Metropolitan Branch TrailFort Totten to Takoma Design

Project Update Public Meeting

10 February 2021

Introductions & Project Team

• Samer Alhawamdeh (DDOT Project Manager)• Michael Alvino (DDOT Bicycle Program Specialist)• Steve Zeender (Consultant Project Manager)• Molly Burns (DDOT – Information Technology)• Sayra Molina (DDOT – Community Engagement Specialist)• Andrew Aguilar (Consultant Design Engineer)

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comments during the Q&A session following the presentation, which we will review in the next few slides.

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Agenda

• Project Background • Project Overview• Project Area• Focus Areas• Additional Design Features• Schedule• Next steps• Stakeholder Coordination• Questions?

Project BackgroundThe MBT is an element of the Capital Trail Network

• A planned network of over 850 miles of trails throughout the region

• Will connect to the Capital Crescent Trail and Anacostia River Trail

• It’s an important transportation route, providing connections to homes, work, and play.

Capital Trails Coalition Vision:• The regional trails network will transform public life

by providing healthy, low-stress access to open space and reliable transportation for people of all ages and abilities.

• 1999: Construction of John McCormack Drive section of MBT• 2004: Construction of NoMA Metro Station section of MBT• 2005: DDOT completes MBT Concept Plan• 2010: Construction of New York Ave to Franklin St section of MBT • 2010 - 2011: Environmental Assessment for extension of MBT Completed• 2016: Preliminary (30%) Design for Fort Totten to Takoma section complete• 2020 – 2021 (Ongoing): Final Design of Fort Totten to Takoma section

Project Background

Project Background –Updates on Other MBT Sections

8th St NE • Currently in design; Planned completion December 2021• Protected Bike Lanes on 8th St Between Franklin and Monroe St NEBrookland to Fort Totten• Currently in construction; Planned completion December 2021• Updates available at metbranchtrail-forttotten.com Manor Park Area Off-street alignment• Future environmental assessmentBlair Rd to Piney Branch Rd – Takoma Area• Planning and preliminary design to begin in 2021Eastern Avenue• Currently in construction; Planned completion June 2021

Project Overview –Fort Totten to Takoma section

• The current project focuses on the MBT trail section from the Fort Totten Metro to the Takoma neighborhood.

• The trail includes both on-street and off-street sections.

• The preliminary 30% design for this section was completed in 2016.

• This project takes the preliminary 30% design to the final 100% design.

• Currently the project is at 65% design.

Project Area

Project Area

Traffic signal : • 1st Street NE & Riggs Road NE (new)• McDonald Place NE & South Dakota Ave NE (new)• Other traffic signals upgrades & modifications

Improvements along Blair Rd NW: • Blair Road Community Garden• Blair Rd NW/Kansas Ave NW/Peabody St NW/N. Dakota Ave NW• 6011 Blair Road NW (7-Eleven & Extra Space Storage)• 6111 Blair Road NW (Woodward Liquor)• 6201 Blair Road NW (M&M Appliance, Design Space)• 6207 Blair Road NW (New Heights Daycare)• 6211 Blair Road NW (WMATA Facility)• 3rd Street NW and Whittier St NW• Trail from Underwood Street NW to Aspen Street NW

Focus Areas

Traffic Signals

Blair Road NW Improvements

Traffic Signals –1st Street NE & Riggs Road NE

Existing Conditions Proposed work (ultimate condition)

Design Updates:• Anticipated to be installed prior to the start of the MBT. • Currently Pepco is installing 14 different size conduits along

Riggs Road, near this intersection. • Once Pepco finalizes their construction work, DDOT will be

able to begin construction. DDOT and Pepco are coordinating schedules.

• It is anticipated the DDOT will begin signal work at this intersection Spring 2021.

• No bicycle signals for interim condition

Traffic signal –New Hampshire Ave NE, McDonald Pl. NE and S. Dakota Ave NEPotential Issues:• Accelerating speeds at uncontrolled

intersection• Vehicles entering the counterflow

bike lane on McDonald Place NE

Existing Conditions Proposed Work

Design Update:• New Traffic Signal (30%)• No bicycle signals

Protected Left-turn Phase Bicycle Signal Heads

Traffic Signals - Upgrades/Modifications

Blair Rd NW/Van Buren Rd, NWSignal reconstruction

Bicycle signal SB direction only Parking Impact – 3 spaces

Blair Rd/North Dakota Ave NW/Peabody St, NW Signal reconstruction, Bicycle signal SB direction only

Parking Impact – 6 spaces

Blair Rd NW/Kansas Ave NWSignal reconstruction, Bicycle signal SB direction only Blair Rd and Aspen St, NW

Signal reconstruction No bicycle signals

Potential Issues:• Vehicles entering the MBT to unload

gardening materials• Potential impacts to tree roots

Blair Rd NW improvements -Blair Road Community Garden

Existing ConditionsProposed Work

Design Update:• Separate access for vehicles• Maintain one single shared use facility • Protect existing trees

