Streetscape improvements in Brookland (a/k/a more Brookland kvetching)

DC's Department of Transportation is now implementing improvements in the streetscape on 12th and Monroe Streets NE, as called for in the Brookland Transportation and Streetscape Study. There are many changes but the major ones are these:

1. New sidewalks, topped with conglomerate (like the sidewalks on the National Mall);
2. Sidewalk bulbouts at intersections to improve the street crossing experience for pedestrians;
3. Streetlights on every utility pole;
4. Bike lane striping on Monroe Street;
5. Relocated bus stops to provide a better "transit waiting environment" for riders.

There has been a lot of complaining on Brookland e-lists about the bulbouts stating that they protrude into the driving lane and obstruct bicycle lanes.

While I think that bicycle lanes could have been implemented slightly better on the 800 and 900 blocks of Monroe Street, I don't think that people's complaints hold water.

I didn't get over to Brookland to check til yesterday, but I did take a bunch of photos. Things seem fine to me, with one exception--besides implementing the bicycle lanes differently on those two blocks, I would have also included sidewalk-side lights on the utility poles too. There is a difference between "sidewalk lighting" and "street lighting" and a thriving commercial district needs both.


New lights on utility poles provide much more light on 12th Street NE in Brookland


This bulbout at the northeast corner of 12th and Monroe Street NE comes out to the proper distance--equal to the width of the parking lane. The sidewalk is topped with conglomerate and is the new standard for neighborhood commercial districts. The idea for this type of sidewalk came from a resident in the H Street neighborhood. DDOT subsequently adopted the idea and has made it standard.


The bus stop at this location was moved south slightly, and provides a better location for both the bus driver and oncoming cars as the view at the intersection is no longer obscured, and riders don't have to walk out into the street because of the placement of the treebox at the previous location.


Looking west to the 900 and 800 blocks of Monroe Street NE, where the bicycle lanes do move a bit along the block, rather than maintain a straight line. This could be corrected by removing the striped yellow line median, and devoting the recovered space to the bicycle lane.


Looking east, at 9th and Monroe Streets NE.


While all of 12th Street is zoned commercial, there are distinct blocks of residential housing, which likely should be downzoned back to residential. Most of the residential buildings--rowhouses and some detached four squares--especially south of Kearny Street, is used for housing.