“Parking vs. Traffic Calming Debate in Bloomingdale” by Nick Sementelli

example photo of curb extensions from the DDOT proposal

“Dear PoPville,

I know many readers have been following the city-wide conversation about making our streets safer to prevent the kinds of senseless pedestrian and cyclist deaths we’ve been even more attentive to since the tragic deaths of Dave Salovesh and Abdul Seck.

One of the places we have a chance to make some real improvements right now is Bloomingdale. Already this year drivers have killed two pedestrians on North Capitol Street, and residents are nervous it’s only a matter of time before something similar happens on the pedestrian-heavy 1st Street NW. Despite being a residential road, commuting cars cut through and speed through the stop signs to catch the lights at the intersections of 1st and Florida and 1st and Rhode Island. Just last week covered a violent crash right in this area on Tuesday that spilled onto the sidewalk.

1st St NW Meeting Handout (PDF)

Residents have been clamoring for improvements for years, but DDOT has dragged their feet. Last month they finally released a plan to install curb extensions at all nine 1st St intersections from Florida to Bryant. The extensions use posts, planters and paint to physically and visually narrow the streets and slow drivers. Plus they give pedestrians a shorter crosswalk.

The plan wasn’t everyone’s first choice, and it won’t solve all the traffic problems in Bloomingdale, but as a first step on this specific issue, it represents significant, actionable progress. Neighbors at the Bloomingdale Civic Association’s latest meeting agreed and endorsed the plan as well.

But an ANC 5E06 (southern side of Bloomingdale and North Truxton Circle) commissioner objected to the plan and passed a resolution last week encouraging DDOT to exempt the intersections on her block (R and Randolph St) out of concerns for parking. The Commissioner says this is based on feedback she’s heard from some constituents — but that doesn’t represent the consensus opinion of the neighborhood.

What’s more, the curb extensions will only remove 2 parking spots at those intersections (and only 6-7 on the whole of 1st street) — parking spots that DDOT determined are in violation of DC regulations already. Because they are too close to the crosswalks, DDOT says they most likely will be removed either way. So even if the streets are exempted, the parking spots won’t really be saved.

I wrote a longer post about the situation here, but I’ve also started a petition among neighbors who want DDOT to implement the plan at all intersections. Over 100 residents have already signed and counting. I think this is a great opportunity for neighbors to help make an improvement that will benefit the whole community, and would love to see more people speak up.

Thanks,
Nick Sementelli”