SMD 5A-11 Monthly Meeting - TONIGHT

What: SMD 5A-11 meeting with Commissioner Janae Grant

When: Tuesday, November 13th, 2007, 6:30-8:30pm

Where: Friendship Public Charter School - Woodridge Campus, Cafeteria, 2959 Carlton Avenue, NE

Agenda Includes: South Dakota Ave. bridge and traffic update; speed bumps and other traffic calming requests – with Department of Transportation; Fire Engine 26 - relocation plans

NE DC Historical Society Meeting: Community History & DDOT Archives - Sunday, September 9th

What: Join the NE DC Historical Society as they continue to explore the history of our Northeast Washington communities - past, present, and in years to come. This month's meeting will take place in the Michigan Park community. Bill Rice, Washington community historian, will share photos and other materials from the District of Columbia's Department of Transportation (DDOT) archives.

When: Sunday, September 9th, 2007, 1-3pm (please note earlier time!)

Where: HSC Pediatric Center (formerly known as the Hospital for Sick Children), 1731 Bunker Hill Rd NE

Etc.: For those unable to attend this meeting, don't miss next month's meeting to be held from 1-3pm on Sunday, October 14, 2007. NE DC Historical Society will be exploring the climatic history of DC and its water resources. The meeting will take place at the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Avenue, NE. (Please note earlier meeting time.)

NE DC Historical Society meetings take place the second Sunday of every month. Contact queenstowndc@yahoo.com for further information.

NE DC Historical Society Meeting: Rhode Island Avenue Corridor - Sunday, August 12th

What: Join the NE DC Historical Society as they continue to explore the history of our Northeast Washington communities - past, present, and in years to come. This month meeting will take place in the Brentwood neighborhood where will continue our study of the Rhode Island Avenue Corridor. Dr. Jean Pablo, the president of the Tenleytown Historical Society, will share with us how to do an analysis of the historical and architectural significance of the Rhode Island Avenue Corridor.

When: Sunday, August 12th, 2007, 2-4pm

Where: Premier Community Development Corporation, 1309 Rhode Island Avenue, NE, Suite B (in the Brentwood Village Shopping Plaza)

Etc.: For those unable to attend this meeting, don't miss next month's meeting to be held from 1-3pm on Sunday, September 9th, 2007. Bill Rice, community historian, will share with us many interesting photos and other materials from the District of Columbia's Department of Transportation (DDOT) archives. The meeting will take place in Michigan Park at the HSC Pediatric Center, at 1731 Bunker Hill Road, NE. (Please note earlier meeting time.)

Our meetings take place the second Sunday of every month. Contact queenstowndc@yahoo.com for further information.

Franklin Street Bridge Clean-Up - Saturday, April 28th

What: Councilmember Harry "Tommy" Thomas, Jr. is sponsoring a neighborhood clean-up under and around the Franklin Street bridge

When: Saturday, April 28th, 2007 at 10am

Where: Meet at the corner of 7th and Franklin Streets, NE

Etc.: Refreshments will be provided by local businesses. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Councilmember Thomas' office at 202.724.8028.

Additional Sponsors: DPW, DC Prep Charter School, DCPS, CSOSA, DC Bridge Maintenance, and Local businesses

Brookland Multi-Modal Transportation & Streetscape Study Final Community Meeting - Tuesday, April 24th

What: The Final Community Meeting for the Brookland Multi-Modal Transportation and Streetscape Study (not to be confused with the ongoing Brookland/CUA Metro Small Area Plan)

When: Tuesday, April 24th, 2007, 6:30-8:30pm

Where: Saint Anthony's Church cafeteria, 3400 12th Street NE (between Lawrence and Monroe Streets)

Etc.:
Study Goals and Objectives
· Enhance transit connectivity, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, accessibility, and efficiency.
· Reduce traffic congestion at key intersections.
· Reduce impact of truck traffic on residential neighborhoods.
· Lay the groundwork for future transportation investments.
· Reinforce a sense of place through creative and sustainable urban design, and create a safe, inviting, and interesting public realm that supports diversity of use and activities.

Check the project website to view and download the final report (March 2007, 166 page PDF).

For questions and special accommodations, please contact Sharlene Reed, Ward 5 Transportation Planner (Sharlene.Reed@dc.gov; 202.671.0493), or William Carlson (wcarlson@volkert.com; 703.642.8100).

