March 2021

15th Street Safety

AgnosticPreachersKid Improvements Project Overview Wikimedia “ Wikimedia user Commons,

1 15th Street Safety Improvements

2 What Are We Covering Today?

1 Intro

2 Why it’s Important

3 Goals

4 Concepts

Please visit our project website: http://bit.ly/15thStreetPBL 5 Public Engagement

Share your ideas & comments: 6 Next Steps https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/15thStreetPBL Intro: Setting the Stage 1 INTRO 15th Street Safety Improvements

15th Street from to Maine Avenue INTRO What’s Involved in this Effort?

Existing Interim Long-Term Maintenance Conditions Improvements Improvements Agreement Evaluation Plan Plan

How do people walk, How do we make How do we make How do DDOT and scoot, bike, roll, drive? interim long-term NPS keep the Where are crashes improvements? improvements? improvements happening? 100% design 30% design maintained? 3-5 years

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Collaboration and input from key stakeholders, federal agencies, and the community

6 INTRO Where Are We in this Process?

Existing Conditions Refined Interim Plan & Interim Concept & Long-Term Concept

Oct 2020 Mar/Apr 2021 • Project Startup • Federal Stakeholder Meetings • Establish Project Objectives Today • Stakeholder Meeting Follow-ups Nov/Dec 2020 May/June 2021 • Traffic Analysis & Crash Data Review • Public Meeting #2 (May 12) • Conceptual Design • Federal Stakeholder Meetings • Interim Plan Construction Documents Jan/Feb 2021 • Stakeholder Meetings July/Aug 2021 • Public Meeting #1 (Feb 18) • Planned re-paving of • Construction of Interim Design • 30% Plans for Long-Term Improvements 7 Why it’s Important 2 INTRO Mentioned in Previous Plans NPS Paved National Mall moveDC Plan Trails Study Plan 2014 2016 2010

MISSING LINK in local and regional non-motorized Identified need for Identified segment as Proposed protected network separated bike facility high-volume non- cycletrack and off- on 15th Street motorized corridor street trail connection … along a High Volume Corridor 9 WHY 15th Street Safety Improvements Including Cycle DDOT Roadway Track . Closes the bikeway gap NPS Roadway from Pennsylvania Avenue to the 14th Street Bridge . This scope of work focuses on 15th Street

between Pennsylvania NPS to install cycle Avenue NW and Maine track this summer (2021) during Avenue SW repaving activities 10 WHY High Volume of Bikes and Scooters

Capital Bikeshare Strava Bicycle Shared Scooter Trip Heatmap Heatmap Trip Heatmap Red refers to higher usage Purple refers to higher usage Red refers to higher usage

11 WHY Visitors are an Important User Group . Three bus lay-bys are located along the National Mall on the 1 west side of 15th Street . All lay-bys are serviced by the DC Circulator ‘National Mall’ 2 Route. . BigBus sightseeing company uses lay-by #2 & #3 3

12 WHY Opportunity to Balance Access, Capacity, and Delay

13 WHY Opportunity to Balance Access, Capacity, and Delay

14 WHY People Get Around in Different Ways

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15 WHY Which Can Lead to Conflicts

Vehicles and People Walking or Bicycling Permissive turning movements pose safety risks

People Walking, Rolling, Biking, and Scootering Crowding and confusion on National Mall pathways

Buses and People Biking

Bus access and bicycle movement across lay-bys

16 WHY Conflicts Can Lead to Crashes

200+ Number of crashes (all modes) that occurred on the 15th Street corridor within our study area between 2015 and 2020

17 WHY Not Just About Statistics: It’s About People

Walker Willa Biker Bea Driver Dana Tourist Tom

Willa likes to spend Bea usually takes the Dana drives into DC a few Tom is visiting from out of weekends visiting metro from her days a week to babysit town and has decided to museums located along apartment in Logan Circle her grandchild. The use the DC Circulator to the National Mall with her to work in Crystal City, portion of her trip along tour sites along the friends. VA, but on nice days she Constitution Ave is the National Mall. She wishes the Mall rides her bike. most stressful. Since he is on vacation, pathways could be more Between the White House She feels that the road is his main priority is that relaxing, as she prefers and the 14th Street Bridge, already quite chaotic – stops are easy to find and not to dodge people on Bea bikes on the sidewalk how will everyone share easy to use. scooters. to avoid fast and unsafe the road? drivers.

