The median on Pennsylvania Ave. would become a bike lane separated from traffic by plastic barriers under a proposal from DDOT. Photo by Joe Danielewicz.

The median on Pennsylvania Ave. would become a bike lane separated from traffic by plastic barriers under a proposal from DDOT. Photo by Joe Danielewicz.

By DCist Contributor Joe Danielewicz

Residents are invited to a public meeting tonight to learn about a series of proposed new bike lanes on five major roads in downtown D.C., part of the city’s broader effort to be more bike friendly.

Officials from the District Department of Transportation will present five main proposals and solicit public input. Those proposals include:

  • Extending southward the dedicated bike lane on 15th St. to Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
  • Creating a dedicated bike lane in the current center lane (median) of Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from 3rd St. NW to 15th St. NW.
  • Removing a vehicle lane and creating a bike lane on I St. NW from 11th St. to 21st St. NW on the road’s left side.
  • Removing a vehicle land and creating a bike lane on L St. NW from 12th St. to 25th St. NW on the road’s left side.
  • Removing a vehicle lane and creating a bike lane on 9th St. NW from Mount Vernon Square/Convention Center south to Constitution Ave. on the road’s left side (southbound); or, creating contraflow lanes on 9th St. similar to what’s currently on 15th.

DDOT has borrowed ideas from successful bike programs in New York City and Montreal for examples of how to create these kinds of dedicated lanes that protect cyclists.

The Pennsylvania Ave. proposal, which has already begun raising eyebrows among area drivers, would see the thoroughfare’s median converted into bike lanes separated from traffic by flexible plastic barriers. The barriers could be easily removed for presidential inaugurations or similar events, according to Jim Sebastian, bicycle program manager for DDOT.

Along I and L streets, cyclists would be protected with similar plastic barriers on the street’s left side. The re-configured roads would reduce the current four lanes of traffic to three, except at intersections. Sebastian says keeping four lanes at intersections available for cars will reduce bottlenecks for drivers turning onto other streets.

But if the left curb lane is reserved for bikes, it could change the driving habits of delivery drivers, since they would be barred from parking in a bike lane. Sebastian said DDOT is working with the Golden Business Improvement District and the Downtown BID to assess the impact on local businesses.

DDOT estimates the cost of converting each block is between $10,000 and $20,000. With approximately 52 blocks being discussed, the total possible price tag could be as much as $1 million. That money would come from funds allocated last year that have been earmarked for bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Residents can learn more at DDOT’s public meeting tonight at the Heritage Center of the United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Filed Under: bicycle, bike lanes, ddot, public meetings, transportation,