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All about the Edgewood Neighborhood of Washington, DC

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Showing posts with label Pedestrian Bridge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pedestrian Bridge. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Big Week for Edgewood


Tonight is the meeting for the surplusing of the Edgewood Shaed Elementary School Building.  It is important that everyone attend to give their input of what happens to the building.  I have been advocating for turning it into a Recreation Center/Nonprofit building which would host classes and activities for the community.  Others in the neighborhood would like it to become a charter school and with all the new children in the neighborhood that idea has merits as well especially if a quality school would like to open. 
The meeting is at the Edgewood Recreation Center hosted by DGS.

For those of you that do not follow me on Twitter-  I wanted to add a blog post about the starting of construction of the pedestrian bridge for the Metropolitan Branch Trail to the Rhode Island Avenue metro station.  Ever since I moved to Edgewood over 5 years ago now I have been following the developments around this much needed bridge and how it will change the daily lives of so many of my neighbors for the better!  I have been pushing DDOT, the DC Council members and mayor for a start date and this week it is happening!  The bridge should be completed by December 2014/February 2015.  The project has its own website so we can follow the progress -   http://rhodeislandavepedbridge.com/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/SitePages/Home.aspx

Two of the biggest issues in Edgewood are moving forward this week which is really exciting! 

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

DDOT Announces Solicitation of Bids for Construction of Rhode Island Avenue Pedestrian Bridge


Please see the press release below about the pedestrian bridge from the Met Branch Trail to the Rhode Island Ave metro station!!!  It looks like we could have it built and maybe even finished next year!!!!

Government of the District of Columbia
Department of Transportation For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Media Contact: John Lisle at 202-671-2004, john.lisle@dc.gov

DDOT Announces Solicitation of Bids for Construction of Rhode Island Avenue Pedestrian Bridge

Construction of Key Connection to Metropolitan Branch Trail to Begin Next Year(Washington, D.C.)

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) today announced a solicitation of bids for the construction of a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the CSX railroad tracks at the Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station. The bridge links to the Metropolitan Branch Trail and will be a safe passageway for community members who currently use the Rhode Island Avenue underpass, which is narrow and dark, or who cross the active railroad tracks illegally. Combined with last year’s completion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail, from New York Avenue to Franklin Street, the bridge will also increase access to transit and recreation for thousands of residents.



The truss bridge is designed in the style of an old railroad bridge. The design is the result of unprecedented cooperation among numerous stakeholders including DDOT, WMATA, CSX, utility companies and the community. Following award of a construction contract, work could start sometime next year. Bids are due December 5, 2011. Bid documents are available at the OCP Bid Room on the 3rd floor of the Reeves Center at 2000 14th Street, NW.

For procurement information contact Bernetha Armwood at (202) 671-1563. For technical information contact Mr. Mohamed Dahir at (202) 671-4617.

The Metropolitan Branch Trail is a multi-use trail that runs from Union to Silver Spring, linking people to jobs, schools, stores and mass transit. Three miles of the planned trail have been completed to date.

Heather Deutsch
Bicycle Program Specialist/Trail Planner
Policy, Planning & Sustainability Administration
District Department of Transportation
We've moved to...55 M Street, SE, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20003
tel: 202.671.2638
fax: 202.671.0617
mailto:heather.deutsch@dc.gov
http://www.ddot.dc.gov/

Join Mayor Gray’s One City • One Hire - 10,000 Jobs Campaign
“Putting District Residents Back to Work – One Hire at a Time”
Learn more at http://onecityonehire.org/

Support the DC One Fund Campaign, Each One Give One.
Learn more at http://www.dconefund.org/ or http://www.onefund.dc.gov/. One City, Working Together!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

CSX Holding up Pedestrian Bridge in Edgewood

CSX is holding up the building of the pedestrian bridge in Edgewood from the Met Branch Trail to the Rhode Island Avenue metro station.  Last year I wrote about the planned bridge to improve safety and access to the metro station from Edgewood.  Here is a link that shows the plans for the bridge and all the reasons that it is desperately needed!  I wrote about the number of people that would dangerously cross the railroad tracks and get stuck in the barbwire cutting themselves.  I have written multiple times about how the narrow sidewalks under the bridge and the decrepit staircase to the metro are dangerous for pedestrians. 


The major hurdles such as designing the bridge, WMATA easements and funding are already accomplished leaving CSX as the last hurdle before DDOT can move the project forward.  CSX must grant DC air rights to the space above their railroad tracks in order for the bridge to be built.  CSX was very quick to erect prison-style chainlink and barbwire fencing around the tracks after the completion of the Met Branch Trail in Edgewood.  Why now when there is a safer, more attractive alternative to crossing the tracks are they dragging their feet?

We must put pressure on them to move the project forward!!  I have been emailing Harry Thomas Jr. and his staff about this for years now and have decided to move on to Tommy Wells to try and get this accomplished.  Please email, tweet and call them both until something is done.  The more voices and reminders the better!

Here is the contact information that you will need:

Harry Thomas, Jr., Ward 5
Office: 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 107, NW Washington, DC 20004
Tel: (202) 724-8028
Fax: (202) 724-8076
Email: hthomas@dccouncil.us

Key Staff

Ayawna Chase
Chief of Staff
(202)724-8024
achase@dccouncil.us

James Pittman
Legislative Counsel
(202) 724-8114
jpittman@dccouncil.us

Victoria Leonard - Chambers
Director, Policy and Strategic Communication
(202) 727-8204
Vleonard@dccouncil.us

Neil Rodgers
Committee Clerk
(202) 724-8155
nrodgers@dccouncil.us

Marjorie Barnes
Administrative Assistant
(202) 724-8028
mbarnes@dccouncil.us

Monique Smith
Specialist/Scheduler
(202) 724-8918
msmith@dccouncil.us



Tommy Wells, Ward 6
Office: 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 408, NW Washington, DC 20004
Tel: (202) 724-8072
Fax: (202) 724-8054
Email: twells@dccouncil.us

Key Staff

Charles Allen
Chief of Staff
callen@dccouncil.us

Myisha Atchison
Administrative Assistant / Scheduler
matchison@dccouncil.us

Linda O’Brien
Deputy Chief of Staff
lobrien@dccouncil.us

Daniel Connor
Policy Specialist
dconnor@dccouncil.us

Bonnie Cain
Policy Advisor for Education
(202) 724-8072
bcain@dccouncil.us

Tawanna Shuford
Director of Constituent Services
(202) 724-8072
tshuford@dccouncil.us

Naomi Mitchell
Community Liaison
nmitchell@dccouncil.us

Pat Joseph
Constituent Services Specialist
pjoseph@dccouncil.us

Jonathon Kass
Committee Director
jkass@dccouncil.us

Brian Davidson
Intern, Policy and Legislation
bdavidson@dccouncil.us

Anne Phelps
Committee Counsel
aphelps@dccouncil.us

Vivian McCarter
Constituent Services Specialist
vmccarter@dccouncil.us