Might Dupont's 17th St. Be Better Without Cars?
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TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, 17th Street NW in Dupont Circle could be a much better thoroughfare. The main drag of what some say is Dupont Circle's "Gayborhood" isn't necessarily a vibrant destination in terms of shopping or dining, despite heavy pedestrian traffic and a handful of standouts, e.g. Komi.
The solution, according to one community interest group: Shut out cars altogether and hand 17th Street over to pedestrians.
A group called the 17th Street Campaign says that eliminating cars between New Hampshire and Massachusetts avenues would improve customer flow to businesses with minimal disruption to the city's traffic flow.
The idea comes despite a trend in some cities over the past few decades to reopen pedestrian malls to vehicles to inject new life into ailing commercial corridors. This has happened in places like Oak Park, Ill., and Santa Monica, Calif.. Even in downtown Washington, G Street NW was reopened in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library a decade ago. (But that might not be the best example of a reconversion.)
Boston is facing similar issues with its Downtown Crossing, but the Boston Redevelopment Authority wants to keep cars out of its central shopping area. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood, there is a movement to let hipsters cavort about on a car-free Bedford Avenue.
The 17th Street crew is looking at areas like Boulder, Colo.'s Pearl Street Mall as models, but obviously, 17th Street presents its own special set of urban characteristics.
Campaign coordinator Eric Reading tells Express:
... [W]hat makes this somewhat different is that 17th Street is already a pedestrian-oriented area, and the local businesses rely on customers who are on foot, not arriving by car. We're fortunate to have several people come out of the woodwork with urban planning backgrounds of various kinds, and are looking at some of the comparative experiences.The 17th Street Campaign has been only been around for a week or so, and Reading says that since the District is starting to look at ways to enhance the streetscaping on 17th Street, they might as well consider making the place a larger pedestrian precinct:
In any case, if the city is going to invest in upgrading the infrastructure on 17th Street to make it more pedestrian friendly, we need to take a serious look at how we can help the neighborhood business district thrive, rather than a mild makeover that will only hide the blemishes while the area slowly suffocates.So stay tuned, they're just getting started.
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interesting idea, but really, there's no need to shut down all of the road from new hampshire to mass from traffic. how about from new hampshire to P?
By IMGoph , Posted April 3, 2007 1:43 PMIMGoph, Thanks for the comments. NH to P street is an alternative we're certainly open to, and the P-Mass block has some design challenges--especially the two underground garages. However, one of the underlying factors that could make this successful is the proximity to large office buildings--bringing in business during the daytime as well as nights and weekends. If the project went down to Massachucetts, it would be much closer (physically and psychologically) to the downtown area, where P street is significantly more seperated from downtown.
By Eric Reading , Posted April 3, 2007 2:33 PM"minimal disruption to the city's traffic flow"? You can't be serious. 16th and 18th have perpetual congestion and both are single lane streets. Where do you think the multiple lanes of 17th Street traffic will go with "minimal disruption"? 17th actually relieves pressure from other streets and needs to stay available for cars. There are consideration other than drivers coming to 17th businesses. Many drivers use 17th to get to areas South of Mass. These drivers would be stuck on single lane streets, further congesting the area dn benefiting no one.
By Native , Posted April 3, 2007 5:04 PMNative, Your argument makes good sense. However, the evidence doesn't support the case. I have always been always surprised at how few cars use 17th street in the morning, and virtually none in the evening, which led to a look at the Department of Transportation traffic flow maps, based on measurement. 17th Street's volume is incredibly small when compared to 16th, 18th, and New Hamphire. Of course this is in large part because the street only begins just above U Street and isn't a through street from neighborhoods to the north or suburbs. True that we'd be losing the best kept secret for getting around the neighborhood, but since it's not used much now, the potential for economic development and a 'town square' for the community may outweigh the loss of a route that only a few of us use.
By Eric , Posted April 3, 2007 6:57 PMAs a resident of 17th street, I can't think of a stupider idea. There are parking garages off 17th, and one way streets. How would you redirect all that traffic? What will you do when the school buses need to get to the Ross School on R Street and R is one way feeding from 17th toward 18th where Ross is?
How about this? How about you make 17th and the surrounding streets RESIDENT PARKING ONLY. The parking is so unbelievably bad in this neighborhood, you want to close it to cars? You have completely lost your mind. Tell all the MD and VA folks to go pay for parking elsewhere in the city and let us have our streets back.
By Velvet , Posted April 4, 2007 11:02 AMHow does this group propose handling residents' needs who live on 17th street? Not only those who park on the street, but those who park in garages attached to their buildings, with access only available via 17th St? Secondly, how would they propose handling deliveries to these apartment buildings & businesses? Not that I'm a huge fan of them, but 18-wheelers regularaly parked in front of CVS & Safeway are a reality & presumably a necessity.
By HLT , Posted April 5, 2007 4:33 PM