Good News on Infrastructure thread

[LhasaCM]

Alright – some DC updates since I last posted here (in March?!?), in reverse chronological order (so newest first):

• Work is progressing on protected bike lanes in Adams Morgan on Columbia Road as part of the bus priority project there.  Some parts are installed, but still a ways out from being “done.”
• The permanent bike lanes on Florida Ave NE between 2nd and 14th are mostly done.
  • Signal work remains, and the eastbound lane is closed between 3rd and 4th due to apartment building construction.
  • This replaces the temporary bike lanes installed in 2019.
• A two-way protected cycletrack has been installed on Mount Olivet between Bladensburg and *almost* Brentwood Parkway.
  • Similar to the cycletrack on Brentwood, it ends/merges onto the sidewalk just before the intersection.
  • The intersection with Bladensburg is a bit of a YOLO one right now (especially coming from the east/south); there’s a project in the design phase for PBLs on 17th NE that will connect to this segment, but it’s not done yet.
• Construction and signal work wrapped up on M Street SE between 1st and 11th.
• A two-way cycletrack was installed on Arizona Avenue connecting Loughboro and Caroline Place (just past MacArthur).
  • A future project will connect more directly to the Capitol Crescent Trail.
• A two-way cycletrack was installed on Potomac Ave SE between 17th and 19th, and alongside 19th SE up to C Street (connecting to the bike lanes there)
  • There currently is a northbound PBL on 19th up to Benning Road, and the aforementioned project to connect to the Mount Olivet lanes at Bladensburg.

DC also is trying to do a better job of sharing progress on projects, with a new-ish landing page: https://bikelanes.ddot.dc.gov/

This page replaces the previous setup of separate project pages (usually with vanity URLs maintained by the contractor), and is reasonably updated.  From this, and from updates given the BAC, DC has a lot in the design/”Spring 2025″ construction phase right now.  Some big, many small but vital connections (like the 100 block of K NE).

[lordofthemark]

Thanks Chris.

Columbia has been in the news, and its definitely on my list to check out – as is Arizona, though that is less convenient to get to. I vaguely recall seeing something about Mt Olivet.

M Street of course I see regularly, and have used (and Eye Street SE-SW which also is now protected)

I was on Potomac not that long ago, there was more infra there than I had remembered, but not sure if that was before the project was finished.

I have a lot of recon to do.

[lordofthemark]

Yesterday I did an “infrastructure ride”

Arizona – well done. I assume it was mainly for traffic calming? I will not likely be using it much, both because of location and that hill. Though I can’t imagine climbing that hill without a PBL. The connection to CCT will help if anyone is actually going to use it for transportation.

Columbia Road on the other hand – it was being used yesterday by numerous riders. While I am not in AdMo that much, I would see using it at least a couple of times a year, and it might motivate me to get to AdMo more. I can see issues with the floating bus stops, but they work okay elsewhere and I would hope they will hear. Other than that, excellent design. I didnt explore all the connectivity issues as it was nearing time to head home, but PBLs on at least part of Connecticut would really help this.

Next DC infra ride will probably be Mt Olivet.

[LhasaCM]

Arizona was for a mix of traffic calming but also to build out the network.  It’s been on the map as a needed project for quite some time – future plans call for something on Loughboro, which would then fully connect MacArthur to AU and the lanes on New Mexico.  Plus, the future direct CCT connection will be nice (as it is the cycletrack also connects to that segment of the Palisades Trolley Trail and the rec center alongside of it.  That trail and Sherier Place will take someone to the off-road access trail to the CCT near the corner of Norton and Potomac).

[lordofthemark]

Ah, it didn’t even occur to me to consider the Palisades Trolley Trail, I rode on it once years ago, and while for a while I followed discussion of it, I have not lately.

I believe at least one member of our community used to use the connection at Potomac near Norton to get from CCT into upper NW. I got from CCT to MacArthur by taking Canal>Reservoir up from the boat house – not the optimal choice, I think.

Good to see focus on connectivity.

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