DDOT NOTICE OF INTENT | Extension of BUS ONLY lanes on MLK, Jr Ave SE from W St SE to Good Hope Rd SE

Photo courtesy of DDOT

Aren’t familiar with the BUS-ONLY Program, also known as the Clear Lanes Program?

Check out my recent editorial that includes where to park (or not park) and where you can drive (and not drive), along with potential fines for drivers for not obeying the new traffic regulations.

- The Advoc8te


May 15, 2023

Jamila White, Chairperson, ANC 8A
2100-D Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20020
8A05@anc.dc.gov

NOI# 23-101-TDD
Re: Bus Only Lane Extension on Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE

Dear Chairperson White,

Pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Amendment Act of 2000” D.C. LAW 13-249 (48 DCR 3491 April 20, 2001), the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is required to give a written notice of our intent (NOI) to modify traffic and/or parking requirements. This letter is being forwarded to you for the purpose of notification and solicitation of comments on our intent to implement the following in your jurisdiction:

OVERVIEW

As part of the Bus Priority Program, DDOT is extending the existing southbound bus lane on Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE from W St SE to Good Hope Rd SE. The bus lane will operate on weekdays from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM (PM rush hour). The project will additionally install roadway safety measures and update signage to specify curbside regulations more clearly.

Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE is one of the highest bus ridership corridors in the District and the proposed action will reduce travel time and improve reliability for public transportation on the roadway. This plan for the bus lane extension was developed as part of Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE Bus Priority planning project and more information regarding existing and upcoming future improvements is available on the project website:https://buspriority.ddot.dc.gov/pages/c80eb62ae9c5427fa3b181ce404b28c2.

PROPOSED ACTION

The proposed action is to extend the existing southbound bus lane on Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE in historic Anacostia from W St SE to Good Hope Rd SE, clarify and update parking regulations to be consistent with DDOT’s Design and Engineering Manual, and construct a curb extension at the intersection with Shannon Pl SE. Overall 32 parking spaces will be added, primarily by updating signage between Morris Rd SE and Howard Rd SE. However, eleven of those spaces will not be completed until construction at 2323 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE is no longer occupying public space. The southbound bus lane is mostly consistent with existing curbside regulations between W St SE and Good Hope Rd SE. However, the ten southbound parking spaces between U St SE and V St SE are currently full-time, unregulated parking and those spaces will become PM rush hour restricted. Below are listed the specific changes to curbside regulations that are proposed on the corridor and further information is available in Table 1 and Figure 1.

District Department of Transportation | 250 M Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 | 202.673.6813 | ddot.dc.gov

  • U St SE/ Shannon Pl SE to Good Hope Rd SE – Four full-time spaces will be removed (northbound) to construct a curb extension (widened sidewalk near crosswalk) and no change in southbound parking spaces.

  • V St SE to U St SE – One full-time space will be removed (northbound) for improved pedestrian visibility and ten full time parking spaces will be converted to PM rush hour restricted (southbound) for the bus lane extension.

  • W St SE to V St SE – No change in northbound parking spaces and no change in southbound parking spaces.

  • Pleasant St SE to W St SE – Three AM rush hour restricted spaces will be added (northbound) and no change in southbound parking spaces.

  • Morris Rd SE to Maple View Pl SE – No change in northbound parking spaces and five PM rush hour restricted spaces will be added (southbound)

  • Talbert St SE to Morris Rd SE – Six AM rush hour restricted spaces will be added (northbound) and eleven PM rush hour restricted spaces will be added (southbound, after construction at 2323 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE is no longer in public space)

  • Howard Rd SE to Talbert St SE – Eight AM rush hour restricted spaces will be added (northbound) and four PM rush hour restricted spaces will be added (southbound)


HOW TO COMMENT ON THIS PROPOSED PROJECT

All comments on this subject matter must be filed in writing by June 28, 2023 (thirty business days after the date of this notice), with the District Department of Transportation, Kevin Harrison, Transit Delivery Division, 250 M Street, S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 or by email to kevin.harrison@dc.gov.

If you would like to check the status of this Notice of Intent (NOI), please visit DDOT’s website at: https://ddotwiki.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NOI1213/pages/1419838519/Notice+of+Intent. If you are having any trouble accessing the NOI site or are unable to do so, please contact the DDOT Customer Service Clearinghouse at 202-671-2800.