For more information about this project, please visit connave-multimodal.ddot.dc.gov.
Project Summary
The Connecticut Avenue Multimodal Safety Improvement Project (originally named Connecticut Avenue NW Reversible Lane Safety and Operations Study) was initiated in December 2019. Data analysis, concept development and evaluation, traffic forecasts, and operations analysis were conducted between Spring 2020 and Fall 2020. Between March 2020 and January 2023 approximately 70 stakeholder and agency presentations/events have taken place.
During 2021, four Advisory Neighborhood Commissions- ANC 3C, 3E, 3F and 3/4G -and numerous organizations provided resolutions to DDOT requesting that “Concept C” be advanced. On December 15, 2021, Mayor Bowser and DDOT requested the project staff to move forward with Concept C. Concept C includes the removal of the reversible lanes and the addition of one-way protected bicycle lanes on the east and west sides of Connecticut Avenue. The project also adds other safety improvements, including the addition of left and right turn lanes at intersections, pedestrian refuge islands and curb extensions, intersection realignments, prohibition of Right Turn on Reds, reducing the posted speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph, and other features.
On March 19, 2020, the official start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the District Department of Transportation deactivated the operation of the Connecticut Avenue NW peak hour reversible lanes. A decision was subsequently made to permanently remove the peak hour reversible lanes. Removal of the reversible lanes’ signs and markings were completed in the summer 2022. In addition, one of the Concept C recommendations was to reduce the Connecticut Avenue speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph. This action was also completed in summer 2022.
In early 2023, the DDOT leadership requested that project staff take a fresh look at concepts previously considered, including a reassessment of Concept C. DDOT has received a considerable number of comments during this past year related to the parking removals required to implement Concept C. This reassessment is currently occurring.
DDOT has recently reformulated our Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for the project. This reformulation of the CAC has occurred because the boundaries of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and Single-member Districts have changed based on redistricting and the results of the latest decennial census. We expect that the first meeting of this reformulated CAC should occur in fall 2023. Please see below for the initial and reformulated CAC membership.
Study Area
Primary and Secondary Study Areas
The Connecticut Ave study area corridor is located within Northwest Washington, DC, and is approximately 2.7 miles long. The corridor is a diverse mix of residential, commercial, and educational uses. The primary study area consists of Connecticut Avenue from Legation Street to Calvert Street, NW, and includes 24 signalized intersections. In addition, the secondary study area will consider operational impacts on Massachusetts Avenue to the west, Broad Brand Road to the east, Dupont Circle to the south, and Western Avenue to the north. 
Preferred Concept
Concept C
During 2021, four Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and numerous organizations supported and provided resolutions to DDOT requesting that Concept C be advanced. On December 15, 2021, Mayor Bowser selected Concept C for the Connecticut Avenue Multimodal Safety Improvement Study. The decision to proceed with Concept C allowed DDOT to continue Concept Planning on this project.
What is Concept C?
Concept C includes numerous safety improvements, such as:
- Installing protected bicycle lanes on each side of Connecticut Avenue,
- Incorporating left and right turn lanes at various intersections,
- Relocating some near-side bus tops to the far side of an intersection,
- Adding pedestrian refuge islands and curb extensions,
- Prohibiting no-turn on red,
- Removing parking at some intersections to increase visibility and reduce crashes),
- Removing the reversible lanes,
- Reducing the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph, and
- Including automated enforcement
- The design allows for 24/7 parking in commercial areas
Taken together, the improvements will slow traffic down and increase safety for all users, especially for vulnerable users (such as pedestrians, cyclists, scooters, seniors, and children). The speed limit reduction and the removal of the reversible lanes were implemented during the spring/ summer of 2022.
Draft Connecticut Avenue Concept Development Maps - 06-28-2022
*The Concept Maps, dated 06-28-2022, will continue to be refined based on comments received at and subsequent to Public Meeting No.2.
- Concept Map 1: Calvert Street to Woodley Road
- Concept Map 2: Woodley Road to Hawthorne Street
- Concept Map 3: Hawthorne Street to Macomb Street
- Concept Map 4: Macomb Street to Porter Street
- Concept Map 5: Porter Street to Tilden Street
- Concept Map 6: Tilden Street to Veazey Terrace
- Concept Map 7: Veazey Terrace to Albemarle Street
- Concept Map 8: Albemarle Street to Davenport Street
- Concept Map 9: Davenport Street to Nebraska Avenue
- Concept Map 10: Nebraska Avenue to Jocelyn Street
- Concept Map 11: Jocelyn Street to Legation Street
Project Goals and Benefits
The goals and benefits for the Connecticut Avenue NW Reversible Lane Safety and Operations Study project include the following:
- Reduce crashes and conflict points and enhance safety for all modes and roadway users
- Consider additional mobility options along the corridor, such as protected bicycle lanes
- Assess the feasibility of removing the Reversible Lane Operation
- Determine the feasibility of reducing capacity along Connecticut Avenue and that effect on adjacent roadways
Public Involvement
As of November 2022, DDOT has held over 50 opportunities for community and agency engagement. The full list of events will be provided on the project website.
Community Advisory Committee Meetings
DDOT has included a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Connecticut Avenue project. CAC members include Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, organizational representatives, and subject matter experts. CAC meetings are open to the public. If you would like to be notified when a CAC meeting will be held, please use the following email: [email protected]. Additionally, CAC meeting notifications are sent to the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions for posting on their websites.
