WHEREAS: Broad Branch Road, with its rural/wooded ambiance, is a unique asset of the District of Columbia, and

WHEREAS: Department of Public Works (DPW) has 90 percent completed plans for the complete reconstruction of the street which includes adding two feet to the width, changes in elevation and alignment that would destroy the present ambiance, and

WHEREAS: the reconstruction of the street will have serious environmental impacts on residential areas and Rock Creek Park, and

WHEREAS: the reconstruction provides for closing the street to through traffic for at least one year, and

WHEREAS: the DPW plans provide for removing approximately 120 large, mature trees with diameters of more than12 inches and numerous smaller trees in the street's right-of-way, and

WHEREAS: the DPW plans provide for the construction of approximately twenty retaining walls, and additional guiderails along the street, and

WHEREAS: the reconstructed street will be an attractor, increasing commuter traffic not only on Broad Branch Road but also local residential streets such as Brandywine and Davenport Streets in the ANC3F area and the area north of ANC3F, and

WHEREAS: the DPW plans provide for increasing the posted speed limit from 25 MPH to 30 MPH the reconstructed street will encourage even higher traffic speeds, and

WHEREAS: the reconstructed street will be more dangerous for cyclists due to cars moving at higher speeds and in an emergency cyclists will not be able to get to the shoulder of the street because of new curbs, retaining walls and guiderails, and

WHEREAS: the priority for the reconstruction of Broad Branch Road was set in 1992 and apparently has not been reviewed in terms of conditions today, and

WHEREAS: there is strong opposition to the reconstruction of the street by the residents of ANC3F, and

WHEREAS: the estimated cost of the reconstruction is $5.6 million which could be better used for other streets.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that ANC3F advise the Department of Public Works that it opposes the proposed plans for reconstructing Broad Branch Road between Linnean Avenue and Beach Drive, and recommends and urges that all design work be stopped so that the present characteristics of the street not be changed, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if there is substantiation, from records of street closing and other means, that flooding is a problem at the eastern end of the street, that DPW develop a plan for ameliorating the flooding and present the plan to ANC3F for review and comment.

__________________________________________________________________________ ____
 

Approved by vote of 7-0-0 at a duly noticed meeting on July 17, 2000 with a quorum present
 

/s/ David J. Bardin                                                      /s/ Robert V. Maudlin
Chair                                                                          Secretary