[Lincolnparkdc] DDOT north lincoln park project

Thu Aug 5 15:52:58 EDT 2021

Thank you John, it seems you "got it" and without responding back to the
snark in the message. Your response is an example of how representatives of
WABA and contractors/employees of DDOT might model as they try to sell this
plan to the public. And, if others who were on that call where Will
Handsfield (one of the DDOT representatives) asserted he had no choice -
but with no basis for his asserted no choice - had a different read, please
chime in and help clarify the misunderstanding.
Here is how I break down the the DDOT options
Option A - two way with a bike lane but removes all south side parking.
This is such a  politically/socially contentious option it is surprising to
me that DDOT would put it out there. A cynic might say its inclusion is
only to force the choice of DDOT's ultimate desire.

Option B - one way with both east and west bike lanes on inside of parking
lanes. As a biker I've experienced being 'doored' from the passenger side
and more than often been blocked by garbage cans, bulk item debris, and
rentable scooters and bikes dumped in the lane for later pickup. This
forces bikes on sidewalks and roadway.  It is an option but a very bad one.

Before I put option C, I remind the community that residents suggested to
DDOT to have a bike "sharrow" option similar to other bike lanes in the
city on a two lane (East/West) road that kept existing parking. This idea
was dismissed by DDOT. (refer W. Handsfield comments)

Option C - one way with parking saved and protected bike lanes.  This
option inconveniences residents but that's something to just get used to.
But Gina, as head of WABA and DDOT employee you might know the answer to
this serious question, if this bike lane is protected,  how is it
protected? Are there curbs or pylons? And if curbs and pylons, how will
residents park their cars over them? Also, how will those residents who
place garbage cans out front be assured that DC Sanitation will put trash
cans back on the parkway (green space) and not in the protected bike
lanes?

Again, a cynic might say the fix was in for the block to be one-way from
the start to make it a one-way, west-bound morning entry speedway into the
city, just as Independence Ave. SE is a one-way, east-bound evening exit
speedway out of the city.  Or, as Henry Ford said; "you can have any color
you want, as long as it's black"

As for your bike ride, I give you credit if you road to your doctor's
appointment down Mass. Ave anywhere from Stanton Park to Scott Circle. For
many on the Hill this is the most direct route to downtown offices and
appointments. This is a nightmare section for any bicycle or pedestrian
commuter. In fact, it is where that tragic death of a bicyclist took place
earlier this year.  My own personal opinion is this is where WABA and DDOT
should focus their attention and resources. As you've offered to share with
your DDOT colleagues in previous messages, please do pass along this
concern.

On Thu, Aug 5, 2021 at 2:29 PM regina arlotto <citymom92 at gmail.com> wrote:

