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This is really a follow-up to Monday’s post about the opening of the new inbound 11th Street Freeway Bridge. We haven’t heard any complaints about the new bridge (thankfully) but there does seem to be some traffic-stopping confusion (not literally) about new signs posted on the approach to the new bridge and on the span itself. In fact, some folks think we made a glaring – and very visible – mistake on the signage.

New Sign on New Inbound 11th Street Bridge

The signs say “Interstate 695 to Interstate 395 Capitol Hill.” Only problem is there is no I-695 in the District, right? Maybe – some speculate - the signs are referring to the Baltimore Beltway which is also I-695.

Opening of the Inbound Freeway Bridge

Well, actually, there is an I-695 in DC and there has been on for a long time. But while residents and commuters are intimately familiar with I-295 and I-395, you can’t blame them for not knowing where I-695 is located; as far as we can tell it was not previously signed although it was shown on some maps. I-695 has been the designation for a portion of the Southeast/Southwest Freeway, beginning where I-395 enters the Third Street Tunnel and extending to the northern side of the 11th Street Bridge, a grand total of 1.4 miles.

Map Showing New Limits of I-695

In conjunction with the construction of the new 11th Street Bridges, DDOT requested and received approval to extend I-695 across the Anacostia River where it now terminates at the interchange with I-295 and DC 295. I-695 is now a full 2 miles long with mile marker zero located at the junction with I-395. And I-695 is now signed. The map above shows the new limits of I-695 highlighted in green.

There is a method to our madness – we promise – but if you’re still confused maybe Mike DeBonis of the Post or WTOP’s Adam Tuss can provide more clarity.

If only they had signed I-695 way back when the SE/SW Freeway was completed.

Construction of SE/SW Freeway in 1972

Now, who knows where to find the Dwight D. Eisenhower Freeway? Is it signed?

John Lisle
Communications Director

This weekend DDOT crossed a major milestone on the largest construction project it has ever undertaken. Mayor Gray joined Director Bellamy, Chief Engineer Ronaldo ”Nick” Nicholson, Council Chairman Kwame Brown, Councilmember Mary Cheh and Federal Highway Division Administrator Christopher Lawson Friday for the ribbon cutting on the new inbound 11th Street Freeway Bridge. The community – which has been a great partner throughout the project – was also well represented at the event.

Ribbon Cutting for New Inbound Bridge

Following the ribbon cutting, crews completed last minute tasks and over the weekend shifted traffic to the new inbound bridge. The first vehicles to use the new crossing came across at 11:38 am on Sunday, December 18.

First Vehicles Cross the New Inbound Bridge

The inbound bridge is one of three new spans included in the $300 million project which began in December 2009. A new outbound bridge is also expected to open to traffic within days and a third bridge for local traffic is under construction and will open in 2012.

Mayor Gray noted the project is “ahead of schedule and represents a giant step forward for our transportation system. Critical for connecting one city across the Anacostia River, these new spans will serve our residents, workers and visitors for decades to come.”

Construction of Existing Bridges in July 1964

The three new bridges are replacing two 50-year-old spans that are considered functionally obsolete and structurally deficient. Also, they don’t always get you where you need to go. For instance, there is no direct connection from the old outbound 11th Street Bridge to northbound DC 295, or from southbound 295 to the inbound bridge.

The 11th Street Bridge Project will change that. New ramps will make those “missing connections” and create a seamless connection between the SE/SW Freeway and the Anacostia Freeway (I-295/DC 295). That will smooth the ride in and out of downtown for many commuters, but also will keep a lot of traffic out of the local neighborhoods.

11th Street Bridge is Now Designated as I-695

Residents will also greatly benefit from the completion of the “local” bridge. It really will function more as a neighborhood street that happens to cross the Anacostia River and will link Anacostia, Fairlawn and Congress Heights to the Navy Yard, Barracks Row and Capitol Hill. It will also include space for future transit and a 16 foot wide shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. Those multi-modal features will help draw people to the banks of the Anacostia, to explore neighborhoods on both sides of the river, and to enjoy the Riverwalk Trail, another major piece of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI).

Again, that “local” bridge and the new ramps are scheduled to be completed next year, but judging by the progress so far, the wait shouldn’t be too long. The project is several months ahead of schedule and DDOT has shaved time and money off the project by using a design-build-to-budget mechanism.

There are other reasons to celebrate the success of the project:

• Close to 400 men and women work on the job site daily, and at least 73 DC residents have been hired during the project.
• The design and construction of the new bridges have incorporated many environmentally friendly techniques, including limiting stormwater runoff and recycling debris from the old ramps and bridges for use as filler in the new structures.
• The new spans are being built between the two existing spans, which minimized the impact of the construction on traffic.
  

  New Bridges Sandwiched Between Existing Spans

Of course, no construction project is completely pain-free, and in the coming months DDOT will be asking residents and drivers for their patience as we continue to make progress on this critical project. The true value of that work will come into focus when we complete the remaining bridges and ramps, but from our vantage point, the 11th Street Bridges are already looking great.

