The National Park Service prepared a Multimodal Safety and Operational Improvements Plan for the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway (RCPP). The project analyzes the engineering feasibility of ending reversible lanes on Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway and would also add safety improvements to infrastructure and operations along the parkway, including the Rock Creek Park Multi-Use Trail.
This plan will address traffic patterns and infrastructure needs along the corridor from the intersection of RCPP at Shoreham and Beach Drives NW to the intersection of Ohio Drive SW at Independence Avenue and 23rd Street SW.
The Plan will look at:
- Ending reversible lanes.
- Improving safety and operations at four locations affected by ending reversible lanes.
- Widening the Rock Creek Multi-Use Trail between P Street NW and Virginia Avenue NW.
- Installing a roadway barrier to improve safety between P Street NW and Virginia Avenue NW.
- The Plan will also examine pavement resurfacing and restoration on RCPP and its connecting ramps, sign improvements, pavement striping, and repair and installation of guardrails.
Purpose of the Plan is to:
- Improve safety for visitors and commuters.
- Minimize vehicle congestion.
- Increase pedestrian and bicycle safety and access.
- Extend the useful life of roads and trails along RCPP in a way that respects the corridor’s scenic and historic character.
NPS seeks community involvement. Weigh in to let them know your feedback on the proposed designs.
Background
The NPS has operated rush-hour reversible lanes on Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway (RCPP) since 1937 to help ease congestion during peak commuting times. NPS reports that approximately 50,000 vehicles travel RCPP between northwest Washington, DC and downtown. Now, NPS proposes to eliminate the reversible lanes as part of a broader initiative called the “Multimodal Safety and Operations Plan” to address traffic patterns and infrastructure needs along the corridor from the intersection of RCPP at Shoreham and Beach Drive NW to the intersection of Ohio Drive SW at Independence Avenue and 23rd Street SW.
NPS proposes to end reversible lanes on RCPP to improve safety and operations for drivers and passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists and the park police who manage the reversible lanes twice each business day. The project also includes intersection safety improvements, widening the Rock Creek Multi-Use Trail between P Street NW and Virginia Avenue NW, and iInstalling a roadway barrier to improve safety between P Street NW and Virginia Avenue NW.
NPS found that lane reversals create confusion for drivers and create a “racetrack” environment. The sawhorses and signage currently in use for the lane operations do not meet federal safety standards, are confusing for visitors to navigate and contribute to landscape clutter. Additionally, the staffing required to implement lane reversal operations 20 times per week costs an estimated $600,000 to $800,000 annually.
The purpose of the plan is to improve safety for visitors and commuters, minimize vehicle congestion, and extend the useful life of the roads and trails, while preserving the scenic and historic character of the parkway.
The report states that the project will address the following needs:
- The one-way reversible lane operations do not conform to modern federal traffic standards (Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (2023)) and create unusual challenges for drivers.
- The reversible lane operations pose safety risks for NPS staff, USPP staff, and park visitors.
- Establishing and dismantling the reversible lanes is a costly and labor-intensive process.
- The signage and sawhorses related to the reversible lane operations do not meet federal safety standards and detract from the historic character of the cultural landscape.
The project will also address:
- High vehicle volumes during peak commuter hours could lead to congestion, confusion, and significant safety concerns if the corridor operates with two-way traffic during the peak periods as it currently does.
- The pavement condition of RCPP, its connecting ramps, and the Rock Creek Park Multi-Use Trail between P Street NW and Virginia Avenue NW is distressed and in need of rehabilitation.
- Rock Creek Park Multi-Use Trail between P Street NW and Virginia Avenue NW does not meet recommended standards for trail width (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities (2012)) and is too narrow to safely accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and other micromobility users.
Share your Feedback
Submit written comments online or by mail during the 30-day public comment period from April 2 to May 2.
- Visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/RockCreekParkway to submit online comments.
- By Mail: Send written comments to:
Superintendent
Rock Creek Park
Attn: RCPP Multimodal
3545 Williamsburg Lane NW
Washington, DC 20008
Mailed comments must be postmarked by May 2, 2025. Note that all submissions, including personal details, may be publicly accessible. While requests for confidentiality will be considered, full privacy cannot be guaranteed.
Questions to consider:
The NPS comment form seeks your feedback on the scoping of the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway project. We encourage you to share thoughts on the designs.
- What elements do you like/not like about ending reversible lanes on RCPP?
- What elements do you like/not like about the proposed changes at RCPP at Shoreham Dr/Beach Dr?
- What elements do you like/not like about adding a median on RCPP between K St and Q St?
- What elements do you like/not like about adding southbound lane(s) on RCPP at Virginia Ave?
- What elements do you like/not like about add new traffic control solutions (traffic signals and/or a roundabout), implement curb realignments, and add new pedestrian crossings at Ohio Dr at Potomac River Fwy intersection?
- What elements do you like/not like about widening the Rock Creek Park Multi-Use Trail between P St and Virginia Ave?
