Where the Connecticut Avenue redesign stands
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Wider sidewalks at intersections would be added to Connecticut Avenue. Image courtesy of DDOT
Bicycle lanes are officially off the table for the redesign of Connecticut Avenue, but the city is moving forward with ways to make it more pedestrian-friendly.
Why it matters: The already delayed project will take longer, and it appears the clash over bike lanes is now put to rest.
State of play: The 2.7-mile stretch of Connecticut Avenue from Chevy Chase to Woodley Park will be redesigned to make it safer for pedestrians to cross and to add more traffic enforcement.
- The plans show that left-turn lanes will be added to reduce crashes and improve vehicle flow.
- Curbs would be extended in some intersections to slow down cars and give pedestrians more space.
Flashback: D.C. nixed the bike lane plans in April after the District Department of Transportation had already delayed its implementation last year.
- Installing bike lanes was controversial among business owners, as it would take away parking spaces.
Behind the scenes: Council member Charles Allen and Matt Frumin recently tried to revive the bike lane plan through a provision in the city's budget.
- But that provision was ultimately removed, allowing DDOT to move forward with its current plan.
- "DDOT's clearly set on building a highway on Connecticut Ave. It's a bad idea," Allen told Axios in a statement. "This isn't a safety project anymore."
The other side: "This project was envisioned to improve roadway safety for everyone using Connecticut Avenue," acting DDOT director Sharon Kershbaum said at a community meeting last week.
The project has a tortured timeline.
- In December 2021, the Bowser administration advanced the bike lanes plan and anticipated final designs to take 18 months.
- Last week, DDOT said it will solicit community input on the current plan over the next 12 to 18 months.
- Actual work could begin late next year or early 2026, although more delays are possible.
"Key factors that could delay some of that are procurement … or larger community engagement efforts that may affect that schedule," Sandra Marks, DDOT's chief project delivery officer, said in a community meeting.
What's next: DDOT will explore a bicycle lane elsewhere in upper Northwest that could provide a link to downtown. It's part of their "Five Year Strategic Bikeways Plan."
- "I think we're realistic that the bike lane we end up with will probably not be as direct as people want with the Connecticut Avenue bike lane," the DDOT director said at the meeting.