Existing

Blair Rd NW improvements -Blair Road Community Garden Proposed

Blair Rd NW improvements -Kansas Ave NW, Peabody St NW, North Dakota Ave NW Design Update:• Incorporating new signing and pavement marking• Lane drop taper begins north of Peabody.• Left turn on SB Blair Road• Roadway widening at the intersection • Impacts to on street parking

Existing Conditions Proposed Work

Blair Rd NW improvements -Driveways – 7 Eleven & Extra Space Storage

Potential Issues:• Signage and markings conflict for vehicles

and trail users• Vehicles turning in and out of 7 Eleven

parking lot

Existing Conditions Proposed Work

Design Update:• Signage and pavement markings for vehicles and trail user• Continuous Pavement for the Trail

Blair Rd NW improvements -between Quackenbos Street NW and Sheridan Street NW

Proposed WorkExisting Conditions

Full Time Parking

Blair Rd NW improvements –Woodward LiquorPotential Issues:• Conflict point between vehicles

accessing garage and liquor store and MBT users

• Frontage parking encroachment into MBT

• Grading issues

Existing Conditions Proposed Work

Design Update:• Eliminate frontage parking• Full time parallel on street parking on Blair Road

Potential Issues:• Conflict point between cyclists on MBT

and M&M customers exiting the store• Parking in public space

Blair Rd NW improvements –M&M Appliance & Design Space

Existing Conditions Proposed Work

Design Update:• ADA compliant access ramp• Signage & Markings to alert cyclists of pedestrians entering the MBT• Bicycle friendly rumble strips/transverse markings

Potential Issues:• Conflict point between cyclists and day

care users • Crossing of Blair Road

Blair Rd NW improvements –New Heights Day Care Center

Existing ConditionsProposed Work

Design Update:• Signing and markings to alert cyclists of pedestrian entering the

MBT • Bicycle friendly rumble strips/transverse markings to reduce speed• Crosswalk on S corner of Blair Road & Rittenhouse St NW• Signing & markings to alert drivers of pedestrian crosswalk & MBT

Additional treatment -M&M Appliance and New Heights Daycare Center

Rumble Strips

Bulb out

Blair Rd NW improvements -WMATA Facility

Potential Issues:• Conflict point between vehicles

accessing WMATA facility and MBT users

Design Update:• Stop sign and bars for vehicles exiting to

Blair Road• Close north curb cut

Blair Rd NW improvements -Underwood Street NW to Aspen Street NWPotential Issues:• Transition from off-road trail to on-road facility

may affect the comfort level of MBT users• On-road facility may indicate preference to

cyclists; Jaywalking

Existing Conditions Proposed Work

Design Update:• Signage and/or pavement markings that indicate

shared use path condition; Maximize crosswalks• Signalized protected left on SB Blair Road at Van Buren

St, reconstruct signal

Blair Rd NW improvements -Underwood Street NW to Aspen Street NW

Trail

12” - 18” Fenceor rail

Road

Barrier limits

Blair Rd NW improvements –3rd St NW and Whittier St NW

Conversion of 3rd Street NW to one-way southbound

Existing ConditionsProposed Work

Additional Design Features added/updated

• Intersection safety improvements at Sandy Spring Rd NW and Aspen Street NW

Existing Conditions

Proposed Work

Additional Design Features added/updated - COMPLETEDSpeed humps along 1st Street NE

Schedule

January 2020Final Design

Begins

January 202165% Design Completed

Spring 2021100% Design

Complete

Winter 2022Anticipated

Construction Starts

Fall 2023Anticipated

Construction Complete

Next Steps

Tell us what you think: Provide Comments by: March 10, 2021 Written comments via email: metbranchtrail@dc.gov Point of Contact: Samer Alhawamdeh (DDOT Project Manager) Phone: 202.369.4637;

Email: samer.alhawamdeh@dc.gov

Project Materials and Updates provided on project website http://metbranchtrail.com/met-branch-trail-fort-totten-to-takoma/

Title VI Statement

As a recipient of Federal assistance, DDOT must ensure that all of its programs, activities and public meetings are conducted in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This Act ensures nondiscrimination based on race, color or national origin. The Title VI Public Meeting Participant

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anyone who is willing to complete the form. Once completed, please leave the form with a DDOT representative or submit electronically (instructions). Thank you for your participation.

Title VI link: https://rebrand.ly/MBT-TitleVI

DDOT and its consultants ensure nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)• National Park Service (NPS)• Mayor’s Office of Community Relations• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)• DC Bicycle Advisory Council (BAC)• Washington Area Bicyclists Association (WABA)• DC Water• Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC 4B and 5A)• Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS)• Utility companies

Stakeholder Coordination

Questions?

To ask questions, raise your hand:• Click “Participants” on the bottom right of the Webex

window.• A new panel or window will appear. Near the bottom

of the panel/window, there will be a small hand icon. Click the hand icon to Raise your Hand.

To ask questions, via Chat:• Click the “three dot icon” in the bottom right and select Q&A.• A new panel or window will appear. In the ”Ask” field, select

All Panelists.• Click the text box to type your question and press the Enter

key to send it.