Topic – Public Realm/Road Construction Projects
Reminder about Columbia Heights Day – Saturday, October 4
Presentation by Gabriella Vega, Transportation Planner – Ward 1, DDOT
Streetscape work being phased to implement quickly, and to minimize effects on businesses and traffic.
Bid awarded in September to contractor
Work originally slated to begin in early October, contractor is proposing alterative schedule – possible start later in October.
First project – Triangle Park at 14th and Kenyon
Public plaza: scope includes fountain, plantings, lighting, pavers. Design is more or less finalized, although project engineers may tweak at the margins.
Second project – Park Road from Holmead to Mt Pleasant St.
Scope includes curb extensions at corners, trees
One lane of Park Road will remain open during reconstruction
“Great Streets” program:
Effort to make “complete streets”, that address businesses and pedestrians
$84M proposed for Great Streets program
Sherman Ave Project:
Part of Great Streets
Scope includes:
adding median with trees
reconfigure traffic lanes (one lane each direction)
bike lanes
widen sidewalks
curb extensions at corners
left turn lanes
Schedule:
Design – November 2008-2009 (there will be opportunities for community input during this process)
Construction – January 2010-2011 (phased to minimize impact on traffic, pedestrians)
Georgia Ave Project:
Lower Georgia Ave Project:
Florida to Otis
Mid Georgia Ave Project:
Otis to Ward 4 border
Howard University slowing Georgia Ave projects – DDOT wants to incorporate Howard Town Center design into Georgia Ave design, Howard has no design for Town Center yet, hence the delay in beginning this portion of the project.
New Hampshire Ave Project:
Median work (greening, planting trees)
Will tie into Sherman Ave Project
Possible roundabout at intersection of Park and New Hampshire?
DDOT having community meetings approximately every 40-50 days
Other Discussion Points
Possible Smart Bike location at Giant
New trees will be planted at 14th between Irving and Kenyon when sidewalk work begins
Traffic pattern to change at 14th and Park to allow for better pedestrian patterns
Traffic light work to take place at 14th and Newton, to allow for longer crossing times for pedestrians
Public Realm community meetings are driven by the Office of the Mayor, not DDOT
Multi-space parking meters to arrive December/January
New bus stop shelters: some residents expressed that they were too close to the curb, preventing wheelchair access. This will be remedied via the redesign / extension of sidewalks in public realm.
Graded pavement near Highland Park entrance to metro presents a tripping hazard. City officials present at the meeting will investigate.
For questions or comments re: progress of the Columbia Heights Public Realm plan, contact Don Edwards of Justice & Sustainability, 202-297-1603,meedwards@hntb.com or Don@jsallc.com.
Next NCHCA Meeting – Wednesday, December 3 (topic TBD)