Response to protest of Speed Camera on 1900 Block of Branch Ave SE

Wednesday February 8, 2012

The Hillcrest Community Civic Association (HCCA) is disheartened and disappointed by the protest of the speed camera on the 1900 block of Branch Ave SE held on February 8, 2012. Speeding along Branch Ave between Alabama Ave and Pennsylvania Ave SE has been a constant challenge due to the long stretch of roadway without any signalized intersections to slow or stop traffic. The speed camera on Branch Ave SE is the result of several years of advocacy by Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Phillip J. Hammond (ANC 7B04), his fellow ANC 7B Commissioners, and the Hillcrest community. HCCA stood in full support of the cameras then, and we reaffirm our support today.

The mission of HCCA is to work “to enhance the quality of life and prosperity of residents, families, community organizations and institutions located within the designated geographic boundaries.” Part of fulfilling that mission is making our roadways safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. As a community, we have been actively working with DC Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Police Department to make our streets safe by implementing traffic calming solutions such as building speed humps, installing “Stop for Pedestrian” signs, repainting crosswalks, and increasing police enforcement of traffic laws.

We understand the speed enforcement tickets can become a financial burden for repeat violators. While some frame the financial penalty as unfair and unjust, we believe the impact of speeding motorists on our quality of life is unfair and unjust. The fair and just solution for everyone, is for motorist to obey the 25 mile per hour speed limit to avoid penalties.

HCCA stands firm in our support of the speed camera on the 1900 block of Branch Ave SE. In addition, we will continue to be vocal advocates of safety enforcement in our community.


Veronica O. Davis
Street, Traffic and Transportation Committee Chair

On behalf of the HILLCREST COMMUNITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION

International Walk to School Day was a Success!!!

International Walk to School Day at Anne Beers Elementary School was a success.  The day started with great excitement and energy.  At the end of the day the kids had the same level of excitement.  This is great momentum for moving into the Safe Routes to School.

A special thanks to the District Department of Transportation, Children's Hospital, Safe Kids, Washington Area Bicyclists Association and the staff and Anne Beers for the countless hours spent planning and preparing for this event.  Thanks to Fed-Ex for all the goodies (coloring books, bracelets, necklaces, lights) for the kids.

The Secretary LaHood, has shared some photos on his blog.

Here are some photos from the day courtesy of DDOT.

US Secretary of Transportation to walk with our children

Government of the District of ColumbiaDepartment of Transportation

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Media Contact:  John Lisle at 202-486-5838

                              

MEDIA ADVISORY AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

DDOT and DC Schools to Celebrate International Walk to School DayU.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will Participate in Walking School Bus at Anne Beers Elementary in SE

(Washington, D.C.)  On October 5, students and parents in the District will join thousands of school communities across the nation in celebrating the simple act of walking and bicycling to school. Wednesday is International Walk to School Day, an annual event that promotes the health and environmental benefits of walking and bicycling and draws attention to the need for safer routes to school.

This year a record 22 D.C. schools have signed up including Anne Beers Elementary School in Southeast DC where U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Terry Bellamy will help escort students to their classes.

The event will feature four Walking School Buses that will walk from the neighborhoods surrounding the school starting at 8 am. The walk will be followed by a pep rally in the school auditorium. This event is the result of a partnership between DDOT, the DC Safe Kids Coalition, Children’s National Medical Center, FedEx, The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), and Anne Beers Elementary School and will also be attended by representatives from the National Center for Safe Routes to School.

WHAT:       International Walk to School Day – Walking School Bus

WHO:         Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation

Victor Mendez, Federal Highway Administrator
Terry Bellamy, DDOT Director

Kwame Brown, DC Council Chair
Yvette Alexander, Ward 7 Councilmember

Anne Beers Elementary School Community

WHEN:         Wednesday, October 4, 2011

    8:20 am

WHERE:       Fort Davis and V Streets, SE

(Group will walk to Anne Beers Elementary which is located at 3600 Alabama Avenue, SE)

In addition to students at Anne Beers, thousands of students from the following schools will also be walking to school with parents, teachers, and community leaders as part of International Walk to School events during the month of October:

