Windom Place crosswalk addition still on; DDOT seeks removal of Cumberland crosswalk

The marked crosswalk and pedestrian signal would be added here, on the south side of the Windom Place intersection. (Google Street View image)

DDOT gave us the news last July: an additional crosswalk would be installed at Connecticut and Windom Place. At the time, DDOT said work was expected to begin in November 2017.

The project still has a green light. It’s just delayed. Wasim Raja, DDOT’s associate director of traffic engineering, told Forest Hills Connection via email:

Delivery of the signalized crosswalk addition project at Connecticut and Windom is taking longer than DDOT had originally anticipated. With the most current design now calling for a full intersection upgrade to comply with the ADA guidelines, DDOT anticipates project completion by this fall. DDOT has ordered all project materials and currently awaiting PEPCO underground penetration guidance before starting the construction work within the next few weeks.

There is a marked Connecticut Avenue crossing on the north side of Windom Place. (Google Street View image)

As DDOT works to add one Connecticut Avenue crosswalk, it’s proposing the removal of another. Cumberland Street is getting DDOT’s attention as one of the unsignalized Connecticut Avenue crossings that also has a bus stop.

The crossing and bus stop at Connecticut and Cumberland.

The agency is seeking to remove the crosswalk markings at Cumberland and move the southbound bus stop one block north to the Davenport Street intersection. That’s DDOT’s preferred location because Davenport has a traffic signal.

DDOT would relocate the southbound Metrobus stop here, just north of Davenport Street.

It would still be legal for pedestrians to cross Connecticut at Cumberland – crosswalks do not have to be marked to be legal pedestrian crossings. But DDOT believes moving the bus stop would remove some incentive to cross the busy Connecticut Avenue’s six lanes at this location. And with 35,000 cars moving through this section of Connecticut Avenue every weekday, DDOT believes it will be safer to encourage people to cross at the light instead.

DDOT’s pedestrian coordinator, George Branyan, was at ANC 3F’s February 20th meeting seeking a resolution in support of removing the crosswalk markings at Cumberland, and moving the shelter and bus stop flag to the northwest corner of Connecticut and Davenport. The six commissioners present voted unanimously to approve the resolution.

The DDOT portion of the meeting begins at 2:01:20.