Res 06-06
 

ANC 3F RESOLUTION CONCERNING TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES
ON THE 3600-3800 BLOCKS OF UPTON STREET, N.W.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3F
Forest Hills, North Cleveland Park, & Tenleytown
4401-A Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Box 244
Washington, D.C. 20008-2322


WHEREAS, the 3600, 3700, and 3800 blocks of Upton Street, are within the boundaries of ANC 3F; and

WHEREAS, on July 21, 2003, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) recommended traffic calming measures for these blocks in a report entitled Upton Street, N.W., Traffic Calming Study, which DDOT revised in part through a memorandum dated October 14, 2003; and


WHEREAS, in Resolutions 04-05 and 04-24, ANC 3F responded by not objecting to some of the recommendations, opposing others, and asking that the proposed island at Wisconsin Avenue and Upton Street be deferred until after the effects of the traffic calming measures on surrounding streets could be studied; and


WHEREAS, at the request of ANC 3F, in the spring of 2004 DDOT collected speed and traffic counts on 37th Street between Upton Street and Van Ness Street; 38th Street between Veazey Street and Van Ness Street; Van Ness Street between Reno Road and 37th Street; and Veazey Street between 37th Street and 38th Street in preparation for understanding the effects of the traffic calming measures on surrounding streets; and


WHEREAS, at a Single Member District 3F06 meeting on February 23, 2006, DDOT recommended the following traffic calming measures for Upton Street, some of which were recommended in the original study and some of which are new:


·   A raised island and pavement markings at Wisconsin Avenue and Upton Street to ensure compliance with the “right turn only” restriction for this intersection

·   A raised crosswalk across Upton Street on the east side of the intersection of Upton and 38th Street instead of the originally proposed traffic circle

·   A speed hump in the 3700 block of Upton Street

·   A raised crosswalk across Upton Street on the east side of the intersection of 37th Street and Upton Street instead of the originally proposed traffic circle

·   A speed hump in the 3600 block of Upton Street

·   Removal of all parking on the south side of Upton Street from Wisconsin Avenue to 37th Street

·   Double yellow centerline striping on Upton Street from Wisconsin Avenue to Reno Road and white sideline striping along all parking lanes

·   A triangular island at Upton and Reno with a cut for drainage to prevent drivers from running the stop sign at Reno Road

·   A sidewalk on the west side of Reno Road from Upton Street to Tilden Street


and

WHEREAS, at the single member district meeting and at the ANC 3F monthly meeting on March 13, 2006, residents of Upton and surrounding streets expressed support, concerns, and disagreements with the recommendations in this study; and

WHEREAS, ANC 3F commissioners have reviewed DDOT’s recommendations, have visited the Upton Street area to observe traffic and parking, and have considered comments from residents:


1. The island at Upton and Wisconsin: Residents believe this measure is clearly needed. A large number of drivers ignore the street markings and signs posted to indicate turning restrictions. In January 2006, the Metropolitan Police Department issued 73 traffic tickets for illegal turns. In addition to the island, residents have requested a “right turn only” arrow for the traffic light on westbound Upton Street.

2. A raised crosswalk across Upton Street on the east side of the intersection of Upton and 38th Street: Residents are in favor of the raised crosswalk to encourage drivers to stop at the stop sign. Residents of the 4100 block of 38th Street asked for an additional raised crosswalk across 38th Street on the north side of the intersection.

 

3. A speed hump in the 3700 block of Upton Street: Residents support this measure.

 

4. A raised crosswalk across Upton Street on the east side of the intersection of 37th Street and Upton Street: Residents support the raised crosswalk.

 

5. A speed hump in the 3600 block of Upton Street: Residents support this measure.

 

6. Removal of all parking spaces on the south side of Upton Street from Wisconsin Avenue to 37th Street to make the travel lanes wider: Like most of the local streets in the area, the 3700 and 3800 blocks of Upton Street are 30 feet wide. Some residents are in favor of wider travel lanes to allow vehicles, especially trucks and ambulances, more space to pass each other. Others believe wider travel lanes will encourage speeding.

