Support the Michigan Ave Shared-Use Path

The District Department of Transportation is in the final planning stages to fill a short but vital gap in DC’s low-stress bike network on Michigan Avenue NE in Brookland. The project will connect the Irving Street bike lanes to the Met Branch Trail and to Monroe St NE. Many folks currently squeeze onto the narrow sidewalk along Catholic University instead of navigating the many lanes of fast moving traffic on Michigan Ave NE; DDOT’s plan will widen the sidewalk to create a shared-use path with space for people walking, biking, and waiting for buses.

DDOT issued a Notice of Intent detailing the project to kick off the last, formal opportunity for input in September. Check out the draft text below for inspiration and send a short note in support before the comment period closes on November 7th. Be sure to add a personal touch to your note!

TL;DR: DDOT is planning to connect the Irving St bike lanes to the MBT and Monroe St NE by creating a shared-use path on Michigan Ave in front of Catholic University. This is a good, common-sense connection. Let’s applaud DDOT and encourage them to get it done ASAP!

Project proposal for the Michigan Ave NE Shared-Use Path — *DDOT proposes to expand the sidewalk on Michigan Ave NE between Harewood & Monroe into a shared-use path.*

SAMPLE EMAIL

REMINDER: We recommend adding your own personal touch to any comment email. Reference about a personal experience you had, share your observations about the proposed changes, or talk about how you will use the completed project. Don’t forget to switch-up the email title.

SUBJECT: Support for NOI 25-208-CPD on Michigan Ave

TO: Anne Welch, anne.welch@dc.gov

Ms. Welch,

I’m excited about DDOT’s proposed installation of a shared-use path on Michigan Ave NE and intersection improvements at the Monroe St and Michigan Ave intersection. This project will fill a critical gap, better connecting people walking and biking between the Irving Street cycletrack, Monroe St NE, and the Met Branch Trail.

The Irving Street protected bike lanes and the Met Branch Trail are premier low stress routes for people who bike in DC, but there currently isn’t a great way to travel between them by foot or on a bike. The shared-use path on Michigan Ave NE will fill this missing link and continue to advance the vision of the crosstown connector between Wards 1 and 5.

Thank you for moving this project forward!

[Your Name]

Detailed explanation and argument.

About Michigan Ave NE Shared-Use Path

The Michigan Avenue Shared-Use Path Project provides safety improvements for people walking and biking along the corridor by closing a 0.2 mile gap between connected and protected bike lanes (Monroe St NE, Irving St NE) and the MBT. It is a small but vital portion of the bike network that will address a critical gap by connecting protected infrastructure to the east and west including between Irving St NE, Monroe St NE, and the Metropolitan Branch Trail.

The project will replace the narrow sidewalk on the northern side of the corridor along Catholic University, with a 10-ft wide sidepath from Harewood Rd/4th St NE to Monroe St NE. The project will also improve the intersection at Monroe St and Michigan Ave NE to connect the new path to the existing two-way protected bike lanes on Monroe St NE. Right turns from Monroe St onto Michigan Ave will no longer be allowed due to limited visibility for drivers, who can turn right onto Michigan Ave at 7th St NE.

About the Project

In 2016, DDOT launched the Crosstown Multimodal Transportation Study with the intention of improving multimodal east-west travel to and from neighborhoods and activity centers. The study set out “to enhance multimodal connectivity, mobility, and safety” between Wards 1 and 5. The needs for a connection on Michigan Ave between Harewood Rd and Monroe St and for intersection safety improvements were identified among the recommended projects .

For more detail and to read the full notice of intent letter, click here. Comments due by November 7th.

What’s a Notice of Intent?

Under DC Law, the District Department of Transportation is required to give written notice to relevant advisory neighborhood commissions before making any changes to streets that affect traffic operations or on-street parking in their area. The Notice of intent is a formal comment period when any individual or ANC may submit written comments about a project, typically offering support, opposition, or substantive suggestions on design. Once the comment period closes, DDOT staff summarize comments and tally support and opposition. Finally, DDOT convenes an internal review panel to consider comments, determine a path forward, and provide any required responses to ANCs.

For safe streets advocates, the Notice of Intent comment period is the final opportunity to review the overall plan, show support, and suggest modifications. While thoughtful or substantive comments are most helpful, short, supportive comments can help tip the scales towards action on safety improvements that require more aggressive tradeoffs, like removing car parking.

More about The Capital Trails Coalition

First convened in 2016 by WABA, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, REI, and a host of other regional stakeholders, The Capital Trails Coalition is a collaboration of public and private organizations, agencies, and volunteers working to advance completion of an interconnected network of multi-use trails for metropolitan Washington, DC. The Coalition convenes and coordinates among the public and private stakeholders who are critical to accomplishing the vision of an interconnected network.

Check out the CTC's website here, and explore the interactive map of existing and planned regional trails here.

More about The DC Low Stress Network

Bike lanes are most effective when they connects to other bike lanes, protected bike lanes, even more so.

WABA works with teams of grassroots volunteers across the District to demand a network of low-stress places to bike. A network where you, your kids, nephews, nieces, or grandkids, can all get where you need to go safely, easily, happily on bikes.

More about The Metropolitan Branch Trail

Connecting neighborhoods between Silver Spring, Maryland and Union Station in DC, and paralleling the Metrorail Red Line, the Met Branch Trail is busy corridor for recreation and active transportation.

First conceived by WABA and others in the early 1990's, the trail is a showcase of both innovative urban trail design, and the challenges of multi-jurisdiction trail development. The trail broke ground in 1998, and major sections have opened in 2010, 2015, and 2021, but it remains incomplete. An interim, on-street route bridges a gap between Fort Totten and the DC/Maryland border.

More about Complete Streets

Complete Streets are streets designed to accommodate all users, and that prioritize historically underinvested modes of transportation like transit, walking, and biking. An incomplete street might lack adequate sidewalks, low-stress bike infrastructure, or safe and comfortable access to transit.

Effective Complete Streets policies change the way a jurisdiction plans and builds transportation infrastructure—sidewalks, low stress bike infrastructure, and transit should be included in any new or rebuilt street by default, rather than as an add-on when there's space or demand.

While most regional jurisdictions have a Complete Streets policy of some sort, they lack teeth and permit transportation departments to continue to build streets that put cars first and squeeze other modes into the margins.

More about Trails

Trails are the best. They are low-stress bike infrastructure, access to nature, parks, landmarks, and community gathering spaces all rolled into one.

WABA's trail advocacy is focused on connecting gaps in our region's trail network; ensuring existing trails are maintained and upgraded to meet current design standards; and expanding the network into underserved parts of the region.

More about Advocacy

WABA fights for a region where biking, walking and transit are the best ways to get around.

We educate policymakers and organize grassroots advocates for to speak up for safer places to bike and walk; and for laws and policies that protect people who are walking and biking, reduce dangerous driving, and facilitate changes to the built environment.