George Branyan, the Pedestrian Program Coordinator within the District Department of Transportation DDOT, posted on the BAC Google group that the Ward 7 East Capital Pedestrian Safety Project public meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 3, 2012, from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM at the Benning-Stoddert Recreation Center, 100 Stoddert Place. While the the focus of the meeting will be pedestrian accessibility, DDOT also seeks input from bicyclists to help create a safer and multi-modal East Capitol Street.
At this meeting, the study team will solicit feedback from the community on the proposed improvements that have been identified to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit users within the East Capitol Street corridor between Stoddert Place, SE and Southern Avenue, NE. This meeting is based on the findings of the Far Northeast Livability Study and hopes to address one of largest safety challenges associated with this corridor, specifically, the Benning/East Capitol/Texas Avenue intersection.
According to Mr. Branyun, some important bike facility opportunities are in the DDOT proposals. Specifically, a redesign of the Benning/East Capitol/Texas Avenue intersection to include separated cycle tracks. For most of the corridor, the proposal is to also add bike lanes. This is possible because DDOT is considering making the parking full-time, eliminating the use of the curb lanes as travel lanes during rush hour (DDOT analysis shows there is excess capacity on the roadway, even at rush hour). This could provide extra width for bike lanes along East Capitol while creating a safer pedestrian environment.
Added 2/18/12
Below is a map identifying elements of the project at this intersection. Here, the bike lanes / cycletrack width is 6 feet. The According to Mr. Branyun,
If you have suggestions about this area, please let us know below.
At this meeting, the study team will solicit feedback from the community on the proposed improvements that have been identified to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit users within the East Capitol Street corridor between Stoddert Place, SE and Southern Avenue, NE. This meeting is based on the findings of the Far Northeast Livability Study and hopes to address one of largest safety challenges associated with this corridor, specifically, the Benning/East Capitol/Texas Avenue intersection.
According to Mr. Branyun, some important bike facility opportunities are in the DDOT proposals. Specifically, a redesign of the Benning/East Capitol/Texas Avenue intersection to include separated cycle tracks. For most of the corridor, the proposal is to also add bike lanes. This is possible because DDOT is considering making the parking full-time, eliminating the use of the curb lanes as travel lanes during rush hour (DDOT analysis shows there is excess capacity on the roadway, even at rush hour). This could provide extra width for bike lanes along East Capitol while creating a safer pedestrian environment.
Added 2/18/12
Below is a map identifying elements of the project at this intersection. Here, the bike lanes / cycletrack width is 6 feet. The According to Mr. Branyun,
The project boundary on the west side ends at B St. SE where it merges onto East Cap. That's where the two lanes coming from the tunnel become three lanes and speeds increase, based on our data. The concept creates a buffered bike lane out of the eastbound right lane after the B St. merge.
If you have suggestions about this area, please let us know below.