Office of Planning

January 24, 2017 by A. Frayer Leave a Comment

January 2017 Minutes

A DC Office of Planning gave a presentation about the DC Comprehensive Plan, followed by a member discussion

Thursday Night's DOTT Roundtable
First, thank all that attended! Below are summaries on the hearing...less stay vigilant on this important community issue.

Neighbors,
Last night I went to Councilmember McDuffie' s roundtable on DDOT issues. For those interested, here's a quick rundown of what transpired:
The Roundtable was prompted by issues raised by Brookland Civic and others throughout Ward 5 and citywide and the frustration many (including Councilmember McDuffie) feel with regard to DDOT's response to them.
Almost 50 people testified.
Most of the testimony centered around heavy truck and vehicular through-traffic now plaguing our neighborhood streets, most notably the heavy truck traffic at 13th and Franklin and along Franklin, in general. Many of these issues have been raised on this List-Serv and in community meetings. Residents in the vicinity of Franklin are frustrated with DDOT's dilatory response to their concerns about the volume and safety issues of all the trucks coming through. DDOT is apparently giving trucks special dispensation to travel down Franklin Street. This was an area marked as "Restricted" from truck traffic but, in a move characterized as "a slap in the face", those signs have recently been removed.

Other issues brought forward included issues related to transportation accessibility for the disabled (Woodridge representatives from a group called Project Action offered particularly compelling testimony), sidewalk repairs, driveway repairs, tree hazards, out-of-state parking, dumpsters, public space. I know it sounds like a total gripe session, but in my view, most people raised specific legitimate issues and offered specific legitimate remedies to them.
I submitted testimony with the following points:
1. In the middle of a development boom with large projects in the pipeline in every direction, there's no attempt to understand much less manage the finite carrying capacity of our roads. I suggested that before planning and zoning officials approve large development projects, they ought to have an understanding of the traffic impacts of the project in combination with the multiplicity of projects within a certain radius. I was pleased to learn that Councilmember McDuffie recently introduced “The Proper Planning for Future Growth Amendment Act of 2017” to require a Ward-by-Ward comprehensive transportation study every two years. I look forward to learning more about this bill.
2. To address vehicular through-traffic throughout Brookland, I echoed Brookland Civic's calls for DDOT to begin immediately to review Brookland' s current street classifications and impose and enforce truck restrictions wherever appropriate.
3. Lastly, I urged continued work to expand and improve car-free ways of getting around the city: Metro, bus service, transit-oriented residential development, walkability, bikeability.
DDOT Director Leif Dormsjo was present throughout the Roundtable and showed great equanimity throughout. When it came his turn to testify, he summarized the complaints he had heard and identified specific next steps for addressing them. I didn't get them all, but they included:
1. Work with MPD and DPW to develop and coordinate a commercial truck inspection unit
2. Improve the process for truck manifest and routing approvals
3. Consider imposing caps on the number of truck permits issued per Ward
4. Address the cheap costs of downtown parking which is encouraging people to drive downtown
5. Work with Uber, Lyft and other frequent drivers on proper routing and use of alleys.
6.Consider congestion pricing strategies as a means of reducing traffic
Councilmember McDuffie ended the Roundtable by thanking everyone for coming and by making it clear that this was not the end of the story and that he and residents expect and deserve follow-up. He asked Director Dormsjo to provide a written response to each of the issues raised.
I hope this is helpful. I'm going from memory here so I'm sure I didn't capture everything. Others who were there, please chime in!
C. on Otis

Thanks C. excellent summary. In addition, i raised concern about air quality from the volume and size of these huge trucks - many of you have likely seen the black smoke pouring out of them not to mention out of the 'factories' or whatever they are over by the Home Depot. Another lady from Trinidad neighborhood in Ward 5 cited a study showing higher incidents of asthma among Ward 5 residents than other wards in the city. She too asked for air quality test but also had suggestion for carbon tax (I think that's what she said???) to help promote clean energy and reduce carbon emissions. I'll work with BNCA to put in request to DDOE for air quality test for Brookland and McDuffie's office said they'd back it.

We've asked for detailed action plan and next steps from DDOT and knowing these things take time, periodic meetings set up in advance (perhaps monthly) to keep DDOT accountable and responsive to the community.

A big Thank You to McDuffie and his team, and Ms Cheh and Mr Dormsjo Director from DDOT for coming to the round table and committing to getting things done to serve our community better.

K. on Monroe ... See MoreSee Less

7 days ago ·

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