No carmageddon at McMillan, says a study
Redeveloping DC's McMillan Sand Filtration site will not choke neighborhoods in new traffic as long as the District follows through on transit plans, says a transportation study from the project team.
McMillan Sand Filtration Site. Photo by IntangibleArts on Flickr.
The most important element: better transit
The study says that it's quite possible to avoid burdening busy roads in the surrounding neighborhoods, as long as planned improvements to transit actually happen. ...
In the short run, improving the Metrobus 80 bus line on North Capitol Street, which WMATA has already designated a "bus priority corridor," will help the most. ...
The report also calls for building the proposed streetcar line along Michigan Avenue from Woodley Park to Brookland Metro. If these projects get delayed, he report recommends coordinated shuttles to the Brookland Metro station.
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Top: Transit today around McMillan. Bottom: Proposed transit.Images from the report (p. 92 and 97).
Pitfalls remain
While the study demonstrates the redevelopment can move forward without burdensome traffic impacts, it also points to potential problems that the project team will need to take care to address.
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Walking and bicycling conditions on and off the site also need more attention. Busy driveways on Michigan Avenue pose potential new conflict points for pedestrians and bicyclists. ... Also, while it's great to leave space for three Capital Bikeshare stations, the development should pay for at least one.
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With a redevelopment as large and controversial as McMillan, it's important to push for the right policy decisions. To voice your support for the right policy decisions regarding the McMillan redevelopment, head over to the Coalition for Smarter Growth to sign up to speak at an upcoming hearing.
4 comments:
Zoning Commission
Case 13-14
Phone: (202) 727-6311
TIME AND PLACE:
Thursday, May 1, 2014, 6:30 P.M.
Monday, May 5, 2014, 6:30 P.M.
Thursday, May 8, 2014, 6:30 P.M.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014, 6:30 P.M. (if needed)
Jerrily R. Kress Memorial Hearing Room
441 4th Street, N.W., Suite 220-South
Washington, D.C. 20001
How to participate as a witness.
Interested persons or representatives of organizations may be heard at the public hearing. The
Commission also requests that all witnesses prepare their testimony in writing, submit the written testimony prior to giving statements, and limit oral presentations to summaries of the most
important points. The applicable time limits for oral testimony are described below. Written
statements, in lieu of personal appearances or oral presentation, may be submitted for inclusion
in the record.
http://app.dcoz.dc.gov/content/schedule/ViewFile.aspx?fileId=649&fileName=PHN%2013-14%20(05%2001%2014).pdf
Because of the breadth and scope of this PUD application, the Commission determined to hold
the hearing on multiple evenings, with parcels and their related traffic concerns to be discussed
on separate dates, as follows:
May 1, 2014
6:30 p.m.
Stage 1 Master Plan, Open Spaces and Parks, and
Community Center (Parcels 6 and 7)
May 5, 2014
6:30 p.m.
Multi-Family/Retail Building (Parcel 4) and
Townhouses (Parcel 5)
May 8, 2014
6:30 p.m.
Healthcare Facility (Parcel 1)
May 13, 2014
6:30 p.m.
Continuation hearing (if needed)
Whoever wrote this for GGW clearly didn't examine the study and is taking it at face value. GGW please do your homework before commenting on this very complex study. You'll see that very little was studied about the area immediately adjacent to the sites. And even in the comments VMP has stated clearly that traffic WILL increase around the site. And there has been no response to the comments that there will remain no thruways for northbound traffic in Bloomingdale besides taking your chances on turning north onto N. Capitol. Clearly this will result in major congestion throughout Bloomingdale...there is no other option. Nothing south of Channing has been studied till you get to Rhode Island. The study is so broad (the catchment so wide) that it really doesn't mean anything....the plain fact is congestion is inevitable as it now stands. Even VMP seems willing to admit that...their comments seem just to be "yep, it's gonna happen unless the DC gov't installs streetcars". And note this is NOT taking into account development at the VA medical center NOR anything at the Soilders Home site.
The usual problem with GGW is that Dave Alpert is more interested in development than in the consequences of development or whether development is really the best option in a particular circumstance. And sure enough, here is GGW again just accepting what developers, who have a biased interest in this issue, are peddling. But my question to GGW and company is, when was the last time you had a developer admit that the planned development would have any impact on transportation in an area? The answer is never. But of course you just believe what the paid consultant of the paid consultants (And VMP is paid with taxpayer dollars) has to say about the impact of traffic. Yet the study does not account for the development just completed at Monroe and Michigan; it does not account for any development south of Rhode Island Avenue; it does not take into account the development that has started at the VA or the Armed Forces Retirement Home. And the plan says absolutely nothing about the increase in traffic in Bloomingdale and Bates. Yet, GGW just accepts the plan. You'd think that Alex was shilling for VMP and GGW was glad to join in.
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