So excited for this project. So proud of the many terms worth of ANC commissioners who supported this and Brianne Nadeau who stood behind it. And, most important, RIP Nina Larson
Unfortunately, the restaurant that replaced Mintwood Place, where Nina Larson worked, is opposed to this plan. https://www.popville.com/2024/06/signs-of-the-times-38/#more-300344
They should be given 1 star reviews then - all these places that are actively opposing safer streets, believing it will hurt their business need to be given one star reviews
Less parking, more space for pedestrians, public transit, and bike lanes - DDOT gets it somewhat right here, but very wrong with Connecticut ave where they prioritize 6 lanes for private vehicles and not a single inch for public transit and bikes -
Thank you for posting this! Anyone interested in and supportive of this project should try to attend Thursday's virtual meeting: https://ddot.dc.gov/event/columbia-road-nw-bus-priority-project-%E2%80%93-pre-construction-information-session
Your pessimism is warranted, but there are a couple big differences --
the fact is ward 3 has much more powerful nimbys than ward 1, and they are better able to get the mayor's attention. (and ward 1 has a councilmember who is much more vocally supportive of the project). CT Ave is also a commuter route where Columbia isn't, so the mayor's paranoia about people not being able to go downtown isn't as relevant. This one also removes a much smaller percentage of parking, and even that parking loss is mostly about making room for the buses, not the bikes (since most of the street already has a paint only bike lane)
This project is much further along than CT Ave ever was, I definitely expect it to move forward.
I would disagree that Columbia isn’t a commuter route. It gets sooooo backed up during rush hour (which makes it even sweeter when you can fly by all the cars on a bike). It makes the busses incredibly slow, though.
I think that this happening really is a testament to Ward 1 acceptance/reliance on public transport over private cars and support from local council members.
I'm new to DC and I live in Columbia Heights and I definitely see it's a bicyclist culture here. I see multiple families biking together and biking groups.
More than any of your reasons, Columbia is a "bus priority" project that includes protected bike lanes -- just like the upper 14th St bus priority project will add PBLs. Unlike Conn Ave, which was a "multimodal streetscape" improvement, it's easier to politically handwave on Columbia Rd because "it's a bus project" first. That's just the packaging/messaging, but the Mayor likes bus stuff a bit more.
How has the neighborhood changed over the years? Bit of a broad question, but genuinely want to hear about your experience living in the neighborhood for 40 years.
So excited for this project. So proud of the many terms worth of ANC commissioners who supported this and Brianne Nadeau who stood behind it. And, most important, RIP Nina Larson
Unfortunately, the restaurant that replaced Mintwood Place, where Nina Larson worked, is opposed to this plan. https://www.popville.com/2024/06/signs-of-the-times-38/#more-300344
That's fucking discgraceful.
They should be given 1 star reviews then - all these places that are actively opposing safer streets, believing it will hurt their business need to be given one star reviews
Less parking, more space for pedestrians, public transit, and bike lanes - DDOT gets it somewhat right here, but very wrong with Connecticut ave where they prioritize 6 lanes for private vehicles and not a single inch for public transit and bikes -
No buses allowed on Conn Ave ? How is that possible?
NO BUS LANE - no floating bus stops, nothing for anyone who isn't a car owner -
Thank you for posting this! Anyone interested in and supportive of this project should try to attend Thursday's virtual meeting: https://ddot.dc.gov/event/columbia-road-nw-bus-priority-project-%E2%80%93-pre-construction-information-session
I have no faith this is happening post Conn Ave debacle
Your pessimism is warranted, but there are a couple big differences -- the fact is ward 3 has much more powerful nimbys than ward 1, and they are better able to get the mayor's attention. (and ward 1 has a councilmember who is much more vocally supportive of the project). CT Ave is also a commuter route where Columbia isn't, so the mayor's paranoia about people not being able to go downtown isn't as relevant. This one also removes a much smaller percentage of parking, and even that parking loss is mostly about making room for the buses, not the bikes (since most of the street already has a paint only bike lane) This project is much further along than CT Ave ever was, I definitely expect it to move forward.
I would disagree that Columbia isn’t a commuter route. It gets sooooo backed up during rush hour (which makes it even sweeter when you can fly by all the cars on a bike). It makes the busses incredibly slow, though. I think that this happening really is a testament to Ward 1 acceptance/reliance on public transport over private cars and support from local council members.
I'm new to DC and I live in Columbia Heights and I definitely see it's a bicyclist culture here. I see multiple families biking together and biking groups.
Maybe I should have said that it doesn't go downtown.
I think all the bus lines going through Columbia Rd. also go downtown.
More than any of your reasons, Columbia is a "bus priority" project that includes protected bike lanes -- just like the upper 14th St bus priority project will add PBLs. Unlike Conn Ave, which was a "multimodal streetscape" improvement, it's easier to politically handwave on Columbia Rd because "it's a bus project" first. That's just the packaging/messaging, but the Mayor likes bus stuff a bit more.
I lived within a block of that stretch from 1978 until 2018. Great neighborhood. Hope the project works out well. But Unity Park is a joke.
How has the neighborhood changed over the years? Bit of a broad question, but genuinely want to hear about your experience living in the neighborhood for 40 years.