Vision Zero: Improving Safety and Making Places

VISION ZERO IMPROVING SAFETY AND MAKING PLACES

Prepared by The DC Office of Planning Design Team

Leif Dormsjo

Mayor Muriel Bowser

“Vision Zero gives us an opportunity to make sure everyone, regardless of age and ability, is safe on the streets of the District. Together, we will make the District a safer place to live and travel to.”

“The goal of Vision Zero is simple: reduce serious injuries and fatalities on our streets to zero by 2024. By adopting a comprehensive approach to transportation safety – from behavior to road design – we will make our city a safer place to live and visit.”

Director, District Department of Transportation

Eric Shaw

Director, Office of Planning “We also see an opportunity to redesign some of our most dangerous intersections into more lively, pedestrian friendly environments and neighborhood spaces. This initiative can achieve our collective goal of building a more walkable city.”

Photo courtesy of DC Mayor’s Office. 9 March 2015, Vision Zero Press Conference, Intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and Malcolm X Avenue SE.

COMBINING OUR STRENGTHS

Pedestrian Safety

Placemaking

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INTERSECTION DESIGN SYNTHESIZING SAFETY AND PLACEMAKING

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NACTO DESIGN PRINCIPLES The National Association of City Transportation Officials offers these principles for designing intersections as meeting points that function well for everyone using them.

Make them Compact

Acknowledge the Network

Integrate Time & Space

Share the Space

Recapture Public Spaces

Design for the Future

Source: National Association of Ci ty Tra nsportation Officials (NACTO). Urban Street Design Guide. Sept. 2013. http://nacto.org/usdg/intersections/intersection-design-principles/ 6

PLACEMAKING DESIGN PRINCIPLES At intersections, Placemaking Best Practices can add value to the design by reinforcing and celebrating important places throughout the city.

Creating Neighborhood Places

Marking Gateways & Transitions

Celebrating Neighborhood Character

Providing Community Amenities

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Placemaking Principle:

CREATING NEIGHBORHOOD PLACES Monroe Street Market

Michigan Ave & Monroe St, NE

NACTO

Principles

Design for the Future

Recapture Public Space

Make them Compact

Brookland is a growing neighborhood in need of new retail, restaurant, and housing options.

The public plaza at the corner of Michigan and Monroe provides space for the community to gather.

By making space more compact, the intersection is safer and more space could be used for public gathering.

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Placemaking Principle:

MARKING GATEWAYS & TRANSITIONS Chinatown

7th & H Streets, NW

NACTO

Principles

Integrate Time & Space

Acknowledge the Network

Share the Space

The Barnes Dance at the crosswalks gives priority to pedestrians at critical times of day.

With traffic levels varying through this intersection at different times of day, it is important to look at Chinatown from the network scale.

This Chinatown intersection provides spaces for pedestrians, bicyclists, buses, and cars.

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Placemaking Principle:

DEFINING NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY Columbia Heights 14th St & Park Rd, NW

NACTO

Principles

Recapture Public Space

Share the Space

Make them Compact

The Columbia Heights plaza is a true community space where many people gather throughout the year.

As a major east-west and northsouth crossroads in the city, this intersection must accommodate many types of travelers.

Increasing curbs within the intersection provides safety for pedestrians and slows vehicular traffic.

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Placemaking Principle:

PROVIDING COMMUNITY AMENITIES Mount Vernon Triangle 5th & K Streets, NW

NACTO

Principles

Design for the Future

Recapture Public Space

Acknowledge the Network

As a growing retail and residential neighborhood, the design of this area includes future expansion needs.

A new neighborhood center was created with special paving and building setbacks at corners.

Both 5th and K Streets are essential travel corridors for thru-traffic to Downtown and Chinatown.

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INTERVENTIONS MAXIMIZING THE POTENTIAL OF THE INTERSECTION

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THREE LEVELS OF INTERVENTION Temporary Measures Add movable planters, low-cost paving, and other temporary items to test out new solutions

Moderate Actions Perform moderate interventions such as curb extensions, tree planting, and special paving

Reconstruction Completely rebuild the intersection to create a space for people, landscaping, and public artwork

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LEVEL 1: TEMPORARY MEASURES Temporary Traffic Controls Removable bollards, traffic posts, and signs improve safety

Striping & Painting

Low-cost and effective ways to provide direction and caution

Moveable Planters & Benches Create places and improve the aesthetics of the environment

Programming Provide space for unique, community-centered art & cultural programs

Source: National Association of Ci ty Tra nsportation Officials (NACTO). Urban Street Design Guide. Sept. 2013. http://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/streets/street-design-principles/phases-of-transformation/ 14

LEVEL 2: MODERATE ACTIONS Special Paving At the curb edge or throughout the intersection for safety and visibility

Seating & In-ground Plantings Increase comfort and sustainability, enhance the environment and reinforce the curb edge

