not make Yuma one of these Streets it is the way across town over to Wisconsin etc. Actually you should stop making streets slow streets as the amount of people out walking has gone way down and the need has gone way down. It is not uncommon for fire trucks and ambulances to use Yuma to get across town and this would not work with the slow street.
Millie Van says
How are “slow” streets different from just street? Report says “pdestrians, bicyclists, motorists” … This seems to be a make-work exercise by DDOT to seem as if it’s doing something during the pandemic. A bit late, now that people have had 3 months of regularizing a new way of doing the necessities. It’s not as if traffic has become worse; it’s actually pleasant to drive around NW DC. Rather than contriving Rube Goldbergish “slow” streets in residential neighborhoods, how about abolishing the rush hour speedway known as Connecticut Ave? That would increase pedestrian and bike traffic along the commercial strips and restore 5 hours of commerce each day. It’s been nice to shop along CT Ave during the pandemic because parking is plentiful, no rush hour restrictions, and the traffic is moving along fine. Let’s not revert to the previous traffic nightmare, and let’s stop micromanaging traffic anyway.
Green Eyeshades says
I like what Millie wrote. DDOT has done everything in its power for the past decade to do nothing to regulate Connecticut Avenue in our area, and to prevent anyone else from doing anything. DDOT is the problem, and should not be viewed as offering progressive solutions. DDOT is owned by the developers and commuters and needs to be abolished. Can we defund DDOT?
I also think Roberta is asking important questions. Yuma has always been a main artery through AU Park to Mass. Ave. I thought I remembered buses using Yuma through AU Park. But I must be thinking of a discountinued route, because WMATA’s bus maps don’t show any routes on Yuma.
In the Twitter thread embedded in the main post, Gordon Chaffin said this:
“The list has several W[ard] 7+[Ward] 8 streets, but these Slow Streets are limited to residential roads with no bus traffic and a few other constraints @TrafficEnginerd
has been describing in Citizen Advisory Council meetings.”
https://twitter.com/GordonAChaffin/status/1278141830153019397
Green Eyeshades says
The Connection really did us a favor covering this. DDOT itself has not yet posted the new Slow Streets slides which are revealed in screenshots in Gordon Chaffin’s various Twitter threads.
At least not on this DDOT home page for Slow Streets:
https://ddot.dc.gov/page/slow-streets-initiative
Marlene Berlin says
Since 2010 DDOT has made substantial improvements for pedestrians on Connecticut Avenue – from Calvert Street to Western – as a result of Connecticut Avenue Pedestrian Action (CAPA) recommendations. This was a project of Iona Senior Services that I headed with representatives of communities along the Avenue.
This is what DDOT accomplished: Leading Pedestrian Intervals at all intersections in commercial areas on the Avenue, three Hawk signals at Northampton, Ellicott and Newark Streets, crosswalk at the south side of Windom, and increased time to cross the Avenue in commercial areas. DDOT has filled sidewalk gaps that has improved access to Connecticut. There is still work to be done, but what DDOT has done is substantial and has improved the lives of pedestrians to and on Connecticut Avenue.
Green Eyeshades says
Marlene, don’t sell yourself short! What you accomplished with CAPA was and remains extraordinary. CAPA *forced* DDOT to do those things, they weren’t ideas invented by DDOT.
For proof that DDOT was not the main instigator of the changes we see on Connecticut Avenue just look at Wisconsin Avenue. The same DDOT has been in charge of Wisconsin, but none of the improvements we have on Connecticut have been made on Wisconsin. None. Except for one HAWK signal just north of the Van Ness intersection at Wisconsin. And that HAWK seems to be not operational most of the time.
Pat Patterson says
The city needs to add signs on the barricades that say “Designated Slow Street”. Current signs say “Local Traffic Only- 15 mph” making it look like you are entering a construction zone. When I first saw the barricades on 36th St. I wasn’t sure what was going on.
Steven Seelig says
Being someone who cycles a bit, the appeal of these designations for children seems self evident. People can walk or ride really throughout upper Ward 3 without fear of having a speeding car overtake them on any of these streets.
Those complaining about the streets designated seem like they actually endorse the concept, while wanting those streets designated to be switched to or away from their streets. So it is good to see agreement on this being a good idea.
Some comments seem like “what about-ism” even though they properly note that Connecticut needs improvement.
Let’s allow our kids to have better recreation opportunities. Perhaps someday soon, DDOT will make access to Rock Creek via Broadbranch safer than it is now.
Charlie says
“Those complaining about the streets designated seem like they actually endorse the concept, while wanting those streets designated to be switched to or away from their streets.”
For the record, I live on Connecticut Avenue, so my comments about residential streets had nothing to do about my street.
“Some comments seem like “what about-ism” even though they properly note that Connecticut needs improvement.”
Ahem…. As a resident of Connecticut Avenue, I do not consider my 20 year record of complaints about speeding rush hour traffic on the Avenue to be whataboutism. I’ve watched head-on collisions. I’ve seen multiple cars flipped over. I’ve seen a motorcycle death. And I’ve seen a resident of my building killed by a speeding car that ignored a crosswalk. No discussion of safe streets in Upper NW can ignore this problem.
Roberta Carroll says
I do not think the slow streets are a good idea. A road is meant for cars and blocking the road with a sign moves the cars into the opposite lane is not constructive. There are many places in Ward 3 to bike and walk and taking roads away are not necessary. As traffic picks up and more people start to go back to work these slow streets will be a huge obstacle with their signs in the road and will cause accidents. Whenever you remove an active road the traffic transfers to another road it does not disappear.
Steven Seelig says
Please let us know where the safe place are for our children to bike in Ward 3 during a pandemic. Or perhaps more importantly, on what streets would you permit your 8 year old child to bike under the current conditions.
This is not a question about where the most able will bike – I bike on most streets. It is a question about how to create recreation opportunities to the most vulnerable.
I feel badly for those who feel the need to drive everywhere. I’m not willing to let their desires be greater than for those who choose not to.
Green Eyeshades says
We definitely need to take back part of our property from cars. The streets belong to us, not to cars. If we want to take back street space, we could theoretically do it through DC Council. The fact that DC Council and the Mayor are in the pockets of commuters is blocking progress. But if we show we have the will, we can eventually force our elected leaders to do what we want.
Betsy says
Why not do what is done in Germany, Amsterdam and other European cities: have bicycle lanes on the sidewalks. Broaden sidewalks or not for people and bikes with signs where to walk and bike. Believe me it really works- the signs are on the sidewalks and can’t be missed! People and bikers honor and respect each other! Having traveled to many European cities, this really WORKS for everyone!. Also, the bikes have bells to notify you they are coming in that area! This has proven to cut way back on biker and pedestrian accidents and helpful for everyone….plus NO CARS!