John Lisle
Communications Director

I want to thank the residents and community leaders who have contacted me about the installation of parking meters on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue in Anacostia. Let me begin by saying that I have directed our staff to remove the parking meters today. They were installed without notice to the community, an oversight I apologize for on behalf of DDOT. They were also installed prematurely: in the coming weeks DDOT will begin a streetscape project along MLK, between Good Hope and Howard Roads. It is more prudent to install the meters after the construction is completed.

Contractor Removing Meter

DDOT has been working with community leaders, the business development community, the ANC’s and DC Council staff to identify potential commercial corridors in Ward 8 that could and should be metered to encourage turnover in the spaces.  It is still our intent to add meters on Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue after the streetscape project is finished next year, and after we have properly consulted with and notified the community.

Pay By Phone Parking

It is also our intent to install intelligent, networked single-space meters, multi-space meters and pay by cell technology to make the corridor user friendly for shoppers and the community in general.  These new meters will take credit cards in additon to cash. I am working with our staff to identify the funding for the new meters.

DDOT does not carry excess meter inventory; all of our assets are deployed in the field. It’s also worth noting that 60 percent of DDOT’s parking meters are considered beyond their useful life.  These are the coin only single space meters and they are deployed in commercial areas across the District. It is also standard practice for us to relocate these meters as needed and as more areas come online. The single space meters are also predominately used in what we call “normal” demand zones where the rate is $0.75 per hour, and newer, more expensive meters are deployed in “premium” demand zones where the rate is $2.00/hour.

Solar Powered, Networked Meters

Having said that, DDOT is looking at options to replace all of its older assets with new, networked, credit card accepting meters.  This will improve system reliability and customer service.

In addition, DDOT launched pay by phone service as a payment option for parking in July 2011.  The system has close to 165,000 customers already and has accounted for more than 650,000 transactions.  It has been the most successful pay by cell launch globally.  Customers are encouraged to use the system for parking on a regular basis, especially when they get to a meter that is not working or not accepting their preferred form of payment. We will expand the pay by phone service to Anacostia when the meters are installed after the construction is completed.

Again, thank you for being passionate about your community and for contacting me about this issue. It is our goal to provide equal service to every ward and every resident of the District, and we welcome your help in ensuring we do it right.

Terry Bellamy
Director

One of the highlights of the week for us was the ribbon cutting celebrating the restoration of Old Market House Square in historic Anacostia. What it lacked in fanfare and glitz, was more than made up for by the community pride on display for a job well done.

As this old photo taken a century ago shows, the park - in the median on 14^th Street, SE between U and V Streets – has been the centerpiece of the community for a long time. It has shown its age recently however, suffering from neglect and becoming more of an eyesore than a bustling neighborhood gathering place.

But rather than accept the park’s fate, a small group of church patrons, historians, community advocates, business district leaders, and residents banded together and decided to do something about it. They formed the Friends of Old Market House Square Park and began the arduous process of raising the funds and support needed to restore the park to its former glory. it was not an easy task. A generous offer from the nonprofit TKF foundation of Maryland came with a catch: it was a challenge grant which meant the Friends of Old Market House Square Park needed to raise more money to match that donation. They perservered though and got additional funding from DDOT and an Earmark from Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry.

Finally, in April of this year, all the pieces were in place and the group broke ground on their labor of love.

It took just 7 months to complete the work… but it was the culmination of a much longer effort.

At the ribbon cutting, Carolyn Johns Gray, a member of the community group, said, “Seven years of work here finally resulted in what you see here today.”

“It is really amazing to be here to see the transformation of the park from what it was when this project started to what it is today, said Donald Cryer, the Senior Warden at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church which fronts the square. “It is hard to believe this could be done.”

The park now boasts new lighting, benches, paths, handicap ramps, grass and trees. DDOT also installed new sidewalks and curbs and repaved the roadway around the square. Residents can match wits on the built-in chess tables, read to children on colorful mushroom shaped seats, or reflect quietly on a bench made from recycled 200 year old pickle barrel wood.

DDOT is very proud to have played a part in the restoration of the park. It looks great, but the lion’s share of the credit for this project belongs to the hardworking, determined community coalition – led by Marie Zackrie – that wouldn’t take no for an answer and kept after it, and kept after it, until they got it done.

Congratulations!

John Lisle
Director of Communications

It’s hard to miss the largest infrastructure project DDOT has ever undertaken – the current construction of the new 11^th Street Bridges – but there is another impressive project underway along the banks of the Anacostia River that hasn’t gotten quite as much attention. The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail is another important addition to the District’s transportation network, connecting walkers and cyclists to their homes, jobs, shopping and recreation sites.

Work on the Trail is already well underway. With more than $25 million invested, 12 of 20 miles are complete, including segments linking Diamond Teague Park, the Pumphouse, the Yards, Navy Yard, RFK Stadium, River Terrace and Anacostia Park. The rest are in planning, design or under construction in coordination with the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. DOT and other agencies.