·        Aiton Elementary School

·        Ron Brown Middle School

·        Burrville Elementary School

·        Capitol Hill Cluster School

·        Capitol Hill Montessori at Logan

·        C.W. Harris Elementary School

·        Drew Elementary School

·        John Eaton Elementary School

·        E.L. Haynes Public Charter School

·        Lafayette Elementary School

·        Lowell School

·        Kenilworth Elementary School

·        Maury Elementary School

·        Thurgood Marshall Elementary School

·        Kelly Miller Middle School

·        Nalle Elementary School

·        Ross Elementary School

·        Tyler Elementary School

·        Washington International School

·        H.D. Woodson High School

·        Whittier Education Campus

Across the nation, International Walk to School Day is expected to include 4,000 schools from all 50 states. Walkers from the U.S. will join children and adults in 40 countries around the world.

Walk to School events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader community.

Year-round, DDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program offers planning assistance for DC Schools that are interested in improving safety for student walkers and cyclists. For more information please visit the Safe Routes to School page on DDOT’s website.

Volunteers needed for International Walk to School Day

International Walk to School Day is almost here.  We are looking for the Hillcrest community to participate. 

How you can participate:

1. Join us at 7:15 am at the school OR meet at the beginning of the walking school bus to assist with walking the kids to school
2. If you live on a route, stand in front of your house and greet the kids as the pass
3. Meet us at the school at 8:30 am and cheer the kids as they arrive to school

Anne Beers ES to serve as a model

I'm really excited to announce that Anne Beers Elementary School has been chosen as the host school for International Walk to School Day on October 5th by the Safe Kids, District of Columbia Coalition.

More to come on the routes and how everyone in the community can be involved.  Even if you don't have a child at Beers the HCCA Transportation Committee will be asking for all hands on deck that morning to show support. 

In addition, Anne Beers ES has submitted their application to be in the "Safe Routes to School" Program through the District Department of Transportation.  Stay tuned for more information on how you can be involved.

Speed Camera on Branch Ave

Thanks to the diligent efforts of Commissioner Hammond, speed cameras will be installed along Branch Ave SE.

HCCA Testimony - Confirmation of DDOT Director

BEFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION

RE: PR19-0246, the “Director of the District Department of Transportation Terry Bellamy Resolution of 2011”

Friday June 24, 2011

My name is Veronica O. Davis. I’m the Street, Traffic & Transportation Chair for the Hillcrest Community Civic Association (HCCA) and proud resident of Fairfax Village in Ward 7. Today I will be submitting testimony on behalf of HCCA.

We would like to thank Councilmember Tommy Wells and the honorable members of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of PR19-0246, the “Director of the District Department of Transportation Terry Bellamy Resolution of 2011”.

The mission of (HCCA) is to work “to enhance the quality of life and prosperity of residents, families, community organizations and institutions located within the designated geographic boundaries.” We look forward to working with Mr. Bellamy to enhance transportation in our community.

Our testimony will focus on five key issues we would like to see Mr. Bellamy address during his tenure as Director:

1. Genuine Community Outreach: Between the Pennsylvania Ave Great Streets construction project, the 11th Street Bridge construction project, and the Far Southeast Livability Study, our community has had increased interactions with DDOT’s staff and consultants over the last year. The experience for each interaction has varied from collaborative to frustrating.

The 11th Street Bridge construction project has a citizen’s council comprised of community leaders from the affected communities that meets quarterly. This is a great model for receiving information about the project, asking questions, and tracking specific issues from the community with the respective response.

On other projects and studies, the communication between DDOT and the community has been less than ideal. Many of the frustrations come from lack of timely information, the inability of DDOT to effectively communicate technical terms to laypeople, and an overreliance on the Internet to advertise in a ward where lack of Internet access still exists.

Moving forward, we think DDOT should engage in genuine and proactive community outreach, which includes engaging in targeted outreach to affected areas and working more collaboratively with the ward planners from Office of Planning. We believe DDOT should spend more resources on messaging to help the community understand technical recommendations and transportation programs. In addition, DDOT should utilized community advocates and leaders to assist with engaging residents.

