After 5 years in limbo, the Eastern Downtown protected bike lane (PBL) project is finally moving forward to redesign 9th St. NW in Shaw. On Thursday, July 29, the District Department of Transportation is holding a virtual open house to present the current design, share the next steps in the process, and take input on your priorities for the street as planners refine the design.
This project will redesign 9th St. NW with an east-side, 2-way protected bike lane, safer pedestrian crossings, and traffic calming between Pennsylvania Ave and Florida Ave. NW. It will fill a large hole in DC’s low-stress bicycle network and significantly reduce speeding, dangerous driving, and prevent traffic crashes in the corridor.
What: 9th Street NW Protected Bike Lane Virtual Open House
Date: Thursday, 7/29/21
Time: 4 – 7pm
Meeting URL: rebrand.ly/9thStNW-ProtectedBikeLane
Or Call in #: 202-860-2110, Access Code: 172 214 7464
Please attend, ask questions, and show your support for making 9th St. a safe, walkable, bikeable, and accessible street for everyone who uses it.
We are thrilled that the Mayor and DDOT are moving this project ahead, yet we know that it still needs help, positive pressure and public enthusiasm to get built. If you are passionate about this project and want to roll up your sleeves to help organize that support over the next few months, sign up below.
In 2015, DDOT began the Eastern Downtown Protected Bike Lane study to identify a viable street for a north-south protected bike lane between 15th St. NW and the Metropolitan Branch Trail. After many heated public meetings, stakeholder consultation, and extensive analysis, the study concluded in 2017 that 6th and 9th streets NW were the best candidates and work began on preliminary design for both corridors.
In 2018, the project team completed 30% design for both streets and, after additional traffic studies and stakeholder input, selected 9th St. However, without any announcement or reasons offered, the project was put on hold, preventing any further design work or outreach. In May, Mayor Bowser announced that the project is again moving forward, restarting design and outreach for the project. Construction is expected in 2022.
Click here to read more about this project’s history on the WABA blog.
See the project documents here.
