DC Government

Update on the new traffic enforcement cameras from MPD:

“The Metropolitan Police Department has announced that the warning period for the new photo enforcement technology has been extended until January 31, 2014.

Because this is a new enforcement effort, we made a decision to extend the warning period by 30 days to ensure the community is aware of the program. The goal of the program is to change driver’s behavior and increase safety for the driving, biking and pedestrian community. The new technology focuses on a number of new enforcement areas such as blocking the box, oversized vehicles and failing to yield to pedestrians.

The new automated traffic safety enforcement cameras were activated on Saturday, November 23, 2013.

Cameras at the new locations will issue warnings to vehicles for violations until Friday, January 31, 2014. Beginning Saturday, February 1, 2014, cameras at new locations will issue fines for violations.”

Photo by PoPville flickr user wolfpackWX

From the Mayor’s office:

“Mayor Vincent C. Gray today welcomed the latest estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau showing that the District’s population continued its rapid growth between July 2012 and July 2013, adding 13,022 residents and keeping D.C. among the list of fastest-growing areas in the country.

This means D.C.’s total population now stands at 646,449—a figure not seen since the 1970s. The District grew by 2.0 percent over the year, or by an average of 1,085 new residents per month. (Note: The previous 2012 population estimate of 632,323 has been revised upward to 633,427). This number means that the city has grown on average by 1,146 new residents per month between April 1, 2010 (when the 2010 Census count closed) and July 1, 2013. This continued trend of growth moves the District closer to its Sustainable DC goal of increasing the city’s population by 250,000 residents within the next twenty years. (more…)

From MPD:

“DC Street Safe is aimed at using new photo enforcement technologies to combat aggressive and dangerous driving habits that endanger some of our most vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vehicle drivers and passengers. Additionally, DC Street Safe allows traffic safety enforcement in areas and circumstances where it could be dangerous or impractical for police officers to pull over vehicles for violations. DC Street Safe will be comprised of the following new technologies:

Gridlock enforcement units that will improve traffic flow by targeting “blocking the box” at intersections;
Portable stop sign enforcement units to reduce violations in residential neighborhoods ;
Portable crosswalk enforcement units that will enhance pedestrian safety at crosswalks near schools, parks, and recreation centers;
Speed enforcement units that will focus on intersections with known speeding problems;
Units that will enforce rules on oversized and overweight commercial vehicles in order to reduce infrastructure damage and enhance quality of life in our neighborhoods.

The deployment locations for the automated traffic enforcement units were selected based on a variety of criteria, including sites with crashes and injuries, calls for service, high speed volume, near schools, or in zones prohibited for use by certain commercial vehicles. MPD also considered recommendations or requests from the Department of Transportation, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, and community organizations.

The new automated traffic safety enforcement cameras will be activated on Saturday, November 23. Cameras at new locations will issue warnings to vehicles for violations until Sunday, December 29. Beginning Monday, December 30, cameras at new locations will issue fines for violations.”

MPD now says the issuing of fines have been a bit postponed. It’s not clear exactly when they will start but MPD tells me via email:

“The warning period will be extended. We are still issuing warning tickets. Warning tickets will continue to be issued until every location has 30 days of tickets. We are working to ensure that all possible warning tickets are mailed prior to issuing live tickets.”

DC Metropolitan Police Department Photo Safety Enforcement Camera Locations:

Click on map to see camera locations

Last year we spotted discarded trees into April. If you get yours collected by Jan. 11th – DPW will recycle them.

From DPW:

“Place holiday trees, wreaths and other greenery next to the trash container at the resident’s regular collection point. Trees collected between December 29-January 11 will be recycled. After January 11, trees will be collected with the trash as space allows in the trash trucks.”

“Dear PoPville,

I was trying to rent a car with the new temporary license the DMV emails residents while processing our new permanent licenses. It’s a paper printout, but that’s how the new system works. But the car rental says it’s not a real license and they can’t accept it — the manager of a CAR RENTAL OFFICE had NO IDEA that the District changed it’s system last month. Thankfully after I stood on the sidewalk in tears for an hour they rented the car to me. One of the 311 operators I spoke to said they’ve been getting a lot of complaints from people experiencing the same problem. And a customer who watched the ordeal unfold told me his friend had the same issue last week. So if anyone out there does want to rent, they might want to hold off on converting their out-of-state license.”

Ed. Note: Last week we looked at the new DC Drivers Licenses and learned: “You will receive a temporary license or identification card valid for 45 days, and the new credential will be mailed to you.

Photo by PoPville flickr user yostinator

“Dear PoPville,

Since PoPville runs a lot of content complaining (with justification) about aspects of DC’s government, I thought it might be worth highlighting a positive interaction I had. As a new homeowner, I learned from my inspection that my property had a lead service line. I was concerned about potential lead content. A little research showed that DC Water had a Voluntary Testing Program that would conduct laboratory tests for free.

I expected a lengthy process and a lot of paperwork. Instead, I made one quick phone call, and two days later a test kit appeared on my doorstep. The same kit disappeared from my doorstep less than 24 hours after I notified DC Water that it was ready for pick-up, despite the fact that it was snowing at the time and the government had shut down for inclement weather. Ten days later, my lab results were e-mailed to me. All in all, the experience was quick and painless. It’s nice to see my tax dollars put to such efficient and helpful use.

I don’t see the program publicized, so I don’t know how familiar people are with it, but I’d recommend any new (or old) homeowner with questions about their water quality give it a shot.”

This is pretty sweet – from District of Columbia Department of the Environment:

“DDOE unveils its state-of-the-art rooftop solar analysis tool, with the aim of advancing solar education and promoting rooftop solar adoption in the District. Crisp graphics and a simple but powerful interface make this new solar analysis and mapping tool a welcome addition to the District’s renewable energy toolbox. It reveals the relatively untapped solar potential of over 160,000 buildings, identifying over 2.5 gigawatts of high performance solar photovoltaic potential, or over $10 billion in potential local business. This would be enough to power the homes of 1.5 million American families while offsetting carbon emissions equivalent to planting 37.5 million trees. Explore this powerful new resource here.

From a press release:

“The District of Columbia has selected Citelum to manage and upgrade the city’s 71,000 street lights to a state-of-the-art, sustainable system. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced today that it has awarded Washington’s streetlight asset management contract to the company, which already manages urban lighting for some of the world’s most recognizable cities.

Citelum’s unique approach and experience will enable it to turn D.C.’s lighting from a reactive system to a proactive one, based on real-time information, which will greatly improve system management, public safety and cut use of electricity by more than half.

“We thank DDOT for its selection of Citelum and its confidence in us,” Citelum North America Chief Executive Ricard Ivern said. “With this decision, Washington, DC will have better lighting, safer streets, faster repairs and a smarter, more sustainable lighting system — all at a significant cost savings.”

A key part of the project will be Citelum’s installation of LED lighting in every Ward of the District, which will help to build Washington’s reputation as one of the greenest cities in the U.S. and add momentum to Mayor Vincent Gray’s Sustainable D.C. Plan.

Citelum will bring its global experience working in such cities as London, Paris, Venice, Madrid, Mexico City and Shanghai to the U.S. capital. The Paris-based company established its U.S. headquarters in the District in 2012. This project is expected to create 40 new jobs.”