Curb Extensions

Make the intersection more compact and increase pedestrian visibility

Temporary Installations

Allow for temporary art installations and expressions of neighborhood identity

Source: National Association of Ci ty Tra nsportation Officials (NACTO). Urban Street Design Guide. Sept. 2013. http://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/street-design-elements/curb-extensions/ 15

LEVEL 3: RECONSTRUCTION Medians & Safety Islands

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Provide respite and accessibility, increase pedestrian safety, reduce vehicular speed

Creating Public Spaces Space reclaimed from the right-of-way can create public plazas and parks

Creative Solutions Thinking creatively can resolve challenging traffic intersections

Commemorative Works Create new spaces for public art and celebrations of local history and culture

After Source: National Association of Ci ty Tra nsportation Officials (NACTO). Urban Street Design Guide. Sept. 2013. http://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-design-guide/intersections/complex-intersections/complex-intersection-analysis/ 16

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OPPORTUNITIES IDENTIFYING THE POTENTIAL IN ALL 8 WARDS

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EXISTING INTERSECTION CONDITIONS Congress Heights

Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. & Malcolm X Ave., SE

Safety Opportunities  Wide travel lanes  Skewed intersection  Poorly marked crosswalks

Placemaking Opportunities  Lack of trees and presence of overhead utilities  Poorly defined pedestrian space with insufficient amenities  NPS land not adequately designed or maintained for use as social space  No commemoration of civil rights leaders for whom the intersection is named

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OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT D.C. DDOT Top 20 Hazardous Intersections (2010-1012) based on Traffic Safety Statistics Report, 2014 A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q.

New York Ave & Bladensburg Rd, NE Fairlawn Ave & Pennsylvania Ave, SE Florida Ave & New York Ave, NE H St & North Capitol St, NE/NW 14th St & U St, NW Minnesota Ave & Pennsylvania Ave, SE Firth Sterling Ave & Suitland Pkwy, SE Stanton Rd & Suitland Pkwy, SE 1st St & Union Station Plaza, NE North Capitol St & Riggs Rd, NE/NW 7th St & Florida Ave, NW 14th St & K St, NW 1st St & New York Ave, NE Montana Ave & New York Ave, NE 13th St & U St, NW 9th St & U St, NW 14th St & Pennsylvania Ave, NW

OP Identified Placemaking Opportunity Intersections

Priority Opportunity Intersections 3.

M St & Wisconsin Ave, NW 10. North Capitol St & New York Ave 14. Minnesota Ave & Benning Rd, NE

based on Small Area Plan Recommendations 1. 18th St & Columbia Rd, NW 2. Mount Pleasant St & Kenyon St, NW 4. Connecticut Ave & Dupont Circle, NW 5. Connecticut Ave & Windom Pl, NW 6. Connecticut Ave & Albemarle St, NW 7. Missouri Ave & Kansas Ave, NW 8. Piney Branch Ave & Missouri Ave, NW 9. North Capitol Ave & Florida Ave, NE/NW 11. 4th St & I (Eye) St, SW 12. Maine Ave & 7th St, SW 13. Benning Rd & East Capitol St, SE 15. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave & Malcolm X Ave, SE 16. South Capitol St & Southern Ave, SE

Source: Arhin, Dr. Stephen, P.E., PTOE, Dr. Errol C. Noel, P.E., a nd Mr. Ja mes Cheeks. Traffic Safety Statistics Report for the District of Columbia (2010-2012): Final Report. Tech. no. DDOT-PPSA-PM-003. Comp. Howard University Tra ns portation Safety Data Center. Washington, DC: District Department of Transportation, 2014.

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P EO K L Q

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Safety Hazard Intersections

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Placemaking Intersections Priority Opportunity Intersections ```

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M St & Wisconsin Ave, NW

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North Capitol Ave & New York Ave

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Minnesota Ave & Benning Rd, SE

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N A

9 10 C M I D

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B 15

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G H

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PRIORITY OPPORTUNITY INTERSECTIONS M St & Wisconsin Ave, NW Ward: 2 Crash Frequency 2012: 68 (Rank 2) Placemaking Objective: Modify intersection and improve pedestrian safety Related Planning Document: Georgetown 2028 Action Plan

North Capitol St & New York Ave, NE/NW Ward: 5 Crash Frequency 2012: 62 (Rank 3) Placemaking Objective: Emphasize gateway and transition, Reclaim public spaces at intersection Related Planning Document: Mid-City East Small Area Plan

Minnesota Ave & Benning Rd, NE Ward: 7 Crash Frequency 2012: 55 (Rank 6) Placemaking Objective: Modify intersection and improve pedestrian safety Related Planning Document: Benning Road Corridor Redevelopment Framework Plan 2008

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BETTER PLACES FOR ALL

Safety & Placemaking By combining the best in safety practices with creative placemaking solutions, we can make the District safer and more enjoyable for everyone!

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Prepared by: Emily Pierson Office of Planning Washington, D.C. July 2015