2. Implementation: We've had multiple transportation studies in the last decade. At this point, Branch Ave has to be the most studied corridor in the City. Some of the newer studies regurgitate information from previous studies. While we understand the importance of examining existing conditions, we are beginning to suffer from study fatigue. We want DDOT to move from studies to implementation of recommendations from those studies.

3. Pedestrian/Bicyclist Safety: In the last year we’ve had four pedestrians and one bicyclist hit by motorists in our community. All of these incidents occurred on Alabama Ave SE. We have a population of residents who are aging-in-place and a high percentage of young people. Our older population should be able to walk to the senior wellness center and children should be able to walk or bike to school safely. We would like to see DDOT place pedestrian and bicycle safety as a top priority.

4. Complete streets: There is an obvious link between pedestrian safety and sidewalks. Many streets in Hillcrest still lack a sidewalk on either side, so pedestrians are forced to walk in the middle the street such as Hillcrest Drive, Camden Street, Fort Baker Drive, while hoping to avoid speeding motorists. Bus riders traverse grass then stand in mud at bus stops along Branch Ave. This is an urban area and it should be treated as such. We would like DDOT to prioritize installation of sidewalks in areas where pedestrians need to access bus stops, along high volume corridors, and along routes to school and recreation.

5. Focus on public transportation planning: Since taking office, Mayor Gray has made the development of the Skyland Shopping Center a priority. A development of this magnitude in our community will become a transportation trip generator. Our road network cannot handle much more traffic without impacting our quality of life. While we wait for shovels to go in the ground, we believe DDOT and WMATA need to begin examining public transportation options to move people in and out of the shopping center.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. We support Mr. Bellamy’s confirmation and look forward to his leadership at DDOT.


Submitted by

Veronica O. Davis, PE
Street, Traffic and Transportation Committee Chair

Transportation Happenings - 32nd St SE & Alabama Ave SE (Update)

The Street, Traffic & Transportation Committee for Hillcrest, is committed to improving the safety of our streets for pedestrians, bicyclist and motorists. ANC Commissioners and residents have been trying to get a permanent solution to speeding along the stretch between 30th St SE and Alabama Ave SE for several years. One issue we've been working on since the beginning of 2011 is the intersection of 32nd St and Alabama Ave SE. An update was posted on the committee blog in March.

The committee has been working with DDOT staff since March 2011 to develop a permanent solution. To ensure this issue was on the radar of the interim (soon-to-be confirmed) director, the committee sent him an email outlining the issues.

DDOT's response: DC Department of Transportation as indicated in a earlier transmittal that we are working diligently to resolve this problem for the long term --- we cannot continue to put temporary solutions in place ---i.e. pedestrian placards in the middle of the road ---- Our solution will be long term implemented in the next 6 months and we are working with MPD to place a traffic camera mid – block --------- in this corridor ----------- we are also focused on the speeding that occurs from 30th street – on Alabama Ave to 36th Street SE on Alabama------- We are available to the public to discuss what is being looked at --- please encourage your constituents to call us at 202- 671-4667

In addition, Chairman Brown's Director of Constituent Services visited the intersection earlier this month. They concluded that a traffic signal was needed at that intersection.

(Photo courtesy of Chairman Brown's Office)

Pedestrian Struck: 3600 Block Alabama Ave SE

On Friday May 27, 2011 at approximately 3:27 pm a child was struck crossing Alabama Ave SE in the crosswalk in front of Anne Beers Elementary School. A vehicle traveling westbound on Alabama Ave SE struck the child and kept driving. The child was treated for a concussion, laceration to the forehead, and laceration to his arm.

The vehicle involved in the accident has been recovered. Upon further investigation, MPD learned the car had been stolen about 1.5 hours before the accident.

The Street, Traffic and Transportation Committee has been working with DDOT to develop a traffic calming solution for this intersection. We hope to hold a community meeting on solutions within the next few months.