18 Goals: What Are We Trying to Accomplish? 3 GOALS What Are We Trying to Accomplish?

Safety Ease of Use Access/Delay

A safe right-of-way for Improve function of the Balance travel delay with people, regardless of street and intersections to right-of-way capacity and walking, biking, or driving make them easier to use and access for everyone who understand uses the street

20 Concepts: Design Recommendations 4 CONCEPTS What Does a Cycle Track Look Like? INSPIRATION FROM PEER CITIES

Seattle Chicago Washington, DC

22 CONCEPTS What Does a Cycle Track Look Like? IMAGINING A CYCLE TRACK ON 15TH STREET

23 CONCEPTS Vertical Protection . Concrete wheel stops with reflective strips are preferred for durability and have limited impact on viewshed. . Along the Mall, no flexible posts will be used (except at intersections) . North of , flexible posts will be considered for added vertical protection . A short-term application is needed for the 15th Street portion through the National Mall (permanent application can occur with mill/paving in summer 2022) 4th Street SW through National Mall CONCEPTS Vertical Protection AT INTERSECTIONS . A vertical element at intersections in needed to provide visibility (and to deter vehicles from entering bike facility) . Design would seek to minimize the number of flexible posts at each intersection . 2-3 flexible posts used to add visibility to concrete buffer 4th Street SW through 4th StreetNational SW throughMall National Mall CONCEPTS Flexible Posts Vertical Protection AT INTERSECTIONS, CYCLETRACK CENTERLINE

. A vertical element at the centerline of cycletracks are also needed – due to the 1th Street NE cycletrack, north of K Street NE facility's width (to deter Bollard vehicles from entering facility) . Options for centerline post: – 2-3 flexible posts – 1 stainless steel or K-71 bollard

K-71 1st Street NE at Columbus Circle TIMELINE Repaving

Schedules DDOT Repaving this segment in 2021 . 2021 Repaving schedules are helping to drive the construction this year . NPS Repaving this Some interim conditions segment in 2022 will occur for segment that is getting repaved in 2022

NPS Repaving this segment in 2021 (not within scope)

27 TIMELINE 2021 Interim Improvements

4th Street SW, National Mall Long-Term Condition

Concrete barrier with flexible posts

Interim Condition Concrete barrier with flexible posts Rubber wheel stops with flexible posts East Basin Drive , Jefferson Bus lay-by reconstruction Memorial

Long-Term Condition

Rubber wheel stops with flexible posts Rubber wheel stop with flexible posts (at intersections only) 28 TIMELINE 2022 Long-Term Improvements

2021 Condition

Long-Term Condition

Permanent curb buffer for cycletrack No change to bus lay-bys

2021 Condition

Permanent granite curb buffer 29 CONCEPTS Let’s Zoom in 1 on 15th Street at …

1.1 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 2

2.2 Constitution Avenue NW 3

3.3 Madison Drive NW 4

4.4 Jefferson Drive SW 5

5.5 Independence Avenue SW*

6.6 Maine Avenue SW* 6 *15th Street becomes Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW between Independence & Maine Avenues SW

30 CONCEPTS How Might the 15th Street

Improvements Affect VehicularExisting ProposedTraffic? Intersection Control1 Peak Hour Delay (sec)2 LOS Peak Hour Delay (sec)2 LOS

AM 23.3 C AM 37.2 D 15th St NW & Pennsylvania Ave NW Signal PM 14.3 B PM 13.6 B AM 42.3 D AM 52.7 D 15th St NW & Lower E St NW Signal PM 25.7 C PM 38.8 D AM 55.7 E AM 93.5 F 15th St NW & Constitution Ave NW Signal PM 40.1 D PM 102.6 F AM 5.2 A AM 63.1 E 15th St NW & Madison Dr NW Signal PM 9.7 A PM 45.8 D AM 18.4 B AM 12.4 B 15th St NW & Jefferson Dr SW Signal PM 7.6 A PM 7.1 A AM 42.6 D AM 42.3 D Raoul Wallenberg Dr SW & Independence Ave SW Signal PM 38 D PM 46.2 D AM 2.3 A AM 3.5 A Raoul Wallenberg Dr SW & Holocaust Plz Signal PM 1.9 A PM 3.2 A AM 20.9 C AM 26.1 C Raoul Wallenberg Dr SW & WB Maine Ave SW Signal PM 17.6 B PM 61.1 E AM 9.2 A AM 16.9 B Raoul Wallenberg Dr SW & EB Maine Ave SW Signal PM 17 B PM 70.2 E Notes: 1. Signal = Signalized intersection; TWSC = Two-Way STOP-Controlled intersection; SSSC = Side-Street STOP-Controlled intersection. 2. Intersection average vehicle delay for TWSC and SSSC intersections is only for the STOP-controlled movement (e.g., NB = Northbound, WB = Westbound). The highest vehicle delay per STOP-controlled movement is presented in the table. 31 CONCEPTS 1. Pennsylvania Avenue NW

13’ cycle track 12’ cycle track with with bike turn lane bike turn lane N

Repurposed parking AM PM Permit right turns lane for cycle track Existing LOS D C into White House Proposed LOS D D Access Road. 32 CONCEPTS 2. Constitution Avenue NW

10’ cycle track, 3’ buffer Right turn on green arrow N 10’ vehicle lanes only to avoid conflict with bicycles and pedestrians.

