[Lincolnparkdc] Re Crosswalk at 8th Good News. DGS has backed down. The crosswalk will be put back

[Diana Quinn]

FABULOUS NEWS AND great work, Steve, thanks. I still don't understand who
this happened in the first place.
DQ

On Fri, Apr 9, 2021 at 4:26 PM Holtzman, Steve (SMD 6B05) <6B05 at anc.dc.gov>
wrote:

> Neighbors,
>
>     *DGS has agreed to reverse themselves, replace the crosswalk (that
> their workmen spent taxpayer dollars removing this morning) and add the ADA
> compliant curb cut on the western side of 8th. *
>
> I have received phone calls from both the DGS project manager, Diego
> Martinez, and the DDOT Ward 6 Community Liaison, Andrew DeFrank. Diego
> Martinez, told me that he needed DDOT clearance and an okay from DGS
> management.  Andrew DeFrank assured me that DDOT would agree. I asked for
> them to put it in writing and was promised that that would happen before
> this evening.
>
>  I was waiting for this written confirmation before letting everyone know. In
> the interim, I've just got confirmation from Councilmember Allen that the
> DDOT director has committed to him that they will be replacing the
> crosswalk and ramps.
>
> *Thanks to all of you who made your voices heard. *
>
> *I am attaching a compendium of all of the email comments you all made
> last night and this morning*. I count roughly 130 separate individuals
> who replied. About a dozen through phone calls and 120 through email. I've
> left your comments untouched but have removed the names and addresses to
> honor privacy. (Apologies in advance. There may be 5 or 6 comments recorded
> twice because of my request that people resend comments to DC officials).
>
> *When I do get written confirmation from DGS, hopefully later today, I
> will share it*.
>
> *There are three things remaining. *
>
>    1. *How quickly will we get back our crosswalk? * I do not know * when* the
>    crosswalk will be replaced or *when* the ADA compliant curb cut/ramp
>    will be added to the high granite curb on the western side of the
>    crosswalk. I'm hoping this will be clarified in the written confirmation. I
>    will be following up to try to see that it is done as soon as possible.
>    2. *In the short term, the crosswalk needs to be put back with added
>    safety/visibility enhancements.* Let's be clear. The (previously)
>    existing crosswalk when it is put back is still, without added
>    enhancements, as dicey for pedestrians as it has always been. Putting it
>    back (and adding the curb cut on the Western side) is still essential. It
>    is still the best and most appropriate path for pedestrians at this
>    juncture. However, its visibility needs to be enhanced. I've discussed this
>    with DGS this morning and they agree that they will look at this and see
>    what can be done.
>    3. *MOST IMPORTANTLY: A Comprehensive Multi-modal Safety Assessment is
>    needed for this space*   All of the last two days has been, sadly,
>    simply about getting back to where we were when this started.
>       1. *There still needs to be a comprehensive multi-modal traffic
>          safety assessment undertaken for this space  *
>          2. we need to find better solutions to how pedestrians (with
>          special reference to children and residents with mobility issues),
>          cyclists, buses, trucks and cars cohabit this nexus.
>          3. None of these users of the roadbed here are going away.
>          4. Part of the reason this challenge has not been addressed is
>          because city agencies put off/ignored the requests of the community.
>             1. We asked DGS to do this when the project planning started
>             2 1/2 years ago and multiple times since then.
>             2. We asked DDOT to do this. DGS said it wasn't part of their
>             project. DDOT said they wouldn't touch it until after DGS was finished.
>             3. The traffic study conducted by DGS two years ago was
>             fundamentally flawed in several key ways and most notably had no
>             substantial focus on pedestrians.
>             4.  Given that this project was intended to evolve the entire
>             area into a pedestrian friendly destination, it is hard to accept these
>             answers. And we shouldn't.
>          5. Part of the reason is the unique and chaotic nature of this
>          set of intersections and the multiple sets of disparate stakeholders.
>          6. A process needs to be initiated soon and, while it needs to
>          genuinely engage and take account of all users, it needs to have a core
>          focus on our neighborhood. And that process needs to substantively include
>          not only drivers of motorized vehicles who pass through our neighborhood,
>          but all stakeholders in the spectrum of all forms of transport that use
>          this space which means:
>             1. All of us. All the residents who depend upon this space as
>             pedestrians and as bicyclists and as drivers of cars.
>             2. All the clusters of users who have specific needs:
>                1. families with children
>                2. older residents
>                3. residents with mobility challenges
>                3. Users of the adjoining Park and Playground
>             4. Residents and non-residents who rely on the bus routes
>             that cross this space
>             5. Businesses and residences in the Hine Complex and Eastern
>             Market.
>
>
> best,
>
>  Steve
>
> Steve Holtzman, 6B05
>
> We need everyone in our community to pre-register for a vaccination
> appointment by going to vaccinate.dc.gov or calling 1-855-363-0333.
> Already vaccinated or pre-registered? Reach out to friends, family,
> coworkers, and neighbors and help them pre-register. Together we can save
> lives and end this pandemic. #DCHOPE
>
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