Resolution Regarding DDOT Notice of Intent 21-51-PSD regarding the installation of an in-street sidewalk in the 4800 and 4900 blocks of Belt Road NW
Whereas, the 4800 and 4900 blocks of Belt Road are lacking sidewalks on both sides of the street and immediately abut Ft. Reno park and this stretch is a popular location year around for visitors to run their dogs and enjoy views from the highest point in the District of Columbia and is also popular for sledding after snow storms. Many pedestrians, including students, also use Belt Road to get to and from Tenleytown and Wisconsin Avenue, and
Whereas, Belt Road is a diagonal road that also serves as a shortcut for drivers transiting from southbound Wisconsin Avenue to eastbound Fessenden Street, and
Whereas, anecdotally Google street views taken over 12 years show numerous pedestrians walking in the street[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], and
Whereas, parking is currently allowed on both sides of both the 4800 block of Belt Road and the 4900 block of Belt Road. The parking spaces on the west side of both blocks are zoned for Residential Parking and the parking spaces on the east side of both blocks are not zoned or otherwise regulated.
Whereas, on February 11, 2021 DDOT gave ANC 3E notice of its intent to install a 6 foot in the roadway “sidewalk” on the east side of Belt Road which would be set off from the rest of the roadway by a combination of flexposts and concrete curbs and a representative from DDOT presented these plans at the February 11th, 2021 ANC 3E meeting, and
Whereas, the DDOT proposal would retain the parking spaces on both the 4800 and 4900 blocks of Belt Road on the west (residential) side of the street but would remove the parking spaces on the east (Ft Reno) side of the street, and
Whereas, during the presentation at the February 11th ANC meeting and in subsequent communications DDOT indicated it did not have adequate funds to build a traditional sidewalk nor could it extend the scope of this project to the 4700 block of Belt Road which is also lacking a sidewalk on the east (Ft Reno) side of Belt Road,
Whereas, during the presentation at the February 11th ANC meeting a DDOT representative answered many questions raised by residents of Belt Road and the ANC about roadway widths, turning radiuses and why the “sidewalk” could not be constructed on NPS land.
Now therefore be it resolved, ANC 3E supports the immediate installation of “sidewalks” as proposed in the 4800 and 4900 blocks of Belt Road.
Be it further resolved, ANC 3E believes that permanent traditional sidewalks would be safer and more aesthetically appealing than the current proposal utilizing flexposts and concrete curbs. ANC 3E also believes that DDOT should find a way to fill in the sidewalk gap in the 4700 block of Belt Road as well. ANC 3E also strongly urges DDOT to consider the hazard that concrete parking stops will pose to people sledding and urges DDOT to add flexposts or some other vertical feature to the parking stops so that they would be visible to sledders.
ANC 3E approved this resolution at its meeting on April 18, 2021, which was properly noticed and at which a quorum was present. The resolution was approved by a vote of 0-0-0. Commissioners Jonathan Bender, Matthew Cohen, Amy Hall, Jonathan McHugh and Tom Quinn were present.
__________________________
ANC 3E
By Jonathan Bender, Chairperson
[1]https://www.google.com/maps/place/4800+Belt+Rd+NW,+Washington,+D.C.,+DC+20016/@38.9539429,-77.0794066,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHpbvvYdvrgNskhO50_HzWw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b7c99556d1d8ab:0xcaa6f113243f104!8m2!3d38.9527146!4d-77.0798064
[2]https://www.google.com/maps/place/4800+Belt+Rd+NW,+Washington,+D.C.,+DC+20016/@38.9539581,-77.0794112,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sWdw2gzQ0k3Jr56dSTj8MOQ!2e0!5s20090701T000000!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b7c99556d1d8ab:0xcaa6f113243f104!8m2!3d38.9527146!4d-77.0798064
[3]https://www.google.com/maps/place/4800+Belt+Rd+NW,+Washington,+D.C.,+DC+20016/@38.9542901,-77.0793368,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sMqghn2VJYv9SX7Bs3MmSxw!2e0!5s20110601T000000!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b7c99556d1d8ab:0xcaa6f113243f104!8m2!3d38.9527146!4d-77.0798064
[4]https://www.google.com/maps/place/4800+Belt+Rd+NW,+Washington,+D.C.,+DC+20016/@38.9531353,-77.0795935,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sZ-5akiAHUQUdl1vP7NTqXg!2e0!5s20111001T000000!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b7c99556d1d8ab:0xcaa6f113243f104!8m2!3d38.9527146!4d-77.0798064
[5]https://www.google.com/maps/place/4800+Belt+Rd+NW,+Washington,+D.C.,+DC+20016/@38.952886,-77.0796696,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sp4CnqlWRM20nwIarYl-Pvg!2e0!5s20140601T000000!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b7c99556d1d8ab:0xcaa6f113243f104!8m2!3d38.9527146!4d-77.0798064
[6]https://www.google.com/maps/place/4800+Belt+Rd+NW,+Washington,+D.C.,+DC+20016/@38.9532926,-77.0795675,3a,75y,180h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s83FUkstDiDlI5147ozm4dg!2e0!5s20170901T000000!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b7c99556d1d8ab:0xcaa6f113243f104!8m2!3d38.9527146!4d-77.0798064
[7][7]https://www.google.com/maps/place/4800+Belt+Rd+NW,+Washington,+D.C.,+DC+20016/@38.9539429,-77.0794066,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sHpbvvYdvrgNskhO50_HzWw!2e0!5s20181001T000000!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b7c99556d1d8ab:0xcaa6f113243f104!8m2!3d38.9527146!4d-77.0798064
[8][8]https://www.google.com/maps/place/4800+Belt+Rd+NW,+Washington,+D.C.,+DC+20016/@38.9542183,-77.0793485,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgSa23-VohXO7navQwdUXMg!2e0!5s20191001T000000!7i16384!8i8192!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b7c99556d1d8ab:0xcaa6f113243f104!8m2!3d38.9527146!4d-77.0798064