Posts tagged Cat:public_spaces
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Bridge will connect trail, Edgewood to RI Ave Metro
The Rhode Island Avenue Metro station sits high above Rhode Island Avenue, east of and above the railroad tracks. Riders who want to get to the Edgewood neighborhood to the northwest must follow a very circuitous route. They must descend on a long, sloping, and ugly pedestrian ramp across the avenue, then curve in a sort of pedestrian cloverleaf around to the sidewalk. They must… Keep reading…
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No overhead wires on the Mall?
One argument against overhead wires is that they will ruin the views of Washington and mar wire-free places like the Mall and grand avenues. But an eagle-eyed reader sent along this surprising picture: A wire blocks the view of the Washington Monument! Keep reading…
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Council approves sidewalk bill with a few amendments
The DC Council passed on first reading the Priority Sidewalk Assurance Act to require installation of sidewalks on at least one side of any street being reconstructed. Councilmember Phil Mendelson (at-large) introduced four amendments to the current bill. The bill requires DDOT to provide notice to neighbors and the ANC, provide an opportunity for comment, and explain… Keep reading…
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Speak for sidewalks
This morning, the entire DC Council will consider the Sidewalk Assurance Act, to ensure that political considerations don’t stop sidewalks from going in when DDOT is already reconstructing streets. Keep reading…
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How many barriers is too many?
The concrete planters around the Hirshhorn Museum helped slow a wayward truck that crashed into the museum last week. This crash was not a deliberate attempt to attack the building. It was a totally freak incident which had never happened before. Although this will probably spur efforts to increase the security measures around the building, it really should be… Keep reading…
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“Monumentalism” puts postcard DC above human DC
Three recent opinion pieces in the Washington Post raise some thought-provoking questions about the way planners, preservationists, and others view Washington, DC, and question the long-standing consensus around a “monumentalist” vision at odds with other preservationist, environmental, and urbanist viewpoints. The widely-accepted view of Washington… Keep reading…
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Park Service might allow real transit on the Mall
The National Park Service has opened the door to allowing real transit in addition to, or instead of, the guided “interpretive visitor transportation” currently operated by the Tourmobile, but it’s not yet clear whether they will walk through that door. The Park Service has had an exclusive contract with the Tourmobile for decades to provide services on… Keep reading…
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New art planned for Takoma, Farragut West
At tomorrow’s meeting, the WMATA Board will hold its first of many discussions on the FY2011 budget. It will also get to address a much lighter topic: art for Takoma and Farragut West stations. Keep reading…
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Shovel brigades clear out sidewalks and bus stops
While some people look forward to getting their street plowed after weeks of heavy snowfall, those who walk or use public transit to get around have a whole new problem: snowplows often push the snow into the sidewalk, leaving piles of hardened, icy snow several feet high. No doubt you’ve seen people walking along the sides of major local roads, like Randolph Road in Montgomery… Keep reading…
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ODMPED suddenly very eager to develop Dupont tunnels
After years of inaction, DC economic development officials want to quickly find use for the long-empty streetcar tunnels under Dupont Circle. At the Dupont Circle ANC (2B) meeting last night, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (ODMPED) representative Neil Goradia said that they have finally worked out the legal issues around the lease, and are… Keep reading…