Left turn on green arrow only to avoid AM PM conflict with bicycles Existing LOS E D and pedestrians Proposed LOS F F CONCEPTS 4. Jefferson Drive SW 3. Madison Drive NW

12’ cycle track, 3’ buffer N 11’ vehicle lanes N

AM PM • Extended AM traffic signal AM PM Existing LOS B A timing from 55 to 110 seconds Existing LOS A A Proposed LOS B A • Pedestrian only movement added Proposed LOS E D 34 CONCEPTS 6. Maine Avenue SW

AM PM Existing LOS C B N Close this slip lane; prohibit right turn Proposed LOS C E movement

12’ cycle track, 3’ buffer 12’ vehicle lanes 8’ parking lane 35 CONCEPTS 6. Maine Avenue SW

AM PM Cycle track passes in front of Existing LOS C B N island and takes the curb lane Proposed LOS C E

12’ cycle track, 3’ buffer 12’ vehicle lanes 8’ parking lane 36 CONCEPTS 6. Maine Avenue SW

Repurposed lane for cycle Maintain 2 lanes from Kutz track on Maine Ave & East Bridge with right only turn Basin Dr (NPS to execute into Lot during summer 2021 repaving)

Install protection for start of cycletrack at this location

N 37 CONCEPTS Other Considerations: Bus Lay-bys SEPARATE MODES AT BUS LAY-BYS

Route cycle track into existing lay-by space; cycle N track remains at street level

8’ cycle track, 12’ platform Demo and replace existing median 12’ vehicle lanes island with 12’ wide extension for 11’ bus lane bus load/unload zone 8’ parking lane 38 CONCEPTS Other Considerations: Maintenance RESOLVE MAINTENANCE GRAY AREAS . DDOT will maintain concrete vertical separation . DDOT will provide snow clearance . NPS will develop alternative snow storage solution

39 CONCEPTS How Might the 15th Street Improvements Affect People?

Walker Willa Biker Bea Driver Dana Tourist Tom

With the improvements, With a cycle track in With a clearly delineated With a redesigned 15th Willa can enjoy her time place, Bea feels more cycle track and dedicated Street, Tom can hop on with friends taking in the confident biking along signals for different road and off the DC Circulator scenery of the Mall, 15th Street. users, Dana sees walkers with ease. After seeing snapping photos, and Now, there are fewer and bikers more clearly the popularity of the new popping in and out of hurdles to commuting by and feels more cycle track, he may even museums. bicycle. comfortable traveling on try Capital Bikeshare next DC’s streets. time he’s in town!

40 CONCEPTS Overall Design Outcomes Safety Ease of Use Access/Delay

Walker Willa

Biker Bea

Driver Dana

Tourist Tom

41 Public Engagement 5 DISCUSSION Snapshot of Public Engagement …

1.1 140 attendees at Public Meeting #1: 96 community stakeholders, 4 ANC commissioners 30 government staff and 10 consultants

2.2 130 public comments received of whom: almost all (98%) bike this segment 62% also walk this segment, 16% also drive and 13% also ride transit 3.3 100 views of public meeting materials via Facebook Live, YouTube and the project website 4.4 Bilingual inter-agency engagement ongoing with street vendors and tour guides/tour bus operators 43 Next Steps: Where We’re Headed 6 NEXT STEPS Next Steps in this Project

Existing Conditions Refined Interim Plan & Interim Concept & Long-Term Concept

Oct 2020 Mar/Apr 2021 • Project Startup • Federal Stakeholder Meetings • Establish Project Objectives Today • Stakeholder Meeting Follow-ups Nov/Dec 2020 May/June 2021 • Traffic Analysis & Crash Data Review • Public Meeting #2 (May 12) • Conceptual Design • Federal Stakeholder Meetings • Interim Plan Construction Documents Jan/Feb 2021 • Stakeholder Meetings July/Aug 2021 • Public Meeting #1 (Feb 18) • Planned re-paving of Ohio Drive • Construction of Interim Design • 30% Plans for Long-Term Improvements 45 Thank You!

Please visit our project website: http://bit.ly/15thStreetPBL

Share your ideas & comments: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/15thStreetPBL 15TH STREET SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS – PHOTO RENDERING

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