Mount Pleasant DC Forum

[jack]

For years I've been working on getting the Kenyon/Adams Mill/Irving intersection modified so that westbound drivers on Kenyon can make the left turn onto southbound Adams Mill (note: that is *not* Harvard Street). I did succeed in getting this into the Columbia Heights/Mount Pleasant Traffic Study, completed in 2003. Now, five years on, we appear to be getting close to achieving this outcome.

Other modifications include a proper sidewalk on the west side of Adams Mill, going down to the Zoo, with a good crosswalk across Adams Mill on the north edge of the intersection, and a sidewalk along Irving Street, south side, connecting the bus stop to the Harvard Towers driveway. (The jersey wall barrier, built to protect pedestrians from Irving Street traffic, will go away.)

Below, a drawing of the revised intersection. When this will proceed from drawing phase to reality I do not know. I thought we would have started by now.

-- Jack

[igorok]

Jack, kudos on your persistence on this. Even more if you get the ball over the goal line.

As I am sure you noticed, the drawing makes it look like people coming up (north) Adams Mill intending to drive "straight ahead" at the intersection will go up Kenyon. As things are now, it is somewhat common to be behind a driver in the right lane who, getting to the top of the hill, realizes that he/she wants to "turn" left. I would urge you to urge those in charge to craft some ways (explicit and subliminal) to inform drivers that "straight ahead" means turning left.

Also, as one drives down Kenyon, west, and turns right at Adams Mill, there is a place right there at the curb (on Adams Mill) that seems to be a regular parking spot and yet seems illegal under a number of rules. I have never seen anyone there get a ticket (though maybe it happens). If that spot is illegal, then if it were empty if would seem safe to turn right when southbound traffic on Adams Mill has a green light. So, it would be good if the new traffic lights included a green arrow for right turns.

BTW, where is the real estate coming from for the new sidewalk?

And, does the south side of Kenyon need that bump-out, as shown? I assume that this project does not entail a general widening of Kenyon. As you may know, the bump-out's location, as shown, is a place that drivers heading up the hill often stop to let pass drivers (especially trucks) who are heading down the hill. Actually, the bump-out's location is where maybe a 3rd or 4th car would be in a line of cars waiting. While the bump-out looks pretty (and seems in keeping with other such traffic guidance features around town that I consider overdone, and that is the kind term for it), I urge that it not be constructed. That portion of Kenyon is a tight squeeze (frequented by delivery trucks) and no permanent structure should be added that would make things worse. Indeed, the drawing does not even show any parking on the north side of Kenyon -- and, of course there is parking there. Is there some plan to do away with that?

Again, kudos.

[jack]

I'm meeting with the DDOT engineer Thursday afternoon, and I'll try to get some answers to your questions, thank you. -- Jack

[jack]

[Dwight]

Too bad the west-side sidewalk is out. That was a very nice feature as it enabled most Mt P residents to only cross one of these streets to get to the zoo. Now those who live North of Kenyon will have to cross Kenyon and Irving at this intersection and then cross Adams Mill in front of Harvard Towers. It did sound like a lot of $ though.

The Adams Mill traffic heading to Harvard Street should at most be allowed a "right on red after full stop" as I doubt their visibility up onto Kenyon will be good enough to have a yield (and mixing signs with lights at corners is very confusing (as at Eastbound Park and Mt.P).

The traffic entering the zoo from Adams Mill (southbound), also will have a new hard stop as there will be a much needed crosswalk there.

Thankfully they put back in the left turn from the zoo onto Adams Mill. I had pointed out that it was missing in their first set of drawings.

-- Dwight

[dnewberg]

As a resident of western Kenyon Street, it goes without saying that I'm not a fan of the left turn to Adams Mill from this intersection. I acknowledge this is a selfish opinion - I'm concerned about increased traffic on Kenyon, and the qualify of life for me and my neighbors. Having said that, I agree it's a confusing intersection and I'm not going to chain myself in front of the bull dozer when it shows up.

HOWEVER, please know that we get A LOT of overflow zoo parkers on this end of Kenyon - and we welcome them. On weekends there's a veritable parade of screaming kids and strollers. They cross this crazy intersection. It's a wonder to me that some little tyke (or runner or cyclist) hasn't gotten mowed down.

I've looked at the other MtP traffic studies and they've ignored this intersection. Jack, I can't see the picture you posted here, so I'm not sure what the pedestrian plan is, but it needs to be a good one - akin to the block-long cross walk at the zoo entrance on CT Ave. This is especially the case if Irving St. becomes two way as the other MTP traffic plan proposes.

Thanks for your consideration. We rarely get a chance to re-do something like this, so I hope whatever happens takes full advantage of a unique opportunity to really make life better for most of us. -Diane (1846 Kenyon)

[igorok]

Jack - well done and thanks for posting the update.

[danbalzer]

Hear, hear.

Perhaps this is stretching the topic, but is there any chance to include in this project an modification/upgrading of the traffic light by the zoo entrance (below Harvard Towers) so that it does not give a green light to the zoo exit at night when the gate is closed?

It's these "little" projects that will do a lot to improve traffic flow. If only all that energy focused on the single issue of Klingle Rd for all these years had instead been more broadly directed at the many little, lower cost modifications that could ease cross-town traffic...

[jack]

[micmac]

That light is on the fritz again. Extremly short green light followed by LONG red light. traffic backing up on the ramp, horns honking, & folks making illegal turns to get around the red light. I thought that was fixed?

[jack]

[jack]

Seems to be okay now.

If you stand alongside the ramp, and look up at the little box on the traffic-light pole, above the lights, you should be able to see a little red light flash on when a car is detected on the ramp. That's what determines how long the light stays green for ramp traffic. If it doesn't flash, it's not detecting cars, so the light quickly goes red. Very clever, except when the sensor fails.

-- Jack

[smithdo]

If this works it will really be a great thing for the neighborhood. Who hasn't ended up on that side of MTP and wondered how best to legally drive to Adam's Mill?

I hope there will be increased pedestrian visibility/accessibility/stuff because of the amount of foot traffic coming off the zoo.

[jack]

Just got word that the plans for rebuilding this intersection (allowing the left turn from westbound Kenyon onto southbound Adams Mill, among other changes) are 65% complete and ready for ANC review. Maybe next spring we'll actually see work begin!

-- Jack

[jack]