PETITION TO PAUSE AND RECONSIDER COLUMBIA ROAD BUS PRIORITY PROJECT

We, the undersigned residents, businesses, and community organizations of Adams Morgan petition the Mayor, DDOT, City Council, and ANC-01-C to immediately pause and reconsider the "Columbia Road Bus Priority Project" because its design endangers pedestrians, cyclists, bus riders, and drivers. Specifically:

• Public safety will be Impaired: Residents and visitors alike, especially seniors and less able people, will be endangered every time they step off a sidewalk, by speeding cyclists, narrower parking lanes and narrower travel lanes. Pedestrian islands are not needed or safe.
• Flexibility of use will be eliminated for emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, movers, and all other users.
• Columbia Road at 50' wide is too narrow to safely support two 8'-wide bike lanes. The existing painted 6' lanes work just fine.
• Bus stops will be reduced and moved farther apart, discouraging bus use and rider safety.
• Bus Transit Times Will be Impaired: If any vehicle stops, ALL traffic will stop. The project defies its own goal to expedite bus transit times.
• Over 75 more parking spots, already scarce, will be eliminated and meter times shortened. Fewer parking spots will force more vehicles onto residential side streets. small businesses will suffer.
• Public outreach about the project has been minimal. No data or cost-benefit analysis has been presented that supports the changes being proposed.
• Project Timing Ignores heavy Adams School Construction Traffic In the 1900 and 2000 blocks– which will continue for another year or more. This project is UNSAFE.
• Hundreds of households, over 50 impacted businesses, and the Kalorama Citizens Association, have passed resolutions and/or submitted public comment that oppose the project as designed or seek major changes to this project.
• Property Values are At Risk. Elimination of over 75 more parking spaces impacts value.
• The Project is Not Needed: West of 18th St, and throughout the project area where painted bike lanes already exist, the current configuration is flexible and works well for all. Don’t change it.

(Please note your relationship to the community in your Comments - resident, senior, business, visitor, cyclist, etc)