Rethinking K Street
Reported by Chris
Yes, that is a rendering of a streetcar to Georgetown. Do we have your attention now?
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has been kicking around the idea of reconfiguring K Street since 2004, but is just now putting the project on the front burner thanks to the lure of federal stimulus funds. K Street’s current configuration with its main roadway and median-separated turning/loading lanes has been baffling out-of-towners and locals alike for decades. These secondary lanes are of little use as they are constantly blocked by drivers parking and deliverymen unloading goods. Meanwhile, buses are forced to share the main roadway with cars, slowing cross town commutes down substantially. As nice as the Circulator buses are, anyone who uses them knows that attempting to use them to get across town during rush hour is a frustratingly slow experience.
Enter the K Street Transitway. In DDOT’s proposal, the medians are moved inward, making the turning/loading lanes 3 lanes each, and effectively turning them into the main roadway. The center roadway would be slimmed down to just one lane in each direction, and would be used as a dedicated busway, and eventually for streetcars. An alternative proposal trims the side lanes down to two lanes in each direction, prohibits street parking to keep things moving, but adds cycle tracks and a passing lane for buses. DCMud and Greater Greater Washington have more deets.
After the jump, check out DDOT’s video flythrough of the proposal, complete with flippin’ sweet jazz soundtrack.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ReadysetDC, Revolution Cycles. Revolution Cycles said: RT @readysetdc: Rethinking K Street http://bit.ly/4kS9Qq Take a look at the proposal from DDOT's "K Street Transitway" *Impressive! [...]
Tweets that mention Rethinking K Street at ReadysetDC [beta] — Topsy.com said at 11:42 AM on October 14th, 2009
I think this is a fantastic idea. I think the main traffic issues on K street occur due to the busses. Munich, Germany has the same kind of deal, and it seems to work for them.
Paul said at 12:02 PM on October 14th, 2009
I love it! Is there any news in a north-south line? I thought CT ave was in the mix at one point.
M. Owen said at 12:07 PM on October 14th, 2009
Would love this addition to the city. Reminds me of the great trolley system in Amsterdam. Ah, memories… hazy, hazy memories.
bloch_party said at 3:06 PM on October 14th, 2009
M. Owen: I believe it was but not really anymore. Things can change though as the FTA is now in favor of more transit. Right now I believe the only N/S line planned is Georgia Ave/7th Street, from Silver Spring Metro to the waterfront. The planned Florida Ave/U Street line would go up 18th Street for a few blocks through Adams Morgan, but then go west on Calvert to go to the Woodley Park Metro.
bloch_party: haha!
Justin said at 5:25 PM on October 14th, 2009
this sounds great, and good for commuters and tourists alike. we need more ways to get into georgetown, perhaps this is the beginning of the opening up of g-town to the rest of the DC/VA/MD area?
Iris said at 12:28 PM on October 15th, 2009
Dont use rail, to costly and slow. Just make it a Bus only lane with stations, think of it as a above ground metro. Mexico city does it fine, follow the link.
http://www.wri.org/stories/2008/03/mayor-taking-mexico-city-green-one-bus-line-time
carlos v said at 4:07 PM on October 26th, 2009