Dear Commissioners, Merchants and Community,
In response to the ANC's letter of July 14th requesting attention be paid to aesthetic, maintenance, and environmental concerns in material selection along the H Street NE corridor, I am happy to report that designs of the corridor are actually setting a new (and higher) precedent for streetscapes in the District that meet or exceed the concerns listed.
In regards to environmental quality (water treatment, gradation and tree root health), the streetscape will implement several new or improved techniques. First, all sidewalks are designed at a very slight angle (roughly 2%) draining rainfall away from buildings and toward the tree line. Second, the street trees will be provided a continuous tree trench running the length of the block face connecting tree pit to tree pit (i.e. no containment boxes). In addition, root channels (also known as aeration strips) will form a network beneath the sidewalk to allow tree roots to grow in all directions in a controlled manner without heaving the sidewalk over time providing both tree nutrients and health and greater stability. Third, the continuous tree trench will be overlaid with rough cut granite cobblestones. Not only is this an extraordinarily high quality material, but the rough edges create minor gaps to allow percolation of water runoff from the sidewalk into the root zone to both support the trees and divert the water from our overburdened storm sewer system. Fourth, nearly all sidewalks will be widened to a minimum of 15' (some are as narrow as 7' today) which provides much more generous width for the tree trench - 5' on average up from the 3' tree boxes on the corridor today. Finally, the corridor will be lined with a diversity of tree species. Not only does this make for a more natural and interesting streetscape with varying seasonal colors and displays, but it also deters the spread of tree diseases that can ravage mono-cultures of trees making for a healthier and longer lasting tree environment.
Maintenance and longevity is a top concern for DDOT. Exposed aggregate concrete has been selected as the typical sidewalk material. This is a very traditional material for Washington DC. The variable colors of the material (a blond concrete with exposed pebbles of varying colors) camouflage gum, stains, spills, and other evidence of well used, and well loved commercial corridors. In addition, the subtle texture of the material facilitates gum removal through power washing. DDOT also evaluated concrete pavers as an option and determined it did not wear as well. Gum, once removed, leaves a permanent stain on the paver as do other spills (soda, etc.). In addition the relatively cold gray color and propensity to crack and rock did not make it the ideal material for improving the overall aesthetics of the H Street and Benning corridor.
Finally, DDOT has also paid close attention to ADA issues throughout the city and along the H Street corridor. Any materials chosen for application anywhere in the city will meet the strictest standards of the ADA. A finer grain of aggregate will be used in the H Street corridor to minimize any roughness resulting in an experience similar to typical concrete.
DDOT aims to make the H Street, Starburst, and Benning corridor a model of urban quality urban for people, retailers, property owners, and the environment. The engineering design has produced exceptional and innovative solutions for the corridor to achieve all these goals. Design is now 100% complete and construction is anticipated to begin this fall. We are eager to work with the merchants and community to ensure a smooth construction process leading to a fabulous new look for H Street NE and Benning Road.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me at karina.ricks@dc.gov or 202-671-2542.
Karina Ricks Great Streets Project Coordinator District Department of Transportation 2000 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009
p. 202-671-2542 karina.ricks@dc.gov
In regards to environmental quality (water treatment, gradation and tree root health), the streetscape will implement several new or improved techniques. First, all sidewalks are designed at a very slight angle (roughly 2%) draining rainfall away from buildings and toward the tree line. Second, the street trees will be provided a continuous tree trench running the length of the block face connecting tree pit to tree pit (i.e. no containment boxes). In addition, root channels (also known as aeration strips) will form a network beneath the sidewalk to allow tree roots to grow in all directions in a controlled manner without heaving the sidewalk over time providing both tree nutrients and health and greater stability. Third, the continuous tree trench will be overlaid with rough cut granite cobblestones. Not only is this an extraordinarily high quality material, but the rough edges create minor gaps to allow percolation of water runoff from the sidewalk into the root zone to both support the trees and divert the water from our overburdened storm sewer system. Fourth, nearly all sidewalks will be widened to a minimum of 15' (some are as narrow as 7' today) which provides much more generous width for the tree trench - 5' on average up from the 3' tree boxes on the corridor today. Finally, the corridor will be lined with a diversity of tree species. Not only does this make for a more natural and interesting streetscape with varying seasonal colors and displays, but it also deters the spread of tree diseases that can ravage mono-cultures of trees making for a healthier and longer lasting tree environment.
Maintenance and longevity is a top concern for DDOT. Exposed aggregate concrete has been selected as the typical sidewalk material. This is a very traditional material for Washington DC. The variable colors of the material (a blond concrete with exposed pebbles of varying colors) camouflage gum, stains, spills, and other evidence of well used, and well loved commercial corridors. In addition, the subtle texture of the material facilitates gum removal through power washing. DDOT also evaluated concrete pavers as an option and determined it did not wear as well. Gum, once removed, leaves a permanent stain on the paver as do other spills (soda, etc.). In addition the relatively cold gray color and propensity to crack and rock did not make it the ideal material for improving the overall aesthetics of the H Street and Benning corridor.
Finally, DDOT has also paid close attention to ADA issues throughout the city and along the H Street corridor. Any materials chosen for application anywhere in the city will meet the strictest standards of the ADA. A finer grain of aggregate will be used in the H Street corridor to minimize any roughness resulting in an experience similar to typical concrete.
DDOT aims to make the H Street, Starburst, and Benning corridor a model of urban quality urban for people, retailers, property owners, and the environment. The engineering design has produced exceptional and innovative solutions for the corridor to achieve all these goals. Design is now 100% complete and construction is anticipated to begin this fall. We are eager to work with the merchants and community to ensure a smooth construction process leading to a fabulous new look for H Street NE and Benning Road.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact me at karina.ricks@dc.gov or 202-671-2542.
Karina Ricks Great Streets Project Coordinator District Department of Transportation 2000 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009
p. 202-671-2542 karina.ricks@dc.gov
3 comments:
I am delighted to hear they are starting this fall; this project has been in the works a long time. Kudos to DDOT for their efforts!
Hopefully they can keep kids (or immature adults) from carving their names in these sidewalks as they put them down.
Yes, kudos. It's great to hear that the sidewalks will at least have a somewhat 'natural/organic' color vs. grey and that those granite blocks will allow water to seep through instead of run off. Can't wait to see this happen.
Its great to read that road construction will start this fall. Any word when the trolley car initiative project will begin??
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