Gray Administration Year Two Report mentions DC Water's McMillan infrastructure project intended to mitigate flooding in Bloomingdale, LeDroit Park

First, see this long message from the Mayor's Office regarding this year-two report.
  

From: ``Barragan, JuanCamilo (EOM)`` <juancamilo.barragan@dc.gov>

Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 11:04 AM

Subject: [LeDroitPark] Gray Administration Year Two Report -- January 2013

[Attachment(s) from Barragan, JuanCamilo (EOM) included below]

Attached and below you`ll find information on the city`s finances and the year two accomplishments of the Gray Administration. Remember to join us for the 2013 State of the District Address next Tuesday, February 5th at 7:00 PM at the Historic Sixth and I Synagogue. Where the plan for critical investments will be outline:

Earlier today I was pleased to announce that the District ended Fiscal Year 2012 with a healthy budget surplus of $417 million. This news is compelling evidence that the District`s finances are among the strongest of any jurisdiction in the nation. The District`s increasingly strong financial outlook, coupled with impressive job growth and a falling unemployment rate, is affirmation that our economic development strategies are working. With 55 construction cranes dotting our skyline, I can truly say that the amount of development in the District right now is unprecedented.

As we start the new year, I also wanted to take a moment to share with you the results of my administration at the end of 2012, my second year in office. As you will note, we`ve made tremendous progress in a short amount of time. On our watch:

The District`s economy is booming, with more than 28,000 private sector jobs created over the past two years and the unemployment rate falling by nearly three percentage points;

The District has hit a 50-year low in homicides – with the numbers dropping dramatically each of the last two years and nearly twenty times faster than the national average;

The District is growing rapidly – adding more than 1,100 people a month – and is now more populous than both Vermont and Wyoming. The District has not had this mean residents since the 1970s;

Public education enrollment is now at nearly 81,000 students and is growing at a rate not seen in 45 years as families return to the city and to public education; and

Fiscal responsibility has been restored – the District now spends only what it takes in and the practice of raiding the District`s reserves to balance the budget has been eliminated.  In addition, the city`s long-term fiscal health has again been protected by growing our critical rainy-day fund back to $1.5 billion.

I`ve attached a copy of my administration`s Report on Year Two and you can also read it online here: http://mayor.dc.gov/publication/gray-administration-year-two-report.

The District`s increasing economic strength is strong evidence that our city has fully emerged from the country`s worst economic crisis in our lifetime more vibrant and stronger than before. It also means we have an opportunity to make several key strategic investments in affordable housing, our workforce, and public safety for which previously we did not have the necessary funds. I invite you to join me at my 2013 State of the District Address next Tuesday, February 5th at 7:00 PM at the Historic Sixth and I Synagogue where I will outline my plan to make these critical investments.

Thank you for partnering with me and my administration to keep the District moving forward and growing in a prosperity in which all can share.

Vince

Here is the link to the PDF report. 

The report includes a section titled "Mitigating Flooding in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park," which has been copied below.

Mitigating Flooding in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park
   
To mitigate flooding and sewer backups that have afflicted the Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods for generations, Mayor Gray and DC Water announced a major new infrastructure project at the site of the former McMillan Sand Filtration Plant. The Northeast Boundary Neighborhood Protection Project is a product of the Mayor’s Task Force on the Prevention of Flooding and significantly accelerates plans to help residents of these long-affected neighborhoods. The first phase, to be completed in Spring 2014, will store up to 6 million gallons of storm water, using two existing underground basins at the McMillan site. Flow will be diverted from feeder sewers adjacent to the McMillan site, capturing stormwater before it arrives in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park and reaches the sewer system. 
                            
The second phase of the project will bring the construction of a 19-foot-diameter tunnel under 1st Street NW. DC Water will construct the tunnel to hold an additional 6 million gallons of wastewater and stormwater during heavy rain events, using a temporary pumping station to carry flow into the Northeast Boundary sewer after the storm passes.  Completion for the second phase is projected for spring 2016.