Politics & Government
Redesigning the Wisconsin Avenue Redesign Makes for Headaches in Glover Park
"No Left Turn" sign was just the latest issue in the ongoing Wisconsin Avenue Streetscape saga.
Though the Wisconsin Avenue Streetscape project was controversial and complicated before and during construction, it has risen to a new level now that it has been completed with sections being redesigned and communications at times breaking down entirely.
The District Department of Transportation has received pressure both from people in favor of the redesign, which is proponents believe slows traffic in the name of pedestrian safety, and opponents, who think it takes far too long to travel north on Wisconsin Avenue or object to increased traffic on side streets.
On May 29 DDOT announced it would on May 30 begin removing pavement markings, including a recently painted median, on Wisconsin Avenue between Garfield Street and Calvert Street.
ANC3B (Glover Park) includes the west side of Wisconsin Avenue north of Calvert Street up to Garfield Street. ANC3C has the east side of Wisconsin Avenue to Massachusetts Avenue.
ANC3B did not want the lane changes north of Calvert Street undone, but did work with ANC3C to address their concerns over the streetscape.
Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Commissioner Jackie Blumenthal of Glover Park quickly took the the neighborhood listserv to voice her objection to the sign's installation and she requested that DDOT remove the new signage.
As she explained in one post:
"People who live on the one-way part of 37th street cannot get to their houses
without being able to turn left there at all times. Businesses who get deliveries on 37th street cannot get them if trucks can't turn left at all times. People can't get to the bank or the gas station if they can't turn left."
By Friday, July 5 the sign had been removed.
Patch inquired of DDOT just how the sign was installed in the first place and why the Glover Park ANC was not made aware of it before it happened.
DDOT Spokeswoman Monica Hernandez explained that the sign was part of the effort to return Wisconsin Avenue north of Calvert to its pre-streetscape configuration:
"All ANCs were notified that we were going to redesign Wisconsin Ave. north of Calvert to the pre-construction lane configurations to the best of our ability. This was completed. After the notification of the installation of the wrong signs, we reviewed and determined that the signs and the marking were put in incorrectly. The signs and marking have been corrected as per the new plan."
Find out what's happening in Georgetownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
This week, after months of delays, DDOT began work on another project to address issues resulting from the streetscape project: the re-design of 37th Street and Tunlaw Road, NW. This project has significant community support for its stated goal of increasing safety and discouraging cut-through traffic. Construction is expected to last approximately 30 days.
Patch will continue to provide updates on construction and traffic issues in Glover Park.
See something Patch should look into? Email Editor Shaun Courtney at shaun@patch.com.
Editor's Note: The original post misstated the boundaries between ANC3B and ANC3C.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
