The western entrance to the Van Ness Metro station (WMATA photo)
In November 2013, when Metro closed the eastern entrance to the Van Ness Metro station to replace the escalators, the project’s five-month timeline seemed an eternity. I was also concerned about the increased potential for conflicts between pedestrians and drivers as more people would have to cross Connecticut Avenue to enter the Metro system on the west side.
Five months is nothing compared to what Metro has planned for the western entrance at Van Ness. Metro intends to close that entrance on May 4th, again for escalator replacement work. And this time, it estimates the project will take three years.
Why so long? Metro is not only replacing the one escalator at the western entrance. It is also replacing the three long escalators that descend into the station to the mezzanine. The workers will tackle each escalator replacement one at a time, and the work will be done only when the station is closed. That will stretch the work to 40 weeks per escalator, or approximately three years. It’s not clear why Metro needs to keep the west side closed while the work on the internal escalators is under way.
An alert reader brought WMATA’s notice to our attention, and notified our Ward 3 DC Council member Mary Cheh and ANC 3F commissioner Sally Gresham. He is concerned about more pedestrian-driver conflicts to the north of the station since the sidewalk on the east side of Connecticut is closed for the Park Van Ness construction project and will remain so until at least the end of the year. Metro-bound pedestrians crossing Connecticut at Albemarle to avoid the Park Van Ness work zone will have to cross the avenue again at Windom Place, which only has a crosswalk on the north side, or at Veazey Street Terrace. Conflicts between walker and driver will abound here as well, especially during the morning rush hour. Every weekday, Metrobus carries scores of commuters to the Van Ness Metro stop. They, too, will be crossing busy Connecticut Avenue at Veazey.
It is frustrating to receive notice of this project less than two weeks before it is to begin, especially since the planning process likely took months. This would have given WMATA time to reach out to DDOT and prepare a pedestrian safety plan. But nothing of the sort is mentioned in Metro’s news release. In October, 2013, shortly after Metro announced the five-month closure of the eastern entrance, I spoke to Ann Chisholm in the Office of Government Relations at WMATA. She mentioned the possibility of lengthening the crossing time on Connecticut at Veazey. However, she was concerned that DDOT spoke of the need for a traffic study, which would hold up the project. WMATA dropped the ball then. I intend to learn more about what it plans now.
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David Jonas Bardin says
WMATA’s “Advisory” is hard to fathom. Do they really propose to close the West entrance all the time for three whole years? Why? When the station is open and operating, WMATA tells us it will be doing no work at all on the escalators, so why can’t the West entrance be opened — except for the weeks when they replace the short escalator between the mezzanine and the West entrance? Is WMATA’s real, unstated objective to use the western part of the mezzanine as a staging area?
harper says
This is outrageous. Any suggestions on who to contact to complain? Maybe if enough of us complain . . . Thanks.
David Jonas Bardin says
Councilmember Jack Evans serves on the WMATA board of directors. His email: [email protected]
Scott D. Seligman says
There is a WMATA customer comment form here:
http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/contact_us/ridercomment.cfm
I have just written asking for an explanation and urge others to do the same.
David Jonas Bardin says
Thanks, Scott. I have submitted the following to them:
“Exactly what does Metro plan to do at the west escalator down into Van Ness-UDC?
How much of the sidewalk does Metro want closed off?
Where at the station has Metro posted an explanation for riders and passing pedestrians?
I will report the answer, if any. Did you receive a meaningful answer?
Helen Urquhart says
How does this affect the elevator access to the subway? It sounds like it will be closed … Since U did not mention it, it does not seem to concern you…Shame on you. Try negotiating the subway in a will chair….it is ‘challenging”.
Helen Urquhart a neighbor, a taxpayer, and ‘physically challenged’
Tracy Johnke says
Helen, thanks for your comment. The Metro release says elevator access to the Metro will remain open. It’s worth a mention, but honestly, I’d rather we encourage the less physically challenged among us to use the escalators so as to not crowd out the people who need the elevators the most. Too often, even with all escalators working, I see people with walkers, wheelchairs and forced to wait for an uncrowded elevator at Van Ness.
WashingtonDame says
Metro is probably going to be using that side as a staging area for the repair work. Yes, it’s a pain in the neck, but how hard is it for people to just cross the street? You make it sound as if we have to walk miles.
sReck says
Wait…so the sidewalk is closed on the east side of the street and the subway entrance is closed on the west side of the street? This will be a disaster as people attempt to crisscross Conn. Ave.
WashingtonDame says
It won’t be a problem if they simply cross with the light, rather than jaywalking.
Tracy Johnke says
The main issue isn’t with crossing Connecticut. It’s with crossing Connecticut while drivers are also trying to turn onto the Avenue. The Park Van Ness construction has more walkers crossing at Albemarle in the morning, which creates backups on Albemarle east and frustrated drivers. I saw four drivers in a row run a red light this morning.
Once the west entrance at Van Ness closes, I suspect we’ll also see the same conflicts arise at Veazey Street, unless people head en masse to the elevator up the street instead of crossing Connecticut again.
WashingtonDame says
DDOT might consider putting in turn arrows on the those corners, so that cars can turn after pedestrians cross (pedestrian-leading signals). That would ease the conflicts you mention. There’s one on the south-east corner of Wisconsin/Western/Military that works very well.
Tracy Johnke says
Now you’re talking, WD. This is where the other beef with WMATA comes in. Since the planning for this was months in the making, Metro should have reached out to the neighborhood earlier so our leaders could make the necessary inquiries with DDOT. Planning for a new traffic signal takes months, if not years.
Martey L says
I have also been trying to find out how to have the crossing light at CT/Windom Place changed so that the walk signal is given without having to press a button. So often I arrive at the intersection a couple of seconds after the traffic light has changed and the walk signal is not give because no one else was at the intersection or those who are did not press the button. I usually go ahead and cross, but have sometimes been honked at by drivers trying to turn from Windom onto CT. Does anyone know who to contact about this?
Tracy Johnke says
I’ve had exactly the same problem, Martey! The beg button for pedestrians at Windom has got to go, and the crossing time should be extended at least throughout the length of this project. I’d suggest getting in touch with Mary Cheh’s office and your ANC commissioner. They have contacts with DDOT who can help move things along. Also, DDOT has an online reporting system for traffic signals and more here: http://ddot.dc.gov/service/traffic-signals. It couldn’t hurt to put in a request.
David Jonas Bardin says
Why didn’t WMATA put up signs at the station sharing with users what they might be doing? Even today, at the last minute, is there a notice for Metro users at the site?
Joan Goodrich says
The name of “Veazey Street” is not correct. The correct street name is VEAZEY TERRACE. Abbreviated, it is Veazey Ter. This street name confuses even some cab drivers. I give good directions (I think) but people who are visiting me sometimes ask a passerby if they are near Veazey Terrace. They should not do this! Some (not all) passersby who live in the neighborhood will give strange replies. E.g., “Go over to Van Ness St.”; This is Veazey ,but I don’t know where Veazey Terrace is.” This latter comment has been said at the corner of Connecticut Ave. and Veazey Ter.!
Tracy Johnke says
Oh my goodness, Joan! You’re right, of course. If you got a dollar every time someone made that error, you’d be living on Easy Street.