Photo by LeRoy Armstead.

With parking violations for blocking the streetcar’s path a continued issue despite a year of practice runs, the District Department of Transportation is installing red striping to combat the problem.

Starting on Friday, DDOT will begin installing the markers between the parking lanes and the concrete track slab on H Street from 3rd Street NE to 14th Street NE. “The red striping is an important safety upgrade that will address the safety and operation of motor vehicles that are parked outside of the white line parking boundary, which impedes safe passage of the streetcar,” DDOT said in a release.

The parking lane and the adjacent travel lanes will be closed while they do the work, so drivers can expect delays through August 21. Metrobuses will continue running with the help of “flaggers” at each stop in the sections where the crews are working.

DDOT advises that drivers use caution traveling through the work zone and ask that pedestrians remain alert, follow all signage, and use crosswalks.

The closures are as follows:

• Friday, 8/14: Parking on the north and south sides of H Street NE between 3rd Street NE and 14th Street NE will be prohibited from 7 am to 2 pm to prepare the roadway for striping. Lanes between these two intersections will be cleared of residual oils and debris with water. All parking restrictions will be removed by 2 pm.

Parking on both the north and south sides of H Street NE will be restricted from 7 am to 4 pm on Monday, August 17 to Friday, August 21 for the installation of red striping at the following intersections:

• Monday, 8/17 and Tuesday, 8/18: Parking on H Street NE between 3rd Street and 7th Street will be prohibited
• Tuesday, 8/18 and Wednesday, 8/19: Parking on H Street NE between 7th Street and 10th Street will be prohibited
• Wednesday, 8/19 and Thursday, 8/20: Parking on H Street NE between 10th Street and 12th Street will be prohibited
• Thursday, 8/20 and Friday, 8/21: Parking on H Street NE between 12th Street and 14th Street will be prohibited