DDOT Announces Work Update on South Dakota Avenue Bridge, NE

From DDOT:

First Phase of Major Rehab Underway; Off Peak Lane Closures Upcoming

As part of previously announced work on the South Dakota Avenue Bridge in Northeast, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will close the inbound and outbound left lanes Monday, April 23 through Friday, April 27 between the hours of 9:30am and 3:30pm.

The South Dakota Avenue Bridge runs on South Dakota Avenue, NE, between Vista Street/Franklin Street on the north side and 30th Street on the south side (over the CSX railroad tracks).

The lane closures will take place in the bridge area only.

DDOT will maintain three lanes of traffic in each direction, Monday through Friday during the morning rush hour (6:30 am to 9:30 am) and the evening rush hour (3:30 pm to 6:30 pm) One lane of traffic flows in each direction all other times.

Project summary: The $7 million restoration of the South Dakota Avenue Bridge uses a combination of federal and local funds. The rehabilitation work includes reconstruction of abutments and the bridge deck, in addition to roadway and intersection improvements on both sides of the bridge.

Weather permitting the project is slated to be completed in March 2009. DDOT will continue to update the public on the progress of the project. Hours of work are Monday through Saturday from 7am to 6pm.

DDOT encourages motorists to use extreme caution when passing through the work zone.

For more information, please see District closures, street closures and traffic alerts.

ANC-5C Monthly Meeting - Tuesday, April 17th

What: Advisory Neighborhood Commission 5C Monthly Meeting

When: Tuesday, April 17th, 2007, 7-9pm

Where: Catholic University's Life Cycle Institute (Directions: From Michigan Avenue, NE turn North onto John McCormack Rd, then left to parking garage next to Flather Hall, then walk Southwest to Institute)

Agenda Includes:
· MPD-5D Public Safety Report
· Update on DDOT Beautification Grants - Sharlene Reed, Ward 5 DDOT Planner
· Report on National Marathon Run through ANC-5C
· Update on Bloomingdale Farmers Market plans
· Report on Traffic Calming Proposals Approved by ANC5C
· Status of ANC5C Community Grant Awards of 12/06

SMD 5A-11 Meeting - Monday, March 12th

What: SMD 5A-11 meeting with new Commissioner Janae Grant

When: Monday, March 12th, 2007, 6:30-8:30pm

Where: Friendship Public Charter School - Woodridge Campus, 2959 Carlton Avenue, NE

Agenda: Includes discussion on the South Dakota Avenue Bridge repair over the CSX railroad

Community Meeting on 9th Street Bridge Replacement - Wednesday, February 21st

What: DDOT is holding the first community meeting to discuss the 9th Street bridge replacement project, including concepts for aesthetic enhancements

When: Wednesday, February 21st, 2007, 6-8pm

Where: Isle of Patmos Baptist Church, 1216 Saratoga Avenue, NE

Contact: Sharlene Reed, Ward 5 Transportation Planner, at 202.671.2407 or sharlene.reed@dc.gov

South Dakota Avenue Development in Express's FreeRide

I should really outsource my link hunting to Mike Grass at Express. Today he posted a comprehensive update of the new development that affects those of us along the South Dakota Avenue corridor from top to bottom, including:

• The ongoing construction of condos around the Fort Totten Metro
• Mixed-use at Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue
• Vincent Orange's promised land of big-box retail, "Washington Gateway," in the Fort Lincoln-New Town area (not to be confused with his dream of a "New Town" at the Capital City/Florida Market) near the intersection of New York and South Dakota Avenues.


All of these drive home the importance of tonight's meeting and our ongoing input into the South Dakota Avenue Transportation & Streetscape Study. We need to counterbalance pedestrian-unfriendly developments like the Washington Gateway (why would we welcome folks to our CITY with a suburban sprawl-style strip mall with 2,000 parking spaces, and how many more will Ward 5 tolerate?!) with our input/demands to improve safety and accessibility on our primarily residential corridor.

