RSS FeedG Street Bike Lanes In PQ’s [Near] Future!
Thanks to the DC-DNA for forwarding us info on DDOT’s near-future plans on installing bicycle lanes on G Street, NW from 3rd Street to 15th Street!
The info is concise: The bicycle lanes will mean an additional white stripe between the parking stripes and the yellow center line. The five-foot wide lanes will include a symbol of a bicycle and an arrow pointing in the direction of travel.
According to the DDOT statement, the bike lanes will be installed in the next few weeks. Maybe it’s finally time to sign up for a SmartBike membership?
Frozen In My Steps
Gazing to my left during an afternoon walk around the PQ, I froze. An image seared by countless impressions acquired growing up in Mexico City’s then 14 million inhabitant metro urban madness snapped into focus. I paused and thought for a second. Then it hit me. The visual testimony was startling because it didn’t show up in a travel magazine or a National Geographic lecture. It materialized in my field of view in downtown DC on the steps of 10th Street’s St. Patrick’s Church. I found Ms. Silent Prayer (right) sitting in a bowed figure on the steps of St. Patrick’s with bags by her side much like I used to see in a city’s zocalo (town plaza). Is she praying? Is she sleeping? Is she in despair? I don’t know. I didn’t stop to ask her. Disturbing one’s quiet time and holy space is rude. No one truly knows the plight of another by witnessing the exterior rendering anyway. Despair drapes itself midday in Zegna suits and BCBG dresses too. My hope? This image is a seduction strafing my thoughts with third world notions and the reality is that this woman has a safe, comfortable place she’ll return to at night called home.
Historical note: The parish was established in 1794 but St. Patrick’s Catholic church building at 619 10th Street, NW, was dedicated in 1884.
Penn Ave Resurfacing Through Oct 30
This blogger was taken by surprise last night by several Road Closed signs blocking north-south passages through Pennsylvania Avenue. According to the WaPo, DDOT will be resurfacing Penn Ave from 3rd St to 15th St until Oct 30. Crews will be working during the hours of: 9:30am to 3:30pm and 8pm to 3am, Mon-Fri. We should expect rolling road closures during this time.
The main motivation for undertaking the $2 million project, is to make Penn Ave beautiful for the upcoming Inauguration Day (Jan 20, 2009). The project is partially funded by the Federal government, but DDOT refuses to state exactly how much DC tax payers are spending on the project.
In addition to road resurfacing, sidewalks, streetlight poles, and traffic light poles are being touched up.
Own A Piece Of Ford’s Theatre!
NBC4 is reporting that the infamous and uncomfortable wooden chairs that have lined the hall since 1986 are being replaced with plush new chairs. So the theater is offering up the old ones for donations to raise money for the $50 million renovation. The wooden chairs will be sold for tax-deductible donations of $150 each or $500 for a set of four.
We don’t see any mention of this on the Ford’s Theatre website, however.