Sharee Lawler, with The Hill Is Home, did a great job covering last night's ANC6A T&PS Committee meeting which hosted a CSTNE Corridor presentation on the 3 design concepts by DDOT's project contractor Toole Design Group.
Read the post HERE.
Thanks to ANC6A T&PS Committee for hosting the presentation, DDOT and Toole Design Group for the wonderful presentation and all the ANC6 Commissioners and residents that attended and participated.
Thank you all for your continued support!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
VoTH Article - C Street NE Redesign Down to 3 Options
Below is the latest Voice of the Hill article about the CSTNE project. Thank you Molly for reaching out and doing a great job of covering this project, it is much appreciate!
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C Street NE redesign down to three options
April 16, 2010
By: Molly Nevola, Voice Correspondent
Residents are evaluating three options for a community-led project to reconstruct C Street NE as a safer and more environmentally friendly thoroughfare.
The designs will be presented at a public meeting April 19. The project’s managers said they hope to begin construction in 2012.
An initiative five years in the making, the project began when residents started speaking out about dangerous conditions on C Street NE from the East Capitol Street Bridge to roughly 14th Street.
“Primarily, this is a quality-of-life project,” said Northeast Capitol Hill advisory neighborhood commissioner (ANC 6A) Bill Schultheiss, who also works for Toole Design Group, the firm engineering the construction.
The corridor is unique: Two lanes come off of the East Capitol Bridge and immediately feed into a five-lane section on C Street that becomes seven lanes with parking.
Police data has shown that cars typically come off the highway onto C Street at 55 mph, well above the 40 mph limit on the bridge and 25 mph limit on C Street. The speeding contributes not only to dangerous conditions for pedestrians and bikers, but also noise problems, Schultheiss said.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sgt. Mark Robinson, there were 13,246 westbound vehicular speeding citations in the area — an average of 23 per day — between December 2007 and June 2009. Police are currently monitoring the eastbound side.
The purpose of the street’s redesign, Schultheiss said, is to make drivers aware that they’re entering a school zone and a residential neighborhood.
All of the design options would shrink the width of the currently 90-foot-wide street, cutting it nearly in half in hopes of creating a safer bicycling environment and more space for greenery in the medians.
The project also aims to make other green improvements — building surfaces like sidewalks out of permeable materials; creating areas to catch stormwater; and planting sustainable, low-maintenance greenery.
“We saw that we’d be able to introduce innovative and interesting green elements that I’d seen on the West Coast. The city was excited about that,” Schultheiss said.
Schultheiss jumped on board as the project’s manager along with community activist Ken Granata, a 36-year-old engineer and D.C. native who has lived at C Street and 17th Place for six years.
“The scope of the project became much more than we ever anticipated, which is nice,” Granata said.
After witnessing traffic issues and hearing residents’ complaints, Granata decided five years ago to engage the D.C. Department of Transportation and community groups. He began blogging about traffic on C Street in June 2006, creating “CSTNE Project” in 2008.
The site outlines the project from beginning to end, and displays all proposed alternative designs, as well as information on the resident-run workshops that led to the options.
“The goal from the beginning was to have residents in the neighborhood and greater Capitol Hill community reconsider what C Street is for,” Granata said.
Residents involved in the workshops have since narrowed down the options for the street to three possible designs. One plan will be chosen by consensus and presented to the Transportation Department, which will get the final say.
The first design option eliminates bike lanes and removes one eastbound lane; the second uses parking lanes as morning rush hour driving lanes and narrows the street by 10 more feet. A third option would permanently eliminate a travel lane, allowing full-time parking there.
Granata said the project was planned without a budget in mind.
“From the beginning, DDOT, Toole Design Group, and the community all said, ‘Let’s not put any constraints on money. Let’s go big, let’s go bold and push it in every way possible — the ultimate — and go from there,’” Granata said.
But Schultheiss said the city’s 2012 capital improvements budget allocates money for the construction. An official from the Transportation Department said the project is budgeted for $6 million, but that figure is “more of a placeholder.”
The above article was extracted, in its entirety, from the Voice of the Hill website.
***************************************************************************
C Street NE redesign down to three options
April 16, 2010
By: Molly Nevola, Voice Correspondent
Residents are evaluating three options for a community-led project to reconstruct C Street NE as a safer and more environmentally friendly thoroughfare.
The designs will be presented at a public meeting April 19. The project’s managers said they hope to begin construction in 2012.
An initiative five years in the making, the project began when residents started speaking out about dangerous conditions on C Street NE from the East Capitol Street Bridge to roughly 14th Street.
