All:

This intersection is part of the 18th St. streetscape reconstruction project, and will be changed. Details of the entire project are available at the District Dept. of Transportation (DDoT) website.

Councilmember Graham sponsored a meeting with DDoT Director Gabe Kline for this project on July 30 of this year where the project received overwhelming approval by the audience.

Two links below will provide more information.

http://www.am18thstreetreconstruction.com/resources.asp

http://www.am18thstreetreconstruction.com/18thStImgs/18thSt_Public_Meeting_1_072909.pdf

Thank you.

Wilson Reynolds

Wilson Reynolds
Director, Constituent Services
Office of Councilmember Jim Graham
Ward One
1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 105
Washington, DC 20004

202-724-8181 Voice
202-724-8109 Fax

www.grahamwone.com

Thank you for that info! This site is awesome.

The office of Councilmember Graham wants to be of service. In the future, please feel free to share your issues with me directly.

Thank you.

Wilson Reynolds

Wilson Reynolds
Director, Constituent Services
Office of Councilmember Jim Graham
Ward One
1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 105
Washington, DC 20004

202-724-8181 Voice
202-724-8109 Fax

Mr Reynolds, I appreciate Councilmember Graham's responsiveness to the community. Given the amount of interest around this intersection, I'd like to keep the dialogue public so other community members will be aware of the situation. Out of curiosity, when will that street scape improvement be taking place? I think this crossing is sufficiently dangerous and sufficiently prominent to warrant a stop gap measure like the one that was put in place at 15th and W:
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post.cgi?id=2934

Wilson, I know you are available to us when we "really" need you, but the beauty of this site is that some places can be highlighted without discovering that you are our resource. I have to agree with David that the 18th/Florida/U street intersection is both dangerous and confusing enough to deserve some intermediate changes. I think in the 3.5 years since I've been here cars have taken out the stoplight on the median for the left turn lane from the 18th street to U/Florida. Couldn't we just turn off that option now and require everyone to make the "hard" left at 18th/Florida? If we have to wait for the streetscape project, then I would also wonder when that portion will be addressed.

Lucy Barber

Director Klein,

Residents have identified a serious safety hazard for pedestrians crossing U Street just east of 18th Street NW. Drivers are confused by the traffic signal and routinely run the light. Fast moving cars are in direct conflict with pedestrians who have the right-of-way. This is a tragedy waiting to happen.

I know that this intersection will be redesigned during the 18th Street Streetscape, but we need an immediate fix here. Please advise what DDOT can do.

Bests, CM Jim Graham

I have directed my safety team to assess the intersection and make interim improvements immediately if there is indeed a problem.

Thank you!

Has the safety team figured out anything for interim improvements? I "no turn on red" from 18th heading north/east onto U/Florida might help. There's a no turn on red from the other direction and the intersection is less dangerous.

Thanks for tracking this situation. I am asking the Director of the Department of Transportation to provide a status update on this intersection. Bests Jim

I typically answer emails before 9 AM on weekdays. If you email me after that, it is likely that you will hear from me the next weekday. If there is a need to communicate prior to that, you may wish to call me. For most effective communication, please use my direct email address: jim@grahamwone.com

Jim Graham, Councilmember, Ward One, 1350 Pa. Ave., NW, #105, Washington, DC 20004. 202-724-8181; 202-724-8109 (fax).

Chairman, Committee on Public Works and the Transportation (including alcohol regulation). Main Committee Number: 202-724-8195. 1350 Pa. Ave., NW, #116, Washington, DC 20004.

Chairman and Voting Member, Board of Directors, WMATA/Metro.

Website: www.grahamwone.com

They put 1 if not 2 yield to pedestrian signs. It's an improvement, but I think drivers who are new to the intersection are instantly distracted by it's complexity and are unlikely to see this new sign(s). What would really be helpful is some quick-curb with poles on the southern end of the subject crosswalk where there is road... no parking is allowed there but drivers improperly utilize that segment of road. This proposed interim fix would slow drivers down a bit, control traffic, and reduce the distance pedestrians are exposed to speeding, confused drivers.

One of the new signs actually blocks the crosswalk sign. I am somewhat resigned to no real fix until the "redesign." The problem is two-par: Drivers are impatient and can't see pedestrians (a no turn on red from 18th to U/Florida would help). Pedestrians also routinely ignore the "don't walk" symbols because the timing is so long to deal with the complexity of the intersection.

Watching the snow chaos just made it clearer that this intersection needs rethinking.

Thanks for your comment. I am asking DDOT Director Gabe Klein to have someone check this sign placement. I would also like DDOT to describe how the proposed redesign of this intersection will resolve the pedestrian hazards that have been highlighted by these residents.

Regarding the "no turn on right" suggestion, might this make the situation worse? If there were no turn on red then there would be even more vehicles turning from 18th to U Street on green. When these vehicles have the green is also when pedestrians have the right-of-way to cross U Street -- so there might be even more conflicts.

Bests, Jim

I typically answer emails before 9 AM on weekdays. If you email me after that, it is likely that you will hear from me the next weekday. If there is a need to communicate prior to that, you may wish to call me. For most effective communication, please use my direct email address: jim@grahamwone.com

Jim Graham, Councilmember, Ward One, 1350 Pa. Ave., NW, #105, Washington, DC 20004. 202-724-8181; 202-724-8109 (fax).