CAC Meeting Materials
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #1 Agenda (04/2020)
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #1 Minutes (04/2020)
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #1 Presentation (04/2020)
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #2 Agenda (06/2020)
- Community Advisory Committee #2 Minutes (06/2020)
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #3 Agenda (10/2020)
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #3 Presentation (10/2020)
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #3 Minutes (10/2020)
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #5 Minutes
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #6 Agenda
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #6 Minutes
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #6 Presentation
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #7 Presentation
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #7 Minutes
- Community Advisory Committee Meeting #7 Agenda
Public Meetings
Public Meeting No. 1.
Two Public Meeting No. 1 events were held. One Virtual Public Meeting event was held on March 30, 2021, and a second Virtual Public Meeting was held on April 1, 2021.
- Concept Development and Evaluation Learning Room (March/April 2021)
- Traffic and Parking Learning Rooms (March/April 2021)
- General Meeting Presentation (March/April 2021)
- Questions and Answers from Public Meeting
Public Meeting No. 2.
Two Public Meeting No. 2 events were held. One event was a Virtual Public Meeting on June 28, 2022, and a second in-person Public Meeting No. 2 was held on June 29, 2022, at the University of the District of Columbia.
June 29th, 2022, Connecticut Avenue NW Reversible Lanes and Multi-Modal Safety Improvement Project Public Meeting
Current Project Timeline
The Connecticut Avenue Multimodal Improvement Project is currently in a reevaluation phase. CAC meetings are likely to resume in fall 2023. There is no timeline for design or construction.
Historical Project Timeline
Concept Development/Design Refinements
As of April 1, 2023, DDOT continues to refine the Concept Design plans. The goal is to have the concept designs finalized by fall 2023.
Current Traffic Studies
Spring 2023-Fall 2023. DDOT continues to collect and analyze data for approximately 20 locations within the project study area for potential traffic calming improvements.
Protected Bicycle Lanes Extension from Legation Street NW to South of Chevy Chase Circle
DDOT has begun collecting and analyzing traffic volumes and parking availability at key locations. The next step will be to develop the protected bicycle concept design for this extended area. Our goal is to have this task completed in the summer of 2023.
Continued Community Engagement
DDOT will start a final round of community engagement for the Concept Design phase once the design refinements are complete. This round of community engagement will be initiated in the summer of 2023 and will conclude with a public meeting in the fall of 2023. Input received from the public during this time period will be considered and carried forward in the Design phase.
Next Steps
The following activities will take place between fall 2022 and spring 2023.
-
Traffic. Review and identify current traffic issues that may lend themselves to traffic-calming solutions. Traffic counts at various locations will be undertaken. That will allow DDOT to compare traffic volumes during the before and after conditions.
- Design Refinements (as noted above)
- Stakeholder meetings after the next iteration of design refinements are complete
- Assessment of the feasibility of extending protected bicycle lanes from Legation Street NW to the south of Chevy Chase Circle
- Design Procurement
2023 Updates
- Design Refinements to Concept C. Based on comments received from the June 2022 Connecticut Avenue Public Meeting No. 2, DDOT is preparing a set of concept design refinements for agency and public review. The Concept C design includes one-way protected bicycle lanes on both the east and west sides of Connecticut Avenue. In addition to the protected bicycle lanes, there are additional safety improvements within the Concept C design.
- DDOT is also reevaluating Concept D1 and Other Options. Concept D1 includes a two-way protected bicycle lane on the west side of Connecticut Avenue. DDOT is also considering other potential ideas for a protected bicycle facility along the Connecticut Avenue NW corridor.
- Protected Bicycle Lane Extension from Legation Street NW to south of Chevy Chase Circle. DDOT is in the process of developing a concept design for this extended area. Input from our Citizens Advisory Committee and the public is estimated to occur during
Past Udates
Connecticut Avenue Peak Hour Reversible Lanes No longer in Operation
On March 19, 2020, the official start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the District Department of Transportation deactivated the operation of the Connecticut Avenue peak hour reversible lanes. The reversible lanes will not be reactivated. The recommendation to permanently remove the reversible lanes is included in the preferred alternative, and Concept C was officially approved by the Mayor and DDOT on December 15, 2021.
Project Resources
Citizens Advisory Committee
DDOT has recently reformulated our Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for the project. This reformulation of the CAC has occurred because the boundaries of the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and Single-member Districts have changed based on redistricting and the results of the latest decennial census. New CAC members were selected based on requests from ANC Chairpersons, chairs from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Councils,
- Hans Miller, ANC 3A
- Issac Bowers, ANC 3A
- Sauleh Siddiqui, ANC 3C05
- Gawain Kripke, ANC 3C07
- Tom Quinn, ANC 3E04
- Pat Jakopchek, Constituent, ANC 3E
- Robert Deyling, Chair, ANC 3F, Streets and Sidewalks Committee
- Courtney Carlson, ANC 3F06
- Zachary Ferguson, ANC 3GF07
- James Nash, ANC 3G03
- Matthew Barclay, Mayors Office of Community Relations and Services (MOCRS)
- Josh Rising, Bicycle Advisory Council (W3BA)
- Eileen McCarthy, Pedestrian Advisory Council
- Karthik Balasubramanian, Multimodal Accessibility Advisory Council
- Stephen Schwartz (selection from Council Member Matthew Frumin)