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It's not that DC doesn't do complete streets planning (as some people aver in the thread), but it, like in most jurisdictions, can be incomplete. I think this is an example of bus transit not being considered very sexy, while bicycling is particularly hot these days.

It does also illustrate an internal organizational flaw within DDOT. See, the transportation planning division is not responsible for transit planning. Transit planning falls under the mass transit administration division of DDOT.

SO you can see that since TP has a more robust planning capacity and leadership, that they are focusing on bicycle planning, while MTA is not pushing bus priority. Yes, I recognize that the TP division still pushes bus priority, but you see how the bike and ped unit at TPPA can be prioritized at the expense of bus.

I happen to believe that transit planning should be merged into the Transportation Planning and Policy Adminstration unit of DDOT.

Anyway...

The priority bus lanes on 7th and 9th don't work very well, but that is because there are hardly any buses (70s, Circulator) using the lanes.

K Street and I Street bus priority lanes make a lot of sense. Especially because so many different bus lines would be using the lanes, demonstrating the need and demand, and increasing significantly the likelihood of success.

Obviously the K Street lanes have been planned, but the plans were crippled because they intend to prioritize some transit over others (e.g., the commuter buses weren't supposed to be allowed to use them, etc.).

by Richard Layman on Mar 24, 2010 6:02 am • link • report