DC Water 1st Street Tunnel Forum meeting -- Thursday, 07-31-2014

To:          First Street Tunnel Stakeholders

Date:     July 14, 2014

RE:          THE NEXT TUNNEL FORUM MEETING – SAVE THE DATE
THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2014 at 7:00 P.M., ST. GEORGE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 160 U STREET, NW
(if your schedule allows, please attend)

FROM:  Tom Lindberg, DC Water Public Outreach

                Construction is underway at the First & V Street NW Construction Staging Area (CSA). The work area has been secured with jersey barriers, fencing and signage.  Inside the work area, heavy equipment is demolishing existing structures and excavating the work area. In order to keep everyone safe, it is important to establish the work area and keep it secure. It should be noted that newly installed traffic and pedestrian patterns around the restricted work area represent a significant change in the way people have historically moved about at this intersection.

                

Construction vehicles arrive at the site and must ingress/egress at the required vehicular access areas to safely supply and remove materials. Please be aware that the designated and signed emergency vehicular clearways are required by the District and must be maintained at all times.  

                             

The Contractor is working one shift (7:00 am – 4:00 pm, Mon - Fri). However, the clearways must be free of all vehicles during evenings, holidays, off-hours and weekends.  Although this change in the public right-of-way does admittedly cause an inconvenience for local residents, it is a critical safety component for the neighborhood.  DC Water, the Contractor-SKJD, DDOT, Fire & EMS, and MPD are monitoring the situation and will make changes as the situation warrants. Keep in mind that vehicular and pedestrian patterns of movement/use at this intersection will be disrupted and will change over the next eighteen months.  Phase 1 construction is ongoing. Phase 2 (if approved by DDOT) will involve closing a portion of First Street NW for two-three months with a different maintenance of traffic plan (MOT).  Phases 3 and 4 will follow with one-way northbound traffic and removal of planter boxes on the east side of the street.

      

We acknowledge that the project does impact street parking on/near the First & V Street Intersection.  The Alternative Parking Areas (APA) including the shuttle service are now available for your use.  If you are impacted and have not signed up for the program, feel free to:

                                                              

·         call the 24/7 Hotline  at 844-FST-INFO/844-378-4636 to request more information; or

·         fill out the APA application (available online at our web page on www.dcwater.com)

   

·         Take the completed application to 2036 1^st Street, NW  the office hours are:

o   Friday:  July 18 & 25 (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

o   Saturday: July 19 & 26 (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.); and

·         Obtain a vehicular identification tag and shuttle bus pass. 

                                                                                                                 

Eligible residents are encouraged to participate in the program that provides a safe and secure 24/7 off-street parking area for your vehicle including shuttle service to/from your home during the construction phase of the First Street Tunnel Project.

  

Respectfully submitted

              

DCCR Public Outreach Team | DC Clean Rivers Project | DC Water | 5000 Overlook Avenue, SW | Washington, DC 20032 | janice.jessup@dcwater.com | t (202) 787-4723 | f (202) 787-4476 | FST HOTLINE 1 (844) 378-4636 | www.dcwater.com/firststreettunnel.com