An old mockup of the bumpouts planned for First Avenue NW in Bloomingdale. Image by DDOT.

A DDOT traffic calming plan from March is finally being completed after opposition from a local ANC commissioner led to months of uncertainty.

This past March, the District Department of Transportation revealed a traffic calming plan to install curb extensions, or “bulbouts,” on 1st Street NW in Bloomingdale. The announcement came in response to years of community concern about drivers speeding on the residential street, particularly commuters who cut through the neighborhood on their way downtown.

But as soon as the plan was announced, it faced pushback from ANC 5E06 commissioner Karla Lewis, whose single-member-district includes the two southernmost intersections (1st and R and 1st and Randolph) in the plan area. Lewis objected to the removal of two parking spots (which are currently illegal because they’re too close to the intersection) that would accompany the installation.

Despite strong support from neighbors, including a resolution passed by the Bloomingdale Civic Association (BCA) and 150+ signatures on a petition specifically calling for implementation along the entire street, Lewis lobbied ANC 5E at its April meeting to pass a “compromise” motion supporting the rest of the plan but exempting those two intersections in her SMD.

Two designs proposed for the curb extensions. BCA voted to use both designs if possible, and the one on the left if not. Image by the author.

Whether DDOT would stick to the original plan or shrink it to match the ANC resolution has been an outstanding question in the months since, but it was finally answered this week. In response to inquiries from Gordon Chaffin who writes the local transit newsletter Street Justice, a DDOT official vaguely confirmed that it would be protecting all nine all-way stop intersections: “R Street, Randolph Place, S Street, Seaton Place, U Street, V Street, W Street, Adams Street, and Bryant Street NW.”

When I followed up to get clarity on the matter with DDOT, the agency said it plans to cut the bulbouts short on R and Randolph streets, retaining the two illegal parking spots.

As in the original plan, T Street and Thomas Street were excluded “due to their proximity to Rhode Island Ave and because they are not all-way stop control,” while Channing St was left out because of pending construction at the McMillan site.

Timeline-wise, DDOT will be installing the bumpouts in phases. First, it will expedite the completion of 1st and U streets. At its meeting at its meeting last month, the BCA chose that intersection to receive the first full treatment, including painted murals. That work has already started with flexiposts and base level of paint appearing at the intersection this week, with artistic mural design to come soon.

The other intersections are scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The official also confirmed a number of other details about the project:

  • The murals for U Street cost approximately $5,000 and are being purchased with local operating funds.
  • DDOT is working to see if it can produce a stencil allowing the BCA to replicate the design at the other intersections.
  • DDOT has purchased 32 planters, at a cost of $10,000 to cover each corner of eight intersections. (Some confusion remains here: The official said the 32 were sufficient to cover the entire eight-intersection project but did not reconcile that number with the nine earlier confirmed intersections.)
  • DDOT is also considering alternatives to flexiposts, which received some pushback from BCA members. It is investigating piloting speed stars in one location instead.

Once implementation is complete, ensuring the project’s success will fall to both the community and DDOT. Residents will be responsible for maintaining the planters and potentially expanding (and/or maintaining) the murals, while DDOT will need to track the impact on speed and safety to determine if further measures are necessary.

Update: DDOT says it is adding bumpouts to R and Randolph streets, but plans to cut them short on the two corners with the two illegal parking spots.

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Tagged: anc, bloomingdale, dc, ddot, parking, pedestrians, roads, vision zero, walkability

Nick Sementelli is a 17-year DC resident who lives in Ward 5. In his day job, he works as a digital strategist for progressive political campaigns and advocacy groups. Outside of the office, you can find him on the soccer field or at Nats Park. He currently serves on GGWash's Board of Directors.