 

Approximately 42-44 parking spaces would be lost if this measure were adopted. Much of the discussion has focused on commuters, shoppers, and visitors to The Washington Home parking on Upton Street during the day, particularly on the unrestricted south side of the street. Observation shows, though, that a significant number of residents also park their cars on the south side of the street. Both sides of the 3800 block of Upton Street are almost fully parked at all times of day and night. Overnight parking includes many of the same cars, leading to the conclusion that these cars belong to residents. Residents of the 73-unit apartment building on the corner of Upton and Wisconsin Avenue say they park on Upton Street. If parking were removed on the south side of Upton Street, approximately 20 cars of residents would have to be parked elsewhere in the neighborhood, where parking already is high. As a result, Upton Street residents, as well as those of nearby streets, could have difficulty finding parking on their blocks even when commuters, shoppers, and visitors to The Washington Home have left for the day.

  

7. Double yellow centerline striping on Upton Street from Wisconsin Avenue to Reno Road and white sideline striping along all parking lanes: The 3700 and 3800 blocks of Upton Street are too narrow for striping unless parking is removed on one side of the street. Residents of the 3600 block of Upton have consistently opposed striping on their block since the measure was first proposed in 2003.

 

8. A triangular island on the south side of Upton Street at Reno Road with a cut for drainage to prevent drivers from running the stop sign: Residents have asked that the size of the island be reduced to create space for two eastbound queues, one for left turns and one for right turns. The other island at this intersection, which separates eastbound and westbound traffic, should not need attention because it appears to have been rebuilt recently.

 

9. A sidewalk on the west side of Reno Road from Upton Street to Tilden Street. Adjacent residents oppose installation of a sidewalk on the ground that there is insufficient space for a sidewalk between street trees and the property line. At this time, ANC 3F does not have public space dimensions for this block.


THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that ANC 3F does not support:

 

·   Removal of all parking on the south side of Upton Street from Wisconsin Avenue to 37th Street

·   Double yellow centerline striping and white sideline striping on Upton Street

·   A “no left turn, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.” sign on northbound Reno Road at Upton Street, as recommended in the Upton Street, N. W. Traffic Calming Study

·   Changing the Ward 3 Zone residential parking signs from Monday-Friday to Monday-Saturday, as shown in the appendix to the original study, but not in the narrative; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ANC 3F does support the following traffic calming measures for Upton Street and urges that DDOT proceed immediately to install them:

·   Pavement markings at Wisconsin Avenue and Upton Street to ensure compliance with the “right turn only” restrictions for this intersection and repositioning of the “right turn only” sign that is hidden by a tree just east of the intersection on Upton Street

·   A raised crosswalk across Upton Street on the east side of the intersection of Upton and 38th Street (across Upton Street), as well as a raised crosswalk on the north side of the intersection (across 38th Street)

·   A speed hump in the 3700 block of Upton Street

·   A raised crosswalk across Upton Street on the east side of the intersection of 37th Street and Upton Street (across Upton Street)

·   A speed hump in the 3600 block of Upton Street

·   The triangular island at Upton and Reno to prevent drivers from running the stop sign, with a cut for drainage, but reduced to create space for two eastbound queues at the stop sign, one for left turns and one for right turns

·   Replacement of signs and poles that are faded, broken, or graffiti covered, as indicated in the original study; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ANC 3F also supports the raised island at Upton Street and Wisconsin Avenue, as well as a “right turn only” arrow in the traffic light at this intersection, but recommends that the island and arrows be installed after DDOT has completed the study to determine the effects of the speed humps and raised crosswalks on surrounding streets and has submitted the study to ANC 3F for review; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ANC 3F recommends that the south side of Upton Street from 37th Street to Wisconsin Avenue be restricted to Ward 3 residential permit parking; and


BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that ANC 3F asks DDOT to consider reducing the number of street signs to be installed to avoid sign pollution.


______________________________________________________________________________

Adopted by a vote of 7-0-0 at a duly-noticed public meeting of ANC 3F on March 13, 2006, with a quorum present.



              /s/ Cathy Wiss /s/ Robert V. Maudlin
  Cathy Wiss, Chair                     Robert V. Maudlin, Acting Secretary