September 3, 2020 · 1:09 pm

Alternative A Is Preferred Option but PA Ave Bike Lane Project Encounters Delay

Alternative A is the preferred design choice for installing bike lanes on PA Avenue between 2nd Street and 17th Street, SE

New Timeline released at last night’s ANC6B Transportation Committee

Original Timeline from DDOT presentation on July 8

Alternative A Is Preferred Option But PA Ave Bike Lane Project Encounters Delay:

by Larry Janezich

September 3, 2020

Last night, at a virtual meeting of ANC6B’s Transportation Committee, Mike Goodno, DDOT Bicycle Program Specialist, announced that Alternative A has been selected as the preferred design choice for the installation of bike lanes on PA Avenue, SE, citing overwhelming support in DDOT’s online survey.  He called the choice the one with the least change in traffic patterns.

He also unveiled a new timeline for the project which has been delayed by COVID-related issues.  The next community engagement in the process is a second public meeting which had been scheduled for summer/fall 2020 where the 30% design for the plan was to have been unveiled.  That meeting has been pushed back to fall/winter of 2021 – likely into next year, since Goodno said that DDOT would be working on the 30% design “over the next six months or so.”  A 100% design will be completed in 2021.

The ANC Transportation Committee, chaired by Commissioner Oldenburg, unanimously voted to recommend that the full ANC send a letter of support for Alternative A.  The matter will next be taken up by the full ANC when it holds a virtual meeting next Tuesday.

In response to concerns that the plan would divert outgoing PA Ave traffic to Independence Avenue, Goodno said that after installation of 13 miles of bike lanes in the city, preliminary analysis has shown very little change in traffic patterns.  He said if DDOT feels traffic is being diverted to Independence, the agency can quickly make changes in the flexible posts and paint to correct the situation, adding, “We’re sensitive to community concerns and don’t think it will happen.”

There are four projects on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, with which the bike lane program will have to be coordinated:

  • Upgrading streetlights and traffic signals
  • The redesign of the Pennsylvania and Potomac Avenue intersection
  • Finalizing the Environmental Assessment of the Southeast Boulevard and Barney Circle
  • The redesign of the Eastern Market Metro Plaza

2 Comments

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2 responses to “Alternative A Is Preferred Option but PA Ave Bike Lane Project Encounters Delay”

  1. Roger Haley
    September 3, 2020 at 5:08 pm

    What a mistake! DC ought to leave well enough alone. It would be better simply to concentrate on eliminating all the double parking by delivery trucks and autos on Pennsylvania Ave., SE. I expect the proposed change will adversely affect all the businesses along the avenue.