» Sharlene Reed, Ward 5 Transportation Planner (sharlene.reed@dc.gov; 202.671.2407)
» Deborah Crain, Ward 5 Neighborhood Planning Coordinator, (deborah.crain@dc.gov; 202.442.7615)

South Dakota Avenue Transportation & Streetscape Study - Wednesday, January 31st

What: Nearly a year after the first public meeting, residents are invited to attend a community forum to discuss transportation and streetscape issues along South Dakota Avenue.

When: Wednesday, January 31st, 2007, 6-8 pm

Where: Taft Special Education Center Auditorium, 1800 Perry Street, NE

Agenda: The meeting format will be an open house review of maps indicating preliminary recommendations for the first 30 minutes (6-6:30 pm), followed by a presentation at 6:30pm of the study process and findings. There will be a question and answer period after the presentation and time to review maps and complete comment forms prior to the 8pm closing.

Etc.: If you have any questions about this meeting, please contact Emanuel Briggs at 202.478.1470 or at emanual.briggs@dc.gov. Visit the project website for additional information, including an online survey, study documents, and comments (pdf) from last year's meeting.

Resurfacing of Rhode Island Avenue, NE

This will take some time, but but the improvements are necessary, particularly at the Rhode Island Avenue Metro/Rhode Island Place shopping center:

Effective Monday, November 17, 2006 the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will begin installing temporary construction signs for a project to resurface Rhode Island Avenue, from North Capitol Street up to 10th Street, NE. Actual work is expected to begin on Monday, November 20, 2006 at North Capitol and get completed two-blocks at a time. Completion date is scheduled for Fall 2007 [for an average of 1 block per month?].

DDOT's regular work schedule for the project will not affect inbound traffic on Rhode Island Avenue, Monday through Friday, between 6:00am to 9:30am or outbound traffic between 3:00pm to 6:30pm. Work scheduled for weekends will vary.

DDOT representatives are available to address community organizations and answer questions about the scope of work for this project. Interested citizens and organizations should contact DDOT representative Abdullahi Mohamed at 202.671.4614.

Two Transportation Meetings Saturday (and Some Interesting Links)

There's no minute like the last minute. See this post at Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space for information on two public meetings taking place tomorrow (Saturday, February 25th, 2006). Since I live just steps away from the intersection of my street and South Dakota Avenue, I'm very interested in the first meeting. From a quick check on the internet, it looks like you should be able to e-mail your input (whether or not you are able to attend) to the Ward 5 Transportation Planner, Sharlene Reed. Though I hate to think I need to say it, I've seen what neighbors can do on the listservs in the heat of the moment: Please remember to be courteous.

- - -

While poking around the web for this information, I stumbled across a few interesting links:

• The picture above is a still taken this evening from the traffic camera located at Rhode Island Ave. & South Dakota Ave., NE. You can view the live feed from all the Distict's traffic cams here. (Warning: I imagine the upload time is brutal with a dial-up connection.)
  
• A link to DDOT's "Brookland Transportation and Streetscape Study," as well as the website dedicated to the study, hosted by one of the project's consultants, Michael Baker Corporation.
  
• A link to DDOT's "South Dakota Avenue and Streetscape Study" and the Wilbur Smith Associates website dedicated to the study. (this info added to the post after the meeting)
  
• A list of recent/current DC transportation studies.

Woodridge Coalition of Concerned Neighbors Meeting Monday, February 13th

What: Woodridge Coalition of Concerned Neighbors Meeting

When: Monday, February 13, 2006 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Where: Woodridge Library, 18th and Rhode Island Avenue, NE (202.541.6226)

Special Guests: Vincent B. Orange - Ward 5 Council Member to discuss Ward 5 accomplishments of 2005 and the future plans for 2006; Commander Jennifer Greene - 5D Police Department; Mr. Bruce Marshall, Esq. - Candidate for Ward 5 Council Seat; Bill Rice - Spokesperson for the DC Department of Transportation to provide an update on the community's concerns

Notes: The community has been informed that illegal dumping in the Woodridge area street, sidewalks, and alleys is being investigated. Please keep your eyes open for violators. With unity and determination, we can make this community a better and more suitable place to live. In union, strong success is assured.

Contact: Ms. Lloyd at 202.903.6197 or 202.257.0001, concernneighbors@aol.com

Since we've been in the neighborhood, I've yet to make it to one of these meetings - I typically have class on Mondays when they are held. If any one is attending, or has attended in the past, please leave notes/comments/etc. here.