ANC 2B09 - Commissioner Noah Smith
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Huge Win for Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Across the City Pushed by ANC2B

8/19/2014

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On Friday, DDOT proposed new regulations to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe when a construction project closes a sidewalk or bike lane. The regulations implement a section of the Bicycle Safety Amendments Act of 2013, which I helped to author and ANC2B supported.

Simply stated: the regulations put the safety of pedestrians and cyclists first and the convenience of developers and construction companies a distant second. 

In 2012 the Dupont and Logan Circle ANCs held joint listening sessions on public safety issues and bike and pedestrian safety was a top concern. This has influenced much of my work on the ANC for the last two years.

In ANC 2B09 when the Louis project was being built, I noted that on the east side of the street there was a protected and well lit wooden canopy walkway for pedestrians, while on the west side the Louis offered nothing more than a standard issue three foot high traffic barrier as protection. Only in the last two months of construction did they build the canopy pictured above.

In March 2013 I testified before the DC Council on the need to better define the term “Safe Accommodation” as it relates to pedestrians and cyclists when a sidewalk or bike lane is closed for construction. My language was signed into law and over the last few months I have worked with DDOT, WABA and the Bicycle Advisory Council to draft regulations that enforce those requirements.

The regulations require that developers submit traffic management plans to DDOT prior to granting of a permit that clearly show how the construction will not impede the safety and flow of pedestrian and bicycle traffic. If a sidewalk or bike lane must be closed, there are rules for how it must be handled and what accommodation must be provided to those impacted.

This is a huge win for our most vulnerable road users. I am overjoyed to see this success through from Council hearing to passage to regulation to implementation.

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Dupont ANC Sends Letter to DDOT Reiterating a 2012 Request for Stronger Pedestrian Protections 

8/17/2014

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In December 2012, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2B adopted a resolution, recommending action on safety improvements to pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure within the ANC. 

The ANC never received a formal response to these request and in revisiting these requests, the ANC 2B Transportation and Public Infrastructure Committee found that these action items still require attention from DDOT. In July, we sent DDOT another letter reiterating our requests to better maintain bicycle lanes in our neighborhood and to paint markings on sidewalks in the downtown business district clearly indicating that bikes are not allowed. 

These are both pedestrian and bicycle safety initiatives that are designed to reduce the incidence of bikes and walkers sharing the same space. The letter reads, in part: 

The ANC 2B Transportation and Public Infrastructure Committee is working on solutions 
to these and other ongoing issues, but it needs support and commitment from DDOT in 
order to move forward or show any tangible progress to the ANC’s resident constituents.

The committee is happy to assist in working on solutions that will bring positive benefits 
throughout the District of Columbia. In particular, we are willing to advise on 
international standard signage that will provide clear messages to all mode users of the 
ANC’s transportation infrastructure, be it pedestrians, cyclists, or motorists
You can read the full letter after the break. 

Read More
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Sign Up to Receive Updates on Our Neighborhood!

8/16/2014

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Informing the community about development, events and issues is a chief role of an ANC Commissioner. I’m always trying to improve neighborhood communications and I’ve created a new regular email update that you can sign up for to receive timely information.

Take a look at my inaugural update HERE.

Sign up by clicking on Contact above and provide your name and email address.

Please let your friends and neighbors know as well! Thanks and enjoy! 

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Dupont Current and District Source Cover Our Parking Discussions

8/15/2014

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The Dupont Current published a front page story about the work of our Transportation and Public Infrastructure Committee (which I chair) in this week's paper. The article focuses on our meeting last week with DDOT officials when we discussed what options are feasible to alleviate parking concerns in the neighborhood. I'll have a more complete analysis of that meeting posted shortly, but in the meantime you can read the full Current article HERE.

The District Source also covered the meeting last week and published a great article, HERE.
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Hey, What's That Thing?

8/14/2014

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Several neighbors have asked me what this thing is at the southeast corner of 16th and T. It has a camera, a flash, and a police department sticker on it. Is a new speed camera? Does it catch drivers who run red lights? Nope! 

This camera specifically targets oversize vehicles, like large trucks, which cannot legally traverse some of our side streets, like this block of T. According to MPD:
The District is a city of neighborhoods with many residential streets that were not built to handle the weight and damage caused by commercial vehicles. The enforcement of restricted truck and bus routes will reduce infrastructure damage and enhance quality of life in our neighborhoods.
You can read more about automatic traffic enforcement in the district and see a map of all types of cameras in the city HERE. MPD also produced a short video about oversize vehicles, for what its worth.
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ANC Meeting This Wednesday in a New Location

8/8/2014

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The Dupont Advisory Neighborhood Commission will have its regular meeting on Wednesday August 13th at 7:00pm. This month the Brookings Institution is undergoing some renovations and so instead we are meeting next door at the SAIS building in Room 500. The address is 1717 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

The agenda for the meeting is available HERE. Of note for 2B09 is an application for renovation and a small rear addition at 1459 S St. I’ve talked to several neighbors who have expressed support. Feel free to contact me if you’d like to see the plans or chat about the project.

I will also provide an update from the Transportation and Public Infrastructure Committee, which I established and chair. I hope to see you all on Wednesday!


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Updates on Liquor License Applications in Neighboring 2B08

8/8/2014

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There are three simultaneous liquor license applications ongoing in neighboring 2B08, which is just west of us. My colleague, Will Stephens, has a great blog and has written extensively on all three. As we share a large boundary, Will and I work together on many of these quality of life issues. Take a look at what Will has put together on each of the three applications:

New Tavern Application for Saloon 45 aka Swann Dive at 18th and Swann

·         New liquor license application: Saloon 45

·         ANC’s protest resolution on Saloon 45 matter

·         Saloon 45 application materials and drawings

·         Further updates on Saloon 45 / Swann Dive matter

Application by Penthouse Pool (at VIDA) to Modify Settlement Agreement and Allow Entertainment on the Roof

·         New request from Vida Fitness / Penthouse Pool

·         Update on Vida Fitness / Penthouse Pool

·         Further update on Vida Fitness / Penthouse Pool

Application by Local 16 to Clarify Settlement Agreements

·         New request: Amendment to Local 16’s voluntary agreements

·         Update on Local 16 Voluntary Agreement / Settlement Agreement discussions

Thanks to Will for putting this all together!

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    Welcome! This site serves as a resource for residents of ANC 2B09 in U Street and Dupont Circle. I provide updates with information on upcoming meetings, events in the neighborhood, and discussion topics. 

    You can learn more about me by clicking here. If you have any questions or comments or have an idea for a post, please reach out to me anytime. 

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