Transit on Thursday: Intersection Correction Edition

Customer Service Hits the Streets
We see plenty of grousing on area blogs and DCist comment threads about the city's streetscape, making it clear that residents are less than thrilled with the safety of many area intersections (of course, traffic enforcement does not get high marks either). The disconcerting number of pedestrian deaths each year -- an average of 89 in the D.C. area, according to WTOP -- makes it clear that they have a point. While the District works on its Pedestrian Master Plan, residents want something done now to prevent the next Crysta Spencer, Angel Walters, or Martha Schoenborn.

There's no shortage of ideas as to which intersections need to be improved. The problem is that these ideas rarely lead to change. Perusing list on the various blogs linked above, most of the intersections listed remain exactly the same. After Spencer was killed in a hit and run, city officials promised temporary stop signs. They only appeared after Mayor Fenty personally intervened. As a result, Ward 6 activist Adam Clampitt took matters into his own hands, asking residents to submit intersections they felt were dangerous on his blog, District Matters, promising to deliver the list to Fenty himself. At a community meeting on traffic calming along notoriously treacherous Minnesota Ave. last week, Clampitt presented the list to Mayor Fenty, who in turn promised to evaluate each intersection on the list to see what improvements could be made. Hopefully, Fenty takes this list seriously, and goes beyond temporary stop signs to help make D.C. streets safe for everyone, whether they are in a car, on a bike, or on their feet.

If Not Safer, At Least Speedier
Back in April, the District gave a private company called SpeedInfo permission to install 50 wireless radar sensors to monitor traffic along busy streets. We like to call it Connecticut Avenue 2.0. The idea was that SpeedInfo would be able to sell real-time traffic information to commuters and local media outlets, and the city would get access to a whole bunch of traffic data that it could use in its ongoing effort to fight congestion. D.C. traffic officials will now have a new tool to monitor congestion on roadways as well. Along with the new radar data, the District Department of Transportation will begin using the 150 traffic cameras mounted above many area intersections to monitor which roads are clogged and which are running free. They will then relay the information to traffic control officers, who will try to smooth out the kinks. The District already uses the cameras, which do not record any footage, to monitor the progress of snow removal and emergency situations. There are plans to add another 100 of the cameras over the next 2 years. We're all for the use of technology to ease congestion, and happy to see the District embracing innovative tools. Still, it's troubling that the city has no problem coordinating the installation of 250 traffic cameras, yet spent days trying to get a set of temporary stop signs put in place. Hopefully, this isn't a true reflection of priorities.

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Weekend Metro Service Disruptions
Track maintenance and rail car testing on the Red, Blue, Yellow and Green lines this weekend (June 8, 9 and 10) will cause service disruptions due to single-tracking.

Red Line Track Maintenance
Metrorail customers traveling on the Red Line between the Friendship Heights and Medical Center Metrorail stations should add up to 15 minutes of travel time for their trips because of track maintenance. Inbound and outbound trains between these locations will share one track from 10 p.m., Friday, June 8, to 9 a.m., Saturday, June 9, and 10 p.m., Saturday, June 9, to 9 a.m., Sunday, June 10.

Blue and Yellow Line Track Maintenance
Metrorail customers traveling on the Blue and Yellow lines between the Pentagon City and Braddock Road stations should add up to 20 minutes of travel time for their trips because of track maintenance. Inbound and outbound trains between these locations will share one track from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 9, and Sunday, June 10.

Green Line Track Maintenance
Metrorail customers traveling on the Green Line this weekend between the Many Yard, Anacostia, and Southern Avenue Metrorail stations should add up to 15 minutes of travel time for their trips because of track maintenance. Inbound and outbound trains between these locations will share one track from 9 p.m., Saturday, June 9, to 8 a.m., Sunday, June 10.

Green Line Rail Car Testing
Metrorail customers traveling on the Green Line this weekend should add up to 10 to15 minutes of travel time for their trips this weekend because of new railcar testing. Inbound and outbound trains operating between the Greenbelt and College Park Metrorail stations will share one track while new trains are tested from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, June 9