“Primarily, this is a quality-of-life project,” said Northeast Capitol Hill advisory neighborhood commissioner (ANC 6A) Bill Schultheiss, who also works for Toole Design Group, the firm engineering the construction.
The corridor is unique: Two lanes come off of the East Capitol Bridge and immediately feed into a five-lane section on C Street that becomes seven lanes with parking.
Police data has shown that cars typically come off the highway onto C Street at 55 mph, well above the 40 mph limit on the bridge and 25 mph limit on C Street. The speeding contributes not only to dangerous conditions for pedestrians and bikers, but also noise problems, Schultheiss said.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Sgt. Mark Robinson, there were 13,246 westbound vehicular speeding citations in the area — an average of 23 per day — between December 2007 and June 2009. Police are currently monitoring the eastbound side.
The purpose of the street’s redesign, Schultheiss said, is to make drivers aware that they’re entering a school zone and a residential neighborhood.
All of the design options would shrink the width of the currently 90-foot-wide street, cutting it nearly in half in hopes of creating a safer bicycling environment and more space for greenery in the medians.
The project also aims to make other green improvements — building surfaces like sidewalks out of permeable materials; creating areas to catch stormwater; and planting sustainable, low-maintenance greenery.
“We saw that we’d be able to introduce innovative and interesting green elements that I’d seen on the West Coast. The city was excited about that,” Schultheiss said.
Schultheiss jumped on board as the project’s manager along with community activist Ken Granata, a 36-year-old engineer and D.C. native who has lived at C Street and 17th Place for six years.
“The scope of the project became much more than we ever anticipated, which is nice,” Granata said.
After witnessing traffic issues and hearing residents’ complaints, Granata decided five years ago to engage the D.C. Department of Transportation and community groups. He began blogging about traffic on C Street in June 2006, creating “CSTNE Project” in 2008.
The site outlines the project from beginning to end, and displays all proposed alternative designs, as well as information on the resident-run workshops that led to the options.
“The goal from the beginning was to have residents in the neighborhood and greater Capitol Hill community reconsider what C Street is for,” Granata said.
Residents involved in the workshops have since narrowed down the options for the street to three possible designs. One plan will be chosen by consensus and presented to the Transportation Department, which will get the final say.
The first design option eliminates bike lanes and removes one eastbound lane; the second uses parking lanes as morning rush hour driving lanes and narrows the street by 10 more feet. A third option would permanently eliminate a travel lane, allowing full-time parking there.
Granata said the project was planned without a budget in mind.
“From the beginning, DDOT, Toole Design Group, and the community all said, ‘Let’s not put any constraints on money. Let’s go big, let’s go bold and push it in every way possible — the ultimate — and go from there,’” Granata said.
But Schultheiss said the city’s 2012 capital improvements budget allocates money for the construction. An official from the Transportation Department said the project is budgeted for $6 million, but that figure is “more of a placeholder.”
The above article was extracted, in its entirety, from the Voice of the Hill website.
Reminder - CSTNE Conceptual Design Presentation Tonight!
Please Show Your Support and Attend Tonight's C Street/North Carolina Ave Corridor Presentation
Conceptual Designs Presentation & Discussion
ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Meeting
April 19, 2010 @ 7PM
Capitol Hill Towers, Community Room (1st Floor)
900 G Street NE
Note: photo ID is required to enter building
HERE are the summaries of each of the 3 conceptual designs.
Conceptual Designs Presentation & Discussion
ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Meeting
April 19, 2010 @ 7PM
Capitol Hill Towers, Community Room (1st Floor)
900 G Street NE
Note: photo ID is required to enter building
HERE are the summaries of each of the 3 conceptual designs.
Friday, April 09, 2010
3 CSTNE Concept Designs
Note - this post has been updated to include an overview list for each of the 3 CSTNE concept designs
**********************************************************************************
The following are the 3 CSTNE Concept Designs that will be presented and discussed at the upcoming ANC6A Transportation & Pubic Space meeting on April 19, 2010 @ 7PM.
