Section 10-A1716. FNS-2.6 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE SOUTHEAST CORRIDOR

 

1716.1Pennsylvania Avenue SE is one of the busiest arterials in the District of Columbia, carrying 96,000 vehicles a day across the Sousa Bridge and 53,000 vehicles per day between Minnesota and Branch Avenues. For several years, a Citizens Task Force has been exploring strategies for addressing traffic congestion on the avenue while mitigating related problems such as noise, pedestrian safety, and cut-through traffic on local streets. Parallel efforts by the District have looked at land use and design issues, including the character of the street environment and the quality of the business districts in Fairlawn, Penn Branch, and Fort Davis. In 2005, plans to redesign the Sousa Bridge/ I-295 on and off-ramps were announced as part of a broader strategy to improve the corridor and invest in new sidewalks, lighting, and trees. 1716.1

 

1716.2The future of Pennsylvania Avenue has profound impacts on the adjacent neighborhoods of Fairlawn, Twining, Dupont Park, Penn Branch, Hillcrest, Fort Davis, and Fairfax Village. Its designation by the city as an official “Great Street” speaks both to its historic reputation as “America’s Main Street” but also its capacity to shape the appearance and impression of the surrounding community. Particular emphasis should be placed on upgrading the shopping area between Fairlawn Avenue and 28th Street SE. This corridor, initially developed as a walkable shopping street, suffers from a lack of continuity, poor retail choices, many vacant storefronts, parking management issues, and traffic patterns that are dangerous for pedestrians. 1716.2

 

Residential uses near the Pennsylvania Avenue SE corridor

 

1716.3Policy FNS-2.6.1: Pennsylvania Avenue “Great Street”

 

Plan the Pennsylvania Avenue SE corridor in a manner that reduces traffic impacts on adjacent neighborhoods, improves its role as an Far Northeast and Southeast commercial center, and restores its ceremonial importance as a principal gateway to the nation’s capital. 1716.3

 

1716.4Policy FNS-2.6.2: Neighborhood Shopping Improvements

 

Promote a wider variety and better mix of neighborhood-serving retail shops at the shopping centers at Pennsylvania and Alabama Avenues, and Pennsylvania and Branch Avenues. 1716.4

 

1716.5Action FNS-2.6.A: Pennsylvania Avenue SE Transportation Study

 

Implement the recommendations of the Pennsylvania Avenue SE Transportation Study to improve community access and circulation. These recommendations include streetscape, signage, and parking improvements, speed controls, signal timing changes, pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements, travel lane and pavement marking adjustments, traffic calming measures to avoid cut-through traffic on local side streets, and changes to the I-295/Pennsylvania Avenue interchange. 1716.5

 

1716.6Action FNS-2.6.B: Great Street Improvements

 

Implement the “Great Street” Plan to beautify Pennsylvania Avenue, maintaining the width of the street, landscaping the avenue from the Sousa Bridge to the Maryland border, and taking other steps to manage traffic flow and avoid negative effects and cut-through traffic on adjacent neighborhoods. 1716.6

 

notation

The provisions of Title 10, Part A of the DCMR accessible through this web interface are codification of the District Elements of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital. As such, they do not represent the organic provisions adopted by the Council of the District of Columbia. The official version of the District Elements only appears as a hard copy volume of Title 10, Part A published pursuant to section 9a of the District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1994, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; D.C. Official Code § 1 -301.66)) . In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions accessible through this site and the provisions contained in the published version of Title 10, Part A, the provisions contained in the published version govern. A copy of the published District Elements is available www.planning.dc.gov.