Residents Could Help Shape H Street's Transportation Plan

The kickoff meeting for the H Street NE Corridor Transportation Study was held on Tuesday at the J.O. Wilson Elementary School. The meeting was well organized and useful for helping residents better visualize what the city is planning.

Upcoming events will continue to both educate residents and solicit their input. As a resident, I think that this is an excellent opportunity to influence a project that is still in the planning process and will affect members of the community directly.

D.C. planners followed their explanation of the H Street project with an opportunity for participants to view mark-ups of the plan for H Street, point out dangerous intersections and poorly lit streets, and discuss areas where residents would like improvements — both long-term and short-term.

Suggested improvements included changing the timing of traffic lights at key intersections, putting out more trash cans, installing a bike lane, and improving the lighting on most blocks on H Street. Residents were also encouraged to think about where on H Street they would want wider sidewalks, parks, outdoor furniture and public artwork. For the long term, planners are considering laying track for a citywide street trolley system. H Street would be one of the first areas to be served.

The meeting was chaired by Project Manager Rachel MacCleery, the Ward 6 transportation planner (671-2555 or Rachel.maccleery@dc.gov).

Also present were consultants from Michael Baker Corp., Victor Siaurusaitis (410-424-2210 or vsiaurusaitis@mbakercorp.com), an engineer focusing on transportation, parking and transit issues; and Kiran Mathema (703-960-4400 or kmathema@mbakercorp.com), an urban planner focusing on streetscape and public realm.

Rachel MacCleery opened the meeting by explaining that the purpose of the H Street Transportation Study is to examine what changes need to be made to the existing transportation system to create an environment that will support the H Street Revitalization Plan. The study has three phases: the planning/study phase; the design phase; and the implementation/construction phase. Many aspects of the project are long-term, such as widening sidewalks. In the short term, however, D.C. can address other citizen concerns, including: retiming traffic lights, painting crosswalks and installing bike racks or trash cans in strategic locations.

Eventual objectives include (1) resolving areas that are unfriendly to pedestrians, such as the intersection between 15th Street, Maryland Avenue and Bladensburg Road; (2) accommodating outdoor use; (3) considering potential bicycle paths; (4) examining the width of sidewalks; and (5) developing a light-rail or trolley plan.

Over the next year — the next six months will be particularly crucial — the study will solicit community and stakeholder input. There were only 30 or 40 people present at the meeting, making individual opinions potentially quite influential.

The initial assessment of existing conditions was scheduled to continue today with a community walk on H Street from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Residents were to have an opportunity to discuss potential options for H street, including safety issues, pedestrian concerns, parking concerns, good sites for public art and public parks, and other issues, such as vehicle and bicycle traffic. In addition, two Community Charrettes will be held, one on Tuesday, September 9, and the other on Saturday, September 13. During the Charrettes, residents will be able to describe their ideas to landscape artists, who will sketch out the ideas.

A second public meeting will be held on October 2. Draft recommendations will be presented at the third public meeting, on December 9, and final recommendations will be presented during the fourth public meeting, on January 22, 2004.

Victor Siaurusaitis discussed transportation issues — the flow of traffic on H Street and whether trucks would be allowed to use H Street. His company is collecting data on traffic movements, looking at the implications of adding bus routes or transit points; parking and metering; pedestrian and bike movements; how lanes affect businesses on the corridor; how traffic works in rush hour; and whether adding or deleting traffic lanes or prohibiting left or right turns would affect the overall traffic flow.

Kiran Mathema discussed urban planning. He noted that the current plan for H Street Revitalization would increase the density of the area, with additional residential and retail. Could some of the density be offset by light rail or other options? How wide should the sidewalks be on H Street, and are there certain areas, such as planned sidewalk cafes in the planned arts and entertainment district where the sidewalks should be wider? Other issues include street safety, cleanliness, vibrancy, and creating a "sense of place" through public art and ambient street furniture. The study would also look for ways to connect H Street east of Union Station and west of Union Station.

An Arts Commission representative noted that public artwork would be commissioned for the area and that the design of street lamps, street furniture, and bus stops could add a "sense of place" and a unique feel to the area.

In response to a resident's question about the potential plan to have trolleys on H Street, a representative from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority noted that his office is planning for the next generation of transit in the Washington area and is investigating the feasibility of various options, including street trolleys, light rail, and buses (including the effects of having a reserved lane vs. mixed lanes for these modes of public transportation). The H Street planning process occurs in the context of trying to draw up another plan for an entire network in DC. H Street and Benning Road could be very important corridors. Eventually, the city might try to have lines that run between Minnesota Avenue and Stadium in the east, to Union Station and the Convention Center in the west. The network would also cross downtown to Georgetown and uptown to U Street and Adams Morgan. §