Testimony - FY12 Budget DDOT

RE: Public Testimony for Fiscal Year 2012 Budget for the District Department of Transportation
Wednesday April 13, 2011

We would like to thank Councilmember Wells and the honorable members of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation for the opportunity to submit testimony on the Fiscal Year 2012 budget for the District Department of Transportation. We are submitting specific recommendations on general infrastructure improvements, Circulator, and the BikeShare Program.

Infrastructure Improvements
There are several streets in Hillcrest that have incomplete sidewalks or no sidewalk at all. For example Camden Street, Fort Baker Drive and Hillcrest Drive do not have sidewalks, so pedestrians walk in the street. The presence of a complete sidewalk network is important to improving safety, and encouraging walking. We understand that resources are limited. We request that DDOT prioritize installation of complete sidewalks on streets sides of the street that have a bus stop and streets that do not have a sidewalk on either side of the street.

As gas prices climb, residents are choosing alternative modes of transportation such as walking and biking. A vital link from our community to Capitol Hill is the Sousa Bridge (Pennsylvania Ave SE). The street geometry makes it difficult for motorists to see pedestrians and bicyclists. Couple this with motorists who disobey the law by turning right on red from the off-ramp of Southeast/Southwest Freeway creates unsafe conditions. The Hillcrest community would like to see DDOT implement safety solutions in the areas where motor vehicles conflict with pedestrians and bicyclists.


CIRCULATOR
The Hillcrest community has been very vocal in our desire to have a Circulator that serves our community. Two of the proposed Circulator routes would connect Wards 7 and 8 with Barracks Row/Eastern Market. DDOT has selected the Eastern Market – Giant Shopping Center Route as the first route East of the River. This route does not serve Ward 7 or our community. The proposed Eastern Market-Minnesota Avenue line would connect some of the commercial areas in Ward 7 to each other, Historic Anacostia in Ward 8, and destinations in West of the River.

DDOT proposes the Eastern Market-Minnesota Ave line would start at the Minnesota Avenue Metro station, and run south down Minnesota Ave to Naylor Road, where it would turn east. After a major stop at the soon-to-come Skyland project, the route turns west onto Good Hope Road to Historic Anacostia. The route would cross the 11th Street Bridge to connect through Barracks Row.

The Ad-Hoc Ward 7 Circulator Group, which was formed in January 2010, proposed a similar route with one major difference: Instead of connecting Minnesota Ave to Skyland via Naylor Road SE, the group proposed using Branch Ave SE and Alabama Ave SE to make that connection.

DDOT's justification for using Naylor Road is to build ridership for the proposed streetcar that will run almost the entire length of Minnesota Ave. However, the residents think the Branch Ave and Alabama Ave connection is extremely important. For one, it would bring Penn-Branch Shopping Center into the fold, which houses the only Department of Motor Vehicles East of the River.

Second, there are no bus lines that currently service the 0.7-mile stretch of Branch Ave between Pennsylvania and Minnesota Ave. On the other hand, there are currently three WMATA bus routes that service Minnesota Ave SE between Good Hope Road and the Minnesota Ave Metro Station. Third, the section of Naylor Road between Good Hope and Minnesota Ave is narrow.

The Hillcrest community is excited about the possibility of a connection to Barrack’s Row, Historic Anacostia and East River to eat at Ray’s the Steaks in a one-seat ride.


BIKESHARE
Bikeshare usage is low in Ward 7. In the low-income areas the annual membership is a barrier. However in middle-income areas such as Hillcrest usage is also low. One reason usage is low is location of bikestations. For example:

• Pennsylvania-Minnesota Ave SE: the bikestation located at Pennsylvania and Minnesota is located in front of a carry-out that usually has people loitering outside. Some residents do not feel comfortable wading through people in order to access a bike. DDOT should consider relocating this station across Minnesota Ave SE in the pocket park or across Pennsylvania Ave SE in Twining Park.
• Benning Library: The bikestation at the library is located in the rear tucked in the corner. DDOT should consider either relocate the station to the front of the library or provide wayfinding signs to the rear of the library.
• Fairfax Village/Ft Davis Shopping Centers: A missed opportunity for a station is either the Fort Davis or Fairfax Village shopping center located at the intersection of Alabama and Pennsylvania Ave SE. A station here would connect these shopping centers to Good Hope Shopping Center, Penn-Branch when reinstalled, East River (Benning-Minnesota Ave) and Historic Anacostia in Ward 8.
• Benning Metro Station: The Benning Metro Station is a missed opportunity to create a link between the Blue line (Benning) and Orange line (Minnesota).

