M Street Cyletrack Construction Likely in August

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) could begin construction on the highly-anticipated M Street Cycletrack, a protected bike lane, as soon as August, according to Washingtonian.

Next week DDOT will hold a public meeting to receive comments and feedback on the proposed track which will run westbound on M Street between 14th and 28th streets, NW.

The lane will be installed on the north side of the road and bikes will be separated from vehicular traffic by flexible posts. Cycletracks "provide bicyclists with more protection from cars than a typical bike lane," according to DDOT.

The L Street Cycletrack was installed in October and DDOT has spent the time since then evaluating it before installing the complementary track on M Street.

Lessons learned from the L Street lane resulted in changes to the design of the M Street lane.

According to Washingtonian:

"Unlike the eastbound L Street lane, which eliminated 150 parking spaces, parking along the M Street track will be shifted to the outside of the bike lane, explains Mike Goodno, a bike planner at DDOT. A narrower cycle track will also prevent cars and trucks from parking in the bike lane, an issue cyclists currently deal with on the wider L Street lane."

The bike lane’s installation could cost between $50,000 and $100,000, Washingtonian reports.

The DDOT meeting on the lane will be Wednesday, May 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the West End Library, 1101 24th St., NW.

Read more about the L and M Street cycletracks:

• L Street Cycletrack Construction Begins; M Street On Hold
• M Street Bikelane Still in the Works