Existing Condition
Click HERE for the Existing Condition pdf document for detailed viewing
Concept A
Click HERE for the Concept A pdf document for detailed viewing
Design Features
• No reduction to vehicular service
• Preserves west-bound roadway capacity to handles existing traffic volumes
• Reduce east-bound vehicular lane from 2 to 1
• Add left turning lanes
• Parking is preserved, full time
• Cycle track, sidewalk level
• Pedestrian crossing distance reduced from 90’ to 52’
• Adjacent residences are further buffered from traffic by cycle track and minimal recaptured green space
Traffic Calming Features
• Chicane
• Curb-extensions
• Speed-table/pedestrian/cycle track crossings (cross streets)
Green Street Features
• Minimal increase in green buffer
• Permeable surfaces, cycle track, sidewalks, roadway
• Bioretention cells
• Low maintenance vegetation
Concept B
Click HERE for the Concept B pdf document for detailed viewing
Design Features
• Preserves west-bound roadway capacity to handles existing traffic volumes during morning rush-hours (M-F 7am - 9am) by using north side of C St parking lane
• Reduce west-bound lanes from 3 to 2 outside morning rush-hours (M-F, 7am – 9am)
• Reduce east-bound vehicular lanes from 2 to 1
• Add left turning lanes
• Parking is preserved, except no parking north side of C St during rush-hours (M-F, 7am – 9am)
• Cycle track, sidewalk level
• Pedestrian crossing distance reduced from 90ft to 52ft during rush-hours (M-F, 7am – 9am)
• Adjacent residences are further buffered from traffic by cycle track and recaptured 8ft width green space
Traffic Calming Features
• Chicane
• Curb-extensions
• Speed-table/pedestrian/cycle track crossings (cross streets)
Green Street Features
• Additional 8ft width right-of-way allocated for green buffer and Green Street features
• Permeable surfaces, cycle track, sidewalks, roadway
• Bioretention cells
• Low maintenance vegetation
Concept C
Click HERE for the Concept C pdf document for detailed viewing
Design Features
• Reduce west-bound vehicular lanes from 3 to 2
• Reduce east-bound vehicular lanes from 2 to 1
• Add left turning lanes
• Parking is preserved, full time
• Cycle track, sidewalk level
• Pedestrian crossing distance reduced from 90ft to 42ft
• Adjacent residences are further buffered from traffic by cycle track and recaptured 18ft width green space
Traffic Calming Features
• Chicane
• Curb-extensions
• Speed-table/pedestrian/cycle track crossings (cross streets)
Green Street Features
• Additional 18ft width allocated for green buffer and Green Street features
• Permeable surfaces, cycle track, sidewalks, roadway
• Bioretention cells
• Low maintenance vegetation
**********************************************************************************
The following are the 3 CSTNE Concept Designs that will be presented and discussed at the upcoming ANC6A Transportation & Pubic Space meeting on April 19, 2010 @ 7PM.
Existing Condition
Click HERE for the Existing Condition pdf document for detailed viewing
Concept A
Click HERE for the Concept A pdf document for detailed viewing
Design Features
• No reduction to vehicular service
• Preserves west-bound roadway capacity to handles existing traffic volumes
• Reduce east-bound vehicular lane from 2 to 1
• Add left turning lanes
• Parking is preserved, full time
• Cycle track, sidewalk level
• Pedestrian crossing distance reduced from 90’ to 52’
• Adjacent residences are further buffered from traffic by cycle track and minimal recaptured green space
Traffic Calming Features
• Chicane
• Curb-extensions
• Speed-table/pedestrian/cycle track crossings (cross streets)
Green Street Features
• Minimal increase in green buffer
• Permeable surfaces, cycle track, sidewalks, roadway
• Bioretention cells
• Low maintenance vegetation
Concept B
Click HERE for the Concept B pdf document for detailed viewing
Design Features
• Preserves west-bound roadway capacity to handles existing traffic volumes during morning rush-hours (M-F 7am - 9am) by using north side of C St parking lane
• Reduce west-bound lanes from 3 to 2 outside morning rush-hours (M-F, 7am – 9am)
• Reduce east-bound vehicular lanes from 2 to 1
• Add left turning lanes
• Parking is preserved, except no parking north side of C St during rush-hours (M-F, 7am – 9am)
• Cycle track, sidewalk level
• Pedestrian crossing distance reduced from 90ft to 52ft during rush-hours (M-F, 7am – 9am)
• Adjacent residences are further buffered from traffic by cycle track and recaptured 8ft width green space
Traffic Calming Features
• Chicane
• Curb-extensions
• Speed-table/pedestrian/cycle track crossings (cross streets)
Green Street Features
• Additional 8ft width right-of-way allocated for green buffer and Green Street features
• Permeable surfaces, cycle track, sidewalks, roadway
• Bioretention cells
• Low maintenance vegetation
Concept C
Click HERE for the Concept C pdf document for detailed viewing
Design Features
• Reduce west-bound vehicular lanes from 3 to 2
• Reduce east-bound vehicular lanes from 2 to 1
• Add left turning lanes
• Parking is preserved, full time
• Cycle track, sidewalk level
• Pedestrian crossing distance reduced from 90ft to 42ft
• Adjacent residences are further buffered from traffic by cycle track and recaptured 18ft width green space
Traffic Calming Features
• Chicane
• Curb-extensions
• Speed-table/pedestrian/cycle track crossings (cross streets)
Green Street Features
• Additional 18ft width allocated for green buffer and Green Street features
• Permeable surfaces, cycle track, sidewalks, roadway
• Bioretention cells
• Low maintenance vegetation
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
Rescheduled - 04.08.10 CSTNE Study Open-house
The CSTNE Study Public Open House, scheduled for April 8, 2010 @ 6pm, has been RESCHEDULED, see below.