Chairman, Committee on Public Works and the Transportation (including alcohol regulation). Main Committee Number: 202-724-8195. 1350 Pa. Ave., NW, #116, Washington, DC 20004.

Chairman and Voting Member, Board of Directors, WMATA/Metro.

CM Graham, we will get out sign crew out to inspect the signage situation.

As for the redesign benefits, the two major improvements are as follows:

1. At the intersection of U Street and Florida Ave, the pedestrian crosswalk will be shortened by at least 9-10ft. Also, the widened south side sidewalk at the corner will give pedestrians/vehicles much more visibility when travelling eastbound.

2. At the intersection of 18th Street and Florida Ave, there are two median islands where a lot of vehicular/pedestrian conflict currently exists. The two islands will be gone and be replaced with one big island. The island will eliminate a lot of vehicular conflict and pedestrians can use the islands as a refuge.

If you want to see additional specifics regarding please visit http://www.am18thstreetreconstruction.com/18thStImgs

Regards,

Thanks so much

Hello,

It looks like there was a lot of useful dialogue concerning this issue. Does anyone know if it has been fixed yet?

Thanks and have a great day,
The SeeClickFix Team

Update--

Jim Graham wrote:

Thanks for your follow-up on this. I am asking our DDOT Director, Gabe Kleine, to comment on what interim safety actions he has taken. I believe I have seen additional warning signs posted for motorists.

I am advised that this intersection will probably be the first part of the 18th Street Streetscape to be completed -- so we should see more permanent solutions here very soon.

Best, Jim

~The SeeClickFix Team

Update---

Aaron Rhones from the DDOT wrote:

The following safety improvements have been and are being made to the identified intersection:

· Replaced “Yield To Pedestrians While Turning” sign, placed at the southeast corner of U Street and Florida Avenue, with "Turning Vehicle Stop For Pedestrians in Crosswalk."

· Installed "No Left Turn" regulatory sign on the electrical/signal pole (#26113) at the southeast corner of U Street and Florida Avenue for south and southwest bound directions of the travel, facing southbound traffic.

· Install "No Left Turn" regulatory sign on the electrical/signal pole (#11157) at the northwest corner of U Street and Florida Avenue for south and southwest bound directions of the travel, facing southwest bound traffic.

· The signal timing plan for intersection of Florida Avenue and U Street was adjusted (retimed) to eliminate conflict between pedestrians crossing U Street and traffic making a right turn from Florida Avenue to U Street in eastbound direction.

· Will repaint double yellow line on Florida Avenue between U Street and Seaton Street, where it is partially faded.

· Will refurbish yellow gore pavement marking along U Street at the intersection of Florida Avenue and U Street.

· Planning to refurbish both, the north and south side ladder type crosswalks and stop bar pavement markings on U Street at the intersection of U Street and 18th Street, to provide better visibility to motorists and pedestrians. We will also provide 5 (ft.) distance between stop bar pavement marking and back edge line of crosswalk.

· The street light's mast arm of Electrical/signal pole #11157 located at the northwest corner of U Street and Florida Avenue is missing. DDOT will need to install the missing part and provide a night time light inspection of the site.(This work will be performed during the 18th Street reconstruction project).

· Refurbished traffic guide line pavement markings throughout the entire intersection of Florida Avenue and U Street.

· Installed "Steel Plates Ahead" work zone warning signs in appropriate place on U Street, for eastbound traffic to warn the motorists of the existing two steel plates, located at the intersection of U Street and Florida Avenue.

Additional safety improvements will be made during the reconstruction of the Florida/18th Street intersection scheduled for this year (2010).

-----------------------------------------

Thank you for responding, DDOT.

Cheers,
The SeeClickFix Team

Excellent work!

except I just walked by the area and it's not apparent that any of this pavement marking has taken place yet. There is still a substantial ped-vehicle conflict from vehicles taking other approaches to eastbound U street.... those traveling along Florida eastbound or turning left from 18th street southbound are traveling at 15-30 mph through a crosswalk that has a walk symbol.

Still extraordinarily dangerous for peds crossing U street at the easternmost extent of this intersection cluster.

The image in my last post is the planned streetscape improvements. The one in this one is the proposed improvements overlaid on the existing conditions. You'll see that a big part of the improvement the the crosswalk in question is a change in intersection geometry to create a shorter crosswalk. Would be nice if the interim improvements could mimic this with quickcurb.

fixed

I do not see how this intersection which I can see from my condo is fixed. There is paint now on the long diagonal crosswalk for U Street to east side of Florida, but there is no clear paint on the crosswalks across 18th street, west/east or south/north across Florida. I know we are to wait (and wait) for the reconstruction project but since the constructution project further south on 18th Street is still a wreck, I'm not confident nor enthusiastic about its spread north anytime soon.

When is it reasonable to expect clearer marking and more pedestrian friendly walk signals?

Excellent thread of communications demonstrating accountability, responsibility and action!

Carlos V. Roman, Founder
PublicWorksAgency.com
http://www.publicworksagency.com

See my last note, the sidewalk crossings have not been fixed; there is just a plan. If a plan to fix is fixed, then . . . I'll start a new listing on this issue.

I've almost been hit numerous times.... There needs to be a red-light camera at this intersection. Folks just aren't paying attention