Frequently Asked Questions

Any project proposal of this scale will rightfully raise many questions, and answering them is an important part of any transparent and productive planning process. This section provides answers on some of the most likely questions surrounding a highway-to-boulevard project.

1: Won’t removing the highway make traffic in neighborhoods worse?

2: What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?

3: How will this plan be inclusive of existing community members?

4: Won’t the demolition and construction process be disruptive?

Frequently Asked Questions

worried about my commute. Won’t removing the highway make traffic in neighborhoods worse?

The first question on everyone’s mind with a project like this is “what about traffic?” It’s important to understand how the removal of 295 will impact congestion and traffic distribution, especially in neighborhoods east of the river.

Frequently Asked Questions

Traffic volume

It is true that this project will substantially alter the flow of transportation generally in this area. The graph below shows that the replacement boulevard will be able to accommodate approximately 40% of the traffic volume seen on 295 today, once transit ridership has been accounted for. This is still much higher capacity than other local arterials like Minnesota Ave, which sees a daily usage of 10,000 cars, or about a quarter of the proposed boulevard’s capacity.[41] Roads like Minnesota may see an uptick in usage when the highway is gone.

2020 Traffic Volume of ARC Arterial Roads

NewBoulevard(proj.)

Congestion

However, congestion is by no means inevitable. Traffic is ultimately a question not only of road capacity, but the decision-making of travelers and the alternatives available to them. In Providence, Rhode Island, the relocation of I-195 out of the city center actually improved travel times in the region by 20%.[42] Although this project differs from the conversion of DC-295 into a boulevard in that it retained the presence of a high-capacity road, this dramatic reduction shows how much the right design choices can impact outcomes positively. In Seoul, the Cheonggyecheon project replaced 6.8 miles of highway that cut through the heart of the city with a boulevard and urban park, very similar to the Anacostia River Corridor. An academic study found that after an initial period of congestion, car trips on local roads decreased and subway trips increased.[43] These findings suggest that travelers are able to adjust their behavior even when the changes to the system are dramatic. The findings from Seoul emphasize the importance of transit alternatives. The conversion of DC-295 into a boulevard is a great opportunity to advocate for city-wide policies and transit improvements to encourage a mode shift away from cars over the lifespan of this project. D.C. is already making steps in the right direction; just this past month, D.C. City Council discussed the possibility of making the entire Metrobus system free for all residents.[44]

MinnesotaAve. BenningRoad E.CapitolSt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Travel times

In addition, it is important to point out that the highway was never meant to serve the residents whose homes it passes by in the first place, so removing it will not significantly impact residents’ commute times. In the example trip shown here from Fairlawn to Union station, the travel times differ by only a few minutes. An analysis of several other travel scenarios for local area residents found that using the highway rarely provides a travel time advantage over local roads, particularly for trips across the river.

The removal of the highway will, if anything, improve the commuting options for local residents by creating a much more robust transit network and increasing the number of connections across the river. Those most affected by the removal will be out-of-district commuters, who have a myriad of other options for getting into the city. Their behavior is flexible; the health and welfare of Ward 7 & 8 residents is not. To learn more about how the removal of DC-295 would impact traffic in the region, check out the “Traffic Analysis” deep dive.

Using highways: 12-24 minutes rush hour:

Using local roads: 12-30 minutes