comment submitted to the Notice of Intent to Install Protected Bike Lanes on Virginia Avenue NW.
I regret that I missed the deadline for the NOI, but I still wanted to submit my enthusiastic support of the plan to install protected bike lanes along Virginia Avenue NW between Rock Creek Trail and Constitution Avenue, while sharing a couple of remaining concerns about the project proposal.
In addition to generally supporting the proposed plan, I am particularly excited to see that recent versions of the plan close the Juarez Circle east slip lane. This will also reduce potential conflict points between drivers and pedestrians, and I commend DDOT’s team for making this amendment to the plan. I hope the new stub of a bike lane can someday be connected further south to the Roosevelt Bridge and Rock Creek trails.
I also want to thank you for the revision of the crossover at G St and adding the signal—though noting that forcing riders to cross what can be rather high-speed traffic at a somewhat unfamiliar type of intersection still concerns me—and adding the new signal at the E St Expressway ramp. I do, however, still have a couple concerns.
First, I am not thrilled about the plan, or lack thereof, for the segment between Constitution and 18th along Artigas Park. Half the space is dedicated for a ‘bus queuing area’, while the other two lanes are left for through cars. I understand that you believe adding a signal will help reduce the number of cars able to move from Constitution to Virginia and across 18th without slowing, but I urge DDOT to reconsider what can be done with this space, up to and including closing it to through traffic entirely—drivers can simply go the extra hundred yards to 18th and turn north to reach outbound Virginia, and adding the extra distance and turn could make this area much safer for pedestrians who must cross this oversized slip lane. I feel this is especially true for pedestrians heading westbound, who have to look back over their shoulder to watch for speeding traffic as they cross. Perhaps—especially at lunch and at other off-peak times—this area could become a food-truck corral and outdoor-eating seating area. Regardless of other changes that get made there (or don’t), I’d also like the Department to work with DOEE to remind bus drivers using the queuing area of DC’s anti-idling law and enforce it.
Additionally, there are several areas in the plan where curb lanes are designated as parking off-peak, becoming general travel lanes during peak hours. However, I know there are a number of bus lines which run through this area, including several WMATA rush-hour lines such as the H1 and L1. I wonder therefore if these peak-hour-only travel lanes could become peak-hour-only bus lanes instead.
This project is sorely needed, and I support it strongly. I look forward to its completion, and hope to ride it soon.
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