Conceptual Designs Presentation & Discussion
ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Meeting
April 19, 2010 @ 7PM
Capitol Hill Towers, Community Room (1st Floor)
900 G Street NE
Note: photo ID is required to enter building
Conceptual Designs Presentation & Discussion
ANC6A Transportation & Public Space Meeting
April 19, 2010 @ 7PM
Capitol Hill Towers, Community Room (1st Floor)
900 G Street NE
Note: photo ID is required to enter building
Monday, April 05, 2010
Returning C Street NE to the Neighborhood?
"This is really an effort to return Sherman Avenue to the neighborhood," said John Lisle, spokesperson for DDOT.
The preceding comes from a DCist post about DDOT's redesign of Sherman Ave, NW.
If we as a community could only convince DDOT to see the same opportunity in C Street NE (and East Capitol Street), we could all really move forward and make substantial quality-of-life, health and safety gains for the Greater Capitol Hill Community (GCHC).
But, DDOT is reluctant and is holding a death grip around the need to move thousands of commuter and commercial vehicles through the GCHC neighborhood street grid because, "the Whitney-Young Memorial Bridge (East Capitol Street) is one of the few bridges to cross the Anacostia River and has the motor-vehicle capacity" (paraphrase from multiple staff in DDOT).
So, there is no reason to consider other strategies or plans to correct a long standing transportation mistake which is a big problem for our community? Every problem has a solution(s). Sometimes the means is multifaceted and multi-phased, but the end still can be achieved, with both residents and commuters benefiting.
More on this idea to come...
The preceding comes from a DCist post about DDOT's redesign of Sherman Ave, NW.
If we as a community could only convince DDOT to see the same opportunity in C Street NE (and East Capitol Street), we could all really move forward and make substantial quality-of-life, health and safety gains for the Greater Capitol Hill Community (GCHC).
But, DDOT is reluctant and is holding a death grip around the need to move thousands of commuter and commercial vehicles through the GCHC neighborhood street grid because, "the Whitney-Young Memorial Bridge (East Capitol Street) is one of the few bridges to cross the Anacostia River and has the motor-vehicle capacity" (paraphrase from multiple staff in DDOT).
So, there is no reason to consider other strategies or plans to correct a long standing transportation mistake which is a big problem for our community? Every problem has a solution(s). Sometimes the means is multifaceted and multi-phased, but the end still can be achieved, with both residents and commuters benefiting.
More on this idea to come...
Friday, April 02, 2010
Kojo Nnamdi Show - Caller Comment on CSTNE
During yesterday's hour long interview on the Kojo Nnamdi Show (WAMU 88.5 FM) with DDOT Director Gabe Klein, Rob Stephens, an RCA member and champion for changes on C Street NE, was a caller who asked Director Klein to have DDOT make a lasting "legacy" when redesigning C Street NE.
Rob also gave well deserved kudos to Ward 6 Transportation Planner Jamie Henson who is DDOT's project manager for the C Street Study and Conceptual Design. Jamie truly has made the process transparent and accessible for the community. Not only has he included innovative safety, environment and mobility design elements into the project, he has most importantly, allowed the process to be community driven. It has been a wonderful experience thus far, thank you Jamie!
HERE is the audio link to the yesterday's show, Rob's call is at time count 18:37 into the show.
Rob also gave well deserved kudos to Ward 6 Transportation Planner Jamie Henson who is DDOT's project manager for the C Street Study and Conceptual Design. Jamie truly has made the process transparent and accessible for the community. Not only has he included innovative safety, environment and mobility design elements into the project, he has most importantly, allowed the process to be community driven. It has been a wonderful experience thus far, thank you Jamie!
HERE is the audio link to the yesterday's show, Rob's call is at time count 18:37 into the show.
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