Submitted by
Veronica O. Davis
Street, Traffic and Transportation Committee Chair

HCCA Testimony - Enforcement of Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety

WUSA9 Report on Enforcement of Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety

Testimony - Enforcement of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety

HILLCREST COMMUNITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION
BEFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE JUDICIATION

RE: ENFORCEMENT OF PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2010

We would like to thank Councilmember Mendelson and the honorable members of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary for the opportunity to speak this afternoon on the Enforcement of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety. Today’s testimony is a joint effort of the Hillcrest Community Civic Association (HCCA) Committee on Public Safety and Preparedness and the Committee on Street, Traffic and Transportation.

The mission of HCCA is to work “to enhance the quality of life and prosperity of residents, families, community organizations and institutions located within the designated geographic boundaries.” As described in “the DC Real Estate Guide,” the Hillcrest neighborhood has a population of about 7,000, and the average age of its residents is 40. Hillcrest is one of the most residential zip codes in DC and approximately one in every four households has children.
Hillcrest includes the Good Hope Market Place, Skyland Shopping Center, Naylor Gardens Coop and Fairfax Village and its shopping center along with single-family homes.

We are here today to highlight the importance of enforcing pedestrian and bicycle safety in our neighborhood. Since Hillcrest sits on the borderline with Maryland, where there are typically higher speeds, a constant challenge for us is motorist speeding through the neighborhood. As a community, we have been actively working with the DC Department of Transportation to install traffic calming solutions such as speed humps, “Stop for Pedestrian” signs, changing the timing of traffic lights, adding medians on Branch Ave and repainting crosswalks.

Despite our best efforts, in 2010, motorists hit three pedestrians and one bicyclist. Fortunately, none of the accidents were fatal. One pedestrian was a child who was hit in front of Anne Beers Elementary School. The other two pedestrians were struck at the intersection of 32nd St. SE and Alabama Ave. SE. The bicyclist, who was the victim of a hit-and-run at the intersection of 38th St. SE and Alabama Ave SE, was an on-duty police officer on bike patrol. Because of that accident, the police officer was on medical leave for three weeks.

A vital link from our community to Capitol Hill is the Sousa Bridge (Pennsylvania Ave., SE). The street geometry makes it difficult for motorists to see pedestrians and bicyclists. Couple this with motorists who disobey the law by turning right on red from the off-ramp of the Southeast/Southwest Freeway creates unsafe conditions.

Motorists who drive through our neighborhood have a total disregard for pedestrians and bicyclists in our community. We have witnessed children and seniors struggling to cross Alabama Ave. SE at 32nd St. SE, and Fort Davis at Pennsylvania Ave despite a "Stop for Pedestrians" sign in the middle of the street, and a painted crosswalk. We have witnessed motorists go as far as to run over the “Stop for Pedestrians” sign. We have witnessed motorists regularly use the bike lanes on Alabama Ave. SE, between Pennsylvania Ave. SE and Massachusetts Ave. SE as an additional travel lane.

There is an obvious link between pedestrian safety and sidewalks. Many streets in Hillcrest still lack a sidewalk on either side, so pedestrians are forced to walk in the street. Kids, parents with strollers, young professionals with dogs, and seniors are forced to walk down the middle of streets such as Hillcrest Dr, Camden St, Fort Baker Drive, while hoping to avoid speeding motorists.

Our community has been very vocal regarding the need for more enforcement of traffic laws. We want motorists to respect the people who walk and bike in our community.

We thank you for your time. We look forward to working with the Committee for Public Safety and the Judiciary to develop solutions.

Veronica O. Davis
Street, Traffic and Transportation Committee Chair

David Kirkpatrick
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair

On behalf of the HILLCREST COMMUNITY CIVIC ASSOCIATION