Downtown

M Street Cycle Track Construction Begins Monday, Should Take 4-6 Weeks to Complete

By Prince Of Petworth

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M Street, NW between 15th and 16th

From DDOT:

“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced it will begin installing a protected bike lane (also known as a cycle track) on M Street NW starting on or about Monday, November 25, weather permitting.

The cycle track, with a buffer of parked cars and flexible posts, will span over a mile on the north side of M Street NW between 14th and 28th Streets and will serve as the westbound compliment to the eastbound cycle track on L Street NW. On the 1500 block of M Street NW, the lane will be installed as a “traditional” bike lane. Green paint will also be used for much of the block to increase the visibility of the lane.

Ed. Note: Last night a van parked in the L Street cycle track, check out the interesting debate that followed here.

Construction Details after the jump. (more…)

New Section of 10th Street to be Two Way? Does that Make Sense?

By Prince Of Petworth

10th street

“Dear PoPville,

When CityCenter opens, it appears as if the new 10th Street NW between New York Avenue and H Street will be a two-way street (see photo), despite 10th Street being southbound-only from Vermont to R, Rhode Island to New York, and H to Pennsylvania. Does anyone have any information on this? It doesn’t appear as if any of the other segments will be turned into two-way streets, so it seems odd (beyond the retail dimension of CityCenter itself) to have the new segment this way.

I do think it makes a hint of sense since it is very hard to travel northbound in that area (either 7th or 11th Street will get you beyond Massachusetts Avenue, but no streets in between because of one-way streets or super blocks). I don’t understand why both 9th and 10th Streets both need to be southbound one-way streets directly next to each other. Thoughts?”

DCPL wants your Opinion on The Future of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

By Prince Of Petworth

MLK_Exterior View small
Rendering via DCPL

From DCPL:

“The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, located at 901 G Street NW, will have a major renovation and overhaul to meet the current and future needs of D.C. residents. Forty years after opening its doors, DC Public Library is now in the initial phase of exploring what’s possible for this historic building, and what makes a spectacular central library.

The renovated library will have books and other library materials and services for children, teens and adults including seniors and people with disabilities. The library will have space for meetings and events and will feature the latest technology. It will continue to have space devoted to D.C. history, including D.C. African American history.

As part of the design process, the Library is asking residents to share what combination of services, activities and technologies they would like to see in their new central library.

Learn more and share your ideas here.”

MLK_Library
9th and G St, NW

Burberry Closing Connecticut Ave. Location – Likely Moving to CityCenter

By Prince Of Petworth

burberry_downtown_dc
Photo via Google maps

Burberry is moving from their awesome downtown location at M and Connecticut Ave, NW. J Street Companies lists the property as available June 1, 2014:

“Iconic one-of-a-kind corner retail space on Connecticut Avenue. Available for the first time in 30 years.
Ideal location for a flagship retail store.”

Washington Business Journal hears they could be moving to CityCenterDC. I’ve also been hearing those rumors, so at this point it is very very likely to be true.

Looking forward to seeing who takes over this awesome old space on Connecticut Avenue too.

Dear PoPville – Lane change needed for Northbound 12th Street, NW @ Mass Ave

By Prince Of Petworth

trafficFixDC

“Dear PoPville,

I travel northbound on 12th ST NW daily to get home, and have noticed an issue on this route that can be easily resolved.

Northbound 12th ST NW, at the intersection of Mass Ave NW has 3 lanes.
The left lane is a left-turn only
The middle lane is left-turn or straight
The right lane is right turn only

The majority of traffic turns left at this intersection, and the rest of the traffic goes straight. Essentially no traffic turns right (reason discussed below). Because of this, the center lane is highly congested, and through-traffic often times cheats into the right lane to continue straight on 12TH ST through the intersection.

My suggestion is to change the intersection to the following:
The left lane is left-turn only (no change)
The middle lane is left-turn only
The right lane is right turn or straight

The right lane in its current state (right turn only) is a wasted lane. As shown in the attached diagram, traffic has no use for a right turn here. Any northbound traffic will make a right at L ST NW 150 ft earlier to access Mass Ave, without the need to backtrack (the case if traffic were to make the right at Mass Ave). Additionally, no businesses are accessed by a right turn at this intersection, as Burke Park lines the right-hand side of Mass Ave.

In conclusion modifying the traffic flow through this intersection by re-servicing the lanes will improve throughput and relieve congestion, without any negative impact to any businesses, commuters, or street users. There is no downside to this change.”

Au Bon Pain Coming to New Building at 801 17th Street, NW

By Prince Of Petworth

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“Dear PoPville,

Do you happen to know what food joint us coming in at the corner of 17th and H streets NW, right next to the Emirates airline office? I walk by it all the time but the permits are for the building owner for first tenant build-out so it’s not possible to see who is going into the space.”

Washington Business Journal reports it will be the District’s 21st Au Bon Pain.

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