> John-
>
> I think you're confused. I made absolutely ZERO "assurances" that Option C
> would be chosen. I was simply pointing out that just as Marche fixated on
> the ONE option that would necessitate the removal of parking to cue the
> unnecessary outrage, there is at least one option (actually B also)  that
> doesn't take any parking. I even said at the end of my email that Option C
> would be my professional and personal preference, because it affords *the
> most safe, direct route for bicyclists of all ages and abilities *and
> does NOT take any parking. However, as I also said this is not my project,
> and I can't make a decision on it at all. I'll be sharing with Will my
> personal opinion as a resident of this immediate neighborhood AND my
> professional opinion as a colleague.
>
> East Capitol is NOT a protected bike lane and nor is it the most direct
> route for bicyclists to access the RFK trails and then traveling north, not
> south. When DDOT builds protected bike lanes, it is expected to continue to
> expand the network with similar type facilities. Just as car drivers like
> to have more safe and direct routes added to their network, so do
> bicyclists.
>
> FWIW I rode my bike yesterday from the DDOT office to a doctor's
> appointment downtown and back in a dress and heels on my clunky, heavy
> upright bike. I had a protected bike lane almost the entire way (new
> protected bike lane on 4th SW, to the older PBLs on Penn, 15th, L/St and
> Mst and then to the brand new PBL on 17th) it was an absolutely stress free
> and enjoyable ride. DDOT planners and engineers are designing bike lanes
> for the nervous, the young, the old, and the worried so that we can all
> enjoy a stress free ride across town. Riding in a protected bike lane is
> 100% more pleasant, and if you haven't ridden a bike around the city lately
> to take advantage of our expanding protected bike lane network, you should
> try it soon.
>
> Gina Arlotto
>
> On Thu, Aug 5, 2021 at 1:59 PM John Hirschmann <hirschj154 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Regina
>>
>> I‘m going to surprise you by saying I agree with much of what you say.
>> Thank you for clarifying several matters for the Community.
>>
>> But I have to ask why you based your assurances to the community on the
>> assumption Option C would be selected. My impression is much of the
>> community concern has to do with the Potential loss of about 35 parking
>> spaces. Has a decision been made in last few days to only consider Option C?
>>
>> Also, under most proposals there is a requirement to consider the „no
>> build“ option.  So I need to ask why there is a requirement have a bike
>> lane in this block. Will H in the Late July virtual call asserted he had no
>> choice, but the basis for his assertion remains a mystery.
>>
>> They describe it as necessary to fill in a missing link.
>>
>> But as others have already pointed out, bicyclists can already go east on
>> East Cap to either 15th or 19th NE. Those going in the other direction can
>> go south on either 17th or 14th to East Cap.
>>
>>  IN ADDITION, as you well know, a ABL has just been added on Tennessee
>> that connects C Street NE with Lincoln Park. So why do we urgently need
>> this additional bike route??
>>
>> John
>>
>> John F Hirschmann
>> hirschj154 at gmail.com
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On Aug 4, 2021, at 15:32, regina arlotto <citymom92 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> 
>> Hi Everyone-
>>
>> Once again I'll jump in here for something that is not my project but
>> about which I do know quite a bit about. I'd like to help clarify a few
>> things and hopefully circumvent any worries about parking loss from this
>> particular project.
>>
>> Capitol Hill Corner NC Bike Lane article
>> <https://capitolhillcorner.org/2021/07/22/ddot-plan-for-north-carolina-avenue-ne-bike-lanes-draw-resident-opposition/>
>>
>> This article has a good quick explanation of the current condition and
>> options, but I'd like to highlight OPTION C *which does not remove and
>> actually adds parking *(to 13th street).
>>
>> <image.png>
>>
>>
>> In this option, bicyclists get the most protected and safe connection to
>> the protected bike lane happening at C Street and then on to the wonderful
>> trail system at RFK, and HOORAY (!) residents *DON'T LOSE ANY PARKING*.
>> In fact, it looks like we can even ADD a few spaces with this option.
>> Believe it or not, those of us at DDOT were very excited to have an option
>> where we didn't have to take parking!
>>
>> *This does require North Carolina Ave to be changed to one way traveling
>> west.* BUT in the traffic studies for this block, the most traffic is
>> traveling west in the morning, and we all know what that looks like. The
>> traffic studies *showed very, very few cars turning right at North
>> Carolina at any time of day. *Even in the evening rush hours few cars
>> turned down North Carolina to get to 295 and beyond. Those of us who live
>> near Independence know that those commuters are using Independence to
>> travel westbound to 295 and beyond.
>>
>> ****The biggest change will be for those who live on the north side of
>> East Capitol Street and south side of A Street *who own garages or
>> access their parking* behind their homes by turning right off of 13th
>> Street onto North Carolina and then an immediate right into the alley. They
>> will have to access their alley from 14th street. *But we are NOT
>> removing their parking, *
>>
>> Please if you only take away one thing from this email, I'm begging you,
>> understand that there is one option that DOES NOT TAKE PARKING.
>>
>> I know several families with kids starting at Eliot Hine, and this will
>> be a great protected bike connection for them during the school week, and
>> even more on the weekends for families and children to have a safe space to
>> ride to RFK and the Anacostia Waterfront Trail system. I am very much in
>> support of Option C both professionally and personally.
>>
>> Hope this helps,
>> Gina A.
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 4, 2021 at 1:34 PM Tim Dube <timothydube at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> The proposal is to put in conforming bike lanes like those that exist
>>> around LP from the NW and SE (Mass Ave) and SW (North Carolina Ave) corners
>>> so that the NE (North Carolina to C St) corner is a connected bikeway to
>>> RFK Stadium/The Fields via C St. This is long overdue, as the flyer says.
>>> That two-block stretch of NC to Constitution/15th is nonconforming and too
>>> narrow compared to the other 3 safer corners. However, DDOT should not slow
>>> down. I support this project post haste and urge my neighbors to, too.
>>> These lanes can serve as a critical connection between the LP community and
>>> the Kingman Park community. This project would directly and positively
>>> benefit Maury, Miner, Elliott-Hine, Appletree 12th, Kingman Academy,
>>> Appletree Oklahoma, and Eastern families with safer routes to school, not
>>> to mention the several in-home daycares in the NE area.
>>>
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-- 

Mark R. Grace
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