M-Street Cycletrack Installation Set to Begin

[UrbanEngineer]

Just got this update on my newsfeed:

Starting on or about Monday (11/25) we’re going to begin installing a protected bike lane (also known as a cycle track) on M Street NW.

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.

Construction Details

Construction activities will take place Monday through Friday between the morning and evening rush-hour period and may also take place during the weekend. Starting next week the work will commence at M Street NW and Rhode Island Avenue NW and by the following week it will begin simultaneously at 14th Street NW and New Hampshire Avenue and proceed west on M Street NW.

Depending on weather conditions, the installation will take approximately four to six weeks to complete. If it rains or snows installation activities will likely shutdown for the day and may delay the schedule.

We will also be coordinating closely with several major construction projects that are currently underway on M Street NW at 17th Street NW and at New Hampshire Avenue NW. These construction projects may possibly extend the installation schedule for the bike lane.

Existing markings will be removed and replaced with new markings for the bike lane. DDOT is installing the lane as a “retrofit” which will not require for the entire roadway to be resurfaced.

We specifically chose to implement the M Street cycle track as a “retrofit” to allow for time to evaluate the design and operations before resurfacing the street and setting it more permanently.

Curbside parking spaces will be temporally restricted to accommodate installation activities.

Cyclists are reminded to be please avoid using the lane while it is under construction. Motorists and pedestrians are reminded to please use extra caution when traveling near the active work zone.

For more information about our Bicycle Program please visit
http://ddot.dc.gov/DC/DDOT/On+Your+Street/Bicycles+and+Pedestrians?nav=1&vgnextrefresh=1

[Terpfan]

I’m so confused as to what they’re actually doing now. Before I thought this was going to be a mostly protected cycletrack similar to 15th St. But today I rode down to maybe 20th or 21st and really it’s just confusing white painted lines that take you on a dooring adventure extraordinare. I opted to stay in the lane of traffic for most of it recognizing it was safer. Also, I have absolute no clue how it was supposed to work at Connecticut Avenue. It looks like it jogs right to briefly connect to Rhode Island and then over. I just couldn’t tell and decided to do what I had always done and just go with the traffic from M.

[jrenaut]

On one hand, I have no expectation that this project will be any better than L St, which I prefer not to ride on. On the other hand, it’s not really fair to judge before the construction is finished.

[sethpo]

Here’s the full plans for the Mst track.

Can’t wait.

[jnva]

I can’t wait either. Right now it is very confusing.

[Author]

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