“Hate Gridlock” Message Loud and Clear at Ward Circle

Some 75 determined neighbors walked around Ward Circle at the intersections of Massachusetts and Nebraska Avenues during morning rush hour, horns blared and the issue of traffic gridlock caused by American University’s planned expansion took center stage.

American University’s traffic study, submitted to the Office of Zoning in conjunction with its 2011 Proposed Campus Expansion Plan claims that expansion would have little or no impact on traffic at the Circle and along Nebraska Ave.  Judging by the honking of the motorists, this was not the case today.

Wearing buttons reading “Stop the AU Plan”  and with signs opposing the expansion sprouting from the circle, the coalition of groups from the neighborhoods surrounding AU wanted to demonstrate first hand that the AU Expansion Plan will indeed increase gridlock.  

Some of the neighbors held signs that read “Honk if You Hate Gridlock.” They urged rejection of the  AU Expansion Plan because of the severe traffic problems and potential pedestrian safety issues involved.

“If the  Zoning Commission allows AU’s Expansion Plan to go through it could potentially back up traffic from Connecticut Ave. to Canal Road on a daily basis” said Mary Ellen Fehrmann, a leader of the coalition.  “Add in the double whammy of the Department of Homeland Security increasing its workforce by about 1800 and you have traffic gridlock nightmare.”

Ward Circle is one of the busiest crossroads in the city and, according to the Rockcreek West II Livability Study, has the highest accident rate in the city.  The neighbors worry that this will get worse.

AU’s plan to build dormitories for some 600 students on the Nebraska Ave parking lot will add multiple pedestrian crossings at Ward Circle and Nebraska Ave., including many mid-block.  Their solution is to ask DDOT to install another traffic light midblock, which in turn, will back up more vehicles trying to get to the intersection.

Massachusetts Avenue carries almost 21,000 cars every weekday and Nebraska carries 24,500 not counting heavy pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the intersection.  Emergency vehicles already have a hard time getting through, according to many who live in the area.  This worries Tony Cafoncelli, a retired physician who lives at Westover Place.  “If the traffic situation worsens, it could endanger the lives of residents and students alike,” he says.  Other concerns he has are the increased air pollution, air toxins, greenhouse gasses and noise pollution deriving from worsening gridlock.  “All of these affect not only the quality of life for people in the area, but the quality of health as well,” says Cafoncelli.

More  information:

Neighborhood Organizations:

        www.stopAU.org

        www.nlcnorthwestdc.org

American University Campus Plan:

Home page:  http://www.american.edu/finance/fas/Campus-Plan.cfm       

COMMUTER NIGHTMARE LOOMS FOR VIRGINIA, MARYLAND AND DC RESIDENTS

*     Ward Circle, at the busy commuter intersection of Nebraska and Massachusetts Avenues, ALREADY has the highest accident rate in DC, according to the Rock Creek West II Livability Study (DDOT).
*     AU’s Overreaching Expansion Plan to ingest Nebraska Ave, in the context of expansion plans of Homeland Security ( an estimated additional 1800 workers and cars) and Wesley Seminary along Massachusetts on each side of the circle, will create traffic havoc throughout the region.
*      Massachusetts Avenue carries almost 21,000 commuter and resident cars every weekday. Nebraska averages almost 25,000.  That’s not counting pedestrian and bicycle traffic at the intersection.
*      What’s going to happen when AU’s expansion plan to house a minimum number of 770 students on its Nebraska Ave parking lot, engulfs Nebraska and makes it the main road through their campus? Where’s all this traffic going to go?  Answer:  nowhere fast.
*      Lifesaving emergency equipment already faces the challenges of getting through.  This will only get worse if these plans are approved, endangering the lives of residents, federal workers and students alike.
*      AU’s plan to impose meeting halls, campus book stores and student food establishments (replacing a much needed neighborhood food market) along New Mexico Ave will lead to even more foot traffic.   
*     The worsening gridlock ensures increased air pollution, air toxins, greenhouse gasses,
and noise pollution.  Parking will become more of a problem for both those who live in the community and those who drive. What is already an intolerable situation for residents and commuters alike will become a nightmare.

*     It’s vital to stop AU from ingesting essential commuter and resident thoroughfares into their own campus expansion!

SO WHAT CAN I DO?

Write Mayor Vince Gray at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 316, Washington DC  20004 or go to dc.gov, click on Ask the Mayor and e-mail him.  Maryland and Virginia residents should contact Gov.Martin O’Malley or Gov. Bob McDonnell.  Tell them you’re opposed to the AU expansion plan.

For more information on the issue of AU expansion, and other things you can do to help, visit Neighbors for a Livable Community.  NLC is a coalition of community groups in the Spring Valley, Wesley Heights and Tenleytown areas.