RSS FeedPedestrian Safety in Penn Quarter: Part 2 of 2
On Friday, we discussed some of the unsafe habits that pedestrians in Penn Quarter have fallen into. However, pedestrians looking out for their own safety is only part of the equation. Drivers have to be equally courteous and vigilant when traversing these urban streets. And the District government needs to do more to alleviate traffic congestion and improve infrastructure in order to keep pedestrians safe.
After the jump, a list of some Penn Quarter intersections that deserve more attention from pedestrians, drivers and the City alike.
Pennsylvania Ave @ 7th Street–I have yet to meet a PQ resident who hasn’t had a close call at this intersection. But even after a fatal crash earlier this year, the powers that be have done little to make the intersection safer. Can’t we do something about the hundreds of drivers who run that light? Or the lines of cars who make speedy left hand turns never checking the crosswalk?
Drivers need to be a lot more cautious when traversing Pennsylvania. Many times, it seems that the drivers are so busy waiting for their turn that they forget to look to make sure the intersection is clear of traffic and pedestrians. So, heads up when you’re crossing Pennsylvania in a car or on foot.
3rd Street @ H Street–Frankly, the entire area surrounding this entrance to the Beltway is a nightmare. And again, the problem is hurried drivers who get tired of waiting in long lines and decide to gun it through the yellow light or run the red thinking that the foot traffic will just get out of the way.
Increased development in the Mount Vernon Triangle (Sonata, Madrigal) and the growing number of residents who must cross this street to get to the Georgetown Law School is increasing the number of pedestrians in an area that is ill equipped to handle them. The District needs to take steps to alleviate congestion in that area and make the neighborhood friendly to the many pedestrians who call it home.
F Street @ the National Portrait Gallery (what would be 8th Street if there wasn’t a building in the way)–Two words: Death Trap. That is how I would describe the poorly marked crosswalk that asks pedestrians to step into traffic and pray that drivers (particular cabbies) will stop for the tiny, street level signs that mark the path.
Is the Transportation Dept. nuts? In a city where people don’t stop for red lights and emergency vehicles, they think drivers will stop for a two-foot high yellow sign? Most drivers don’t even see the sign until they have already cleared the crosswalk.
6th Street @ Eye–A poorly lit four-way stop with packed parking lanes giving zero visibility that just happens to be a popular connection between H Street and Massachusetts, sound like fun? It’s not, particularly at night when the lack of visibility makes crossing the street extra dangerous.
Similarly problematic is 8th Street @ D Street where delivery vans and full parking lanes make visibility at the stop signs a challenge. And drivers making left turns from 9th often don’t see the stop sign or decide only to pause as they are speeding down the street, making the crosswalks even more unsafe.
Massachusetts Ave, anywhere between 3rd and 10th–Whether it is the mad cabbies near trying to navigate Mount Vernon Square toward Thomas Circle and the Convention Center or lost tourists trying to find their way to the Beltway, Mass Ave is a nightmare for pedestrians. Short lights and frustrated drivers make the lives of residents at 555 Mass, The Sonata and other complexes on that side of the line just a little more hellish. Unless of course you like your luxury condo with a built in exercise plan (dodging traffic is great cardio).
I was glad to read in the comments on Part 1 that the Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association is doing it’s part to make sure that the District knows what a problem crossing this street is for area residents. Hopefully, something will be done about it.
7th Street @ F (Fun) Street NW–This intersection has a unique problem. When F Street crosses 7th, the street angles just slightly making it a challenge for drivers turning left to get a clear view of all of the obstacles in their path. More than once I have been headed toward the Metro and suddenly come face to face with the bumper of a driver who didn’t see me until he had almost run me down.
Increased foot traffic around the Verizon Center and a dearth vehicles make this intersection hazardous for pedestrians. And the crazed drivers who like to run the yellow light at speed while heading East on F Street are a jaywalker’s worst nightmare.
So, what is to be done to make these intersections safer for pedestrians? In many cases, increased visibility and improved infrastructure could do a lot. But in other cases, we need drivers to step up and realize that they are not the only traffic on the roads. We all know that Metro area traffic is a nightmare, but who wants to be the hurried driver who decides to make a left hand turn against the light and ends up killing a pedestrian?
We’re all in a hurry. But turn off the cell phone, slow down and keep your eyes open for pedestrians. And we will try to keep an eye out for you too.
*While this is by no means a comprehensive list, it encompasses several of the intersections listed on the District of Columbia’s Pedestrian Master Plan comprising crash data from every pedestrian related accident in the area between 2000 and 2006. It also includes several suggestions made by readers. Feel free to add your own suggestions for intersections that need improving and how they can be improved in the comments below.
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Comments
I agree with most of your post, except the part about 7th & Penn — “even after a fatal crash earlier this year, the powers that be have done little to make the intersection safer.”
Shortly after the crash they posted a no left turn sign southbound on 7th and left turn light northbound on 7th (the spot/direction of the fatalities), and put a “crossing guard” there during the morning rush. In that spot, at least, there’s not much more that DDOT can be do to protect pedestrians that choose to cross against the light or to protect them from drivers that choose to run a red light.
Not to split hairs here, but the beltway definitely does not go by 3rd and H…thats 395. The beltway is 495.
Chris-Thanks for the lesson. I don’t drive so these are the little things I don’t know about the area.
What about the sidewalk in front of Meridian at Gallery place (450 Mass Ave)? As a driver who lives there I have to say it is the most horribly thought out driveway I have ever seen.
Making a left into there off of Mass during rush hour is a gamble every time. I often have cabbies trying to get around me onto I street when traffic finally breaks. You usually end up flooring it to get through the traffic then slamming on your brakes before you run someone over.
You can view the Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association’s efforts to improve pedestrian safety in our area of the neighborhood (some of which impact PQ residents) at http://www.mvsna.org/roadsafety/ . We are conducting a walk through with DDOT officials on the 10 identified areas on Friday, October 27. You may also find this article of interest: http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071020/METRO/110200069/1004
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Great post. Great service to all in Penn Quarter and Mount Vernon. DDoT — are you out there??????