Frequent Community Concern

DDOT says they will address ADA and Senior access to businesses. They say they will work with The Smithsonian Zoo to resolve bus and passenger unloading and loading on Conn Ave. How?

Answer

DDOT’s most recent plans shared in June 2022 show deviations for parking and PUDO from the eastside only initial design. At both the virtual and in-person meeting, DDOT stressed continued need for engagement and vocalization by community users of Conn. Ave during the planning process to ensure that needs would be best served. For bus users, the re-design of bus stops to integrate well with the cycle track is very important to maintain ease of access.

Additional Details

They also committed to completion and publication of a Racial Equity Impact Analysis which would include project elements to minimize inequities such as restricted parking for persons with disabilities, older persons, etc.
At that same in person session there were discussions with DDOT designers about the crosswalk area in front of the zoo. DDOT indicated openness to considering special modifications for that intersection given the presence of the zoo and the high foot traffic present. Such modifications that they discussed included a raised crosswalk or high-intensity coloring to encourage more significant traffic calming, a dedicated loading/unloading zone on the zoo-side entrance for tour buses, and leveraging of additional, metal, or concrete bollards to discourage PUDO on the non-zoo, retail side of the intersection.
Wherever there is sufficient sidewalk space–and especially at high traffic bus stops–we encourage DDOT to use raised crossways going across the bike lane from the sidewalk to a pedestrian space so that bus passengers can queue on the space. This will also naturally slow down oncoming cyclists in these areas. The following diagram gives a sense of what we mean.
Examples of areas that would benefit from something like this would be all of the top volume bus areas for passengers, which from DDOT’s status report were largely in the area surrounding UDC. Other areas would be by Cleveland Park and Woodley Park Metro entrances, and Nebraska and Conn Ave. headed southbound.
Where there is not sufficient sidewalk space to accommodate this design, we encourage DDOT to use ‘Zicla’-style raised crossings in the bike lanes, which helps with accessibility and slows down passing cyclists.

Frequent Community Concern

Answer

Additional Details

Example of ADA-Accessible Bus & Cycling Implementation from Massachusetts DOT

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