The District trail will eventually link to 39 miles of trails in Maryland where DC Mayor Vincent Gray recently joined Governor Martin O’Malley, Maryland Senator Ben Cardin, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar for a ribbon cutting ceremony marking Maryland’s completion of 1.5 miles of trail near the border in Bladensburg.

The “Anacostia’s Great Outdoors” event also celebrated the progress made restoring the Anacostia River Watershed. Mayor Gray said, “Working with Maryland and our federal partners to invest in our trails and parks, we will bring new life and greater economic stability to the communities, parklands and habitat that run along the Anacostia River and in doing so, make the Anacostia a national showcase for urban parks and habitat restoration.”

The Riverwalk Trail is a key component of the larger Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI) launched more than a decade ago. The trail will allow District residents and visitors to walk and bike along the river to numerous destinations including the Fish Wharf, Nationals Park, Poplar Point, the Navy Yard, historic Anacostia, RFK stadium, Kingman Island, the National Arboretum, and the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

By Spring 2012, construction will be complete on two new pedestrian bridges on both sides of the river connecting South Capitol Street to Benning Road. Design of the Kenilworth Gardens segment, which will connect Benning Road in the District to the Bladensburg Trail in Maryland, is 65 percent done and scheduled to conclude in the summer. Construction is planned to begin by the end of 2012.

Once completed, there will be close to 60 miles of contiguous trails in the Anacostia River Watershed, an expansive transportation network for those who prefer walking and bicycling to get around the District and beyond.

At a Council hearing on Wednesday, November 2, there was a great deal of discussion about how to make cycling safer in the District. The testimony included calls for greater protections for bicyclists, better enforcement of existing laws and the installation of more bike infrastructure. DDOT has been working to make the District more bicycle friendly for years and that effort includes studying and replicating successful strategies used in other cities and countries around the world. Below is a firsthand account by DDOT Bicycle Program Specialist Mike Goodno of his recent trip to the Netherlands with Supervisory Traffic Safety Engineeer James Cheeks. Even if we can’t implement everything they saw, they came back with some great ideas.

James Cheeks and Mike Goodno in Nijmegen

In early October, James Cheeks and I, along with city transportation officials from Chicago and Miami, attended a one-week study tour of bicycling design best practices in the Netherlands.

During our visit, we travelled to seven cities (Utrecht, Zwolle, Groningen, Nijmegen, Tilburg, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam) to meet with local planners, engineers, and elected officials about how the Dutch make their cities such inviting places for bicyclists.

From my perspective, one of a transportation planner from a car-dominated country, I saw a simple, yet utopian vision of a place that put an increased emphasis on biking: children biking to school, people cycling to work, parents biking with children, and bikes with baskets filled with groceries. And even though most bicyclists didn’t wear helmets, biking was safe: In a country where nearly everyone rides a bike, drivers (who are often riders themselves) expect to encounter bicyclists and know how to interact safely with them.

A major component in the Netherlands’ effort to encourage bicycling is its emphasis on building bicycle infrastructure, which the Dutch treat as an equal mode of transportation.

In low-speed environments, it’s generally acceptable for bikes and cars to share the road.  However, when speeds differ substantially, or bicycle volume is very high, physically separated, red-tinted bike paths are installed. At controlled intersections, cyclists usually have their own traffic signals, some of which have advance bike loop detectors, ensuring that cyclists receive a green light when they reach the intersection.

Tilburg Fietstraat ("Bike Street")

If the right-of-way is narrow, and bicycle volume is greater than that of cars, the Dutch sometimes designate a roadway as a bicycle-priority street.  Physical cues such as raised intersections, red-tined asphalt, and signs are installed with a picture of a car following a bicycle with the text, “auto is guest.”

Below are some notable observations that I took away from my time in the Netherlands:

• Nationally, 27 percent of all trips are taken by bike (in the United States, it’s 1 percent).  More than 50 percent of the trips in two of the cities were taken by bike (in the District, it’s 3 percent).
• Nearly everyone in the Netherlands is a cyclist, and there are more bicycles than people. 60 percent of the Dutch cycle at least three times a week; 80 percent cycle at least once a week.
• Most children begin learning to cycle at 3 or 4, and receive traffic education each year in primary school culminating in an on-road skills test.
• The Dutch don’t believe cyclists are dangerous, they believe cars and car drivers are a primary safety hazard.  Therefore, car drivers are almost always liable when a collision with a bicycle occurs and are required to adapt their speed when bicycles share the roads with cyclists.
• 55 percent of all cyclists are women in the Netherlands; this figure is 26 percent in the United States.

If you want to learn more about our trip, please contact me at 202-671-0681 or at Mike.Goodno@dc.gov. To see more photos please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/ddotphotos/sets/72157628044401170/.

March 7, 2012 Update: Streetfilms just posted a great video recap of this tour with interviews of the participants, including James and Mike.

From the Netherlands to America: Translating the World’s Best Bikeway Designs from Streetfilms on Vimeo.