Residents at a DDOT public meeting pressed agency staff for detailed answers after a presentation of spot‑improvement concepts for South Dakota Avenue.

Angela Bowen, a neighbor, said proposals to close or restrict access at 24th and Lawrence could force residents on the block to make long detours to reach homes and driveways. "We, the neighbors... would have to go all the way through traffic around the blocks to be able to access our front and our backyards," Bowen said; DDOT responded that the concept is preliminary and the team will study access impacts and coordinate with residents and the ANC before final design.

Emergency‑vehicle access was raised by Alice Owen White, a resident of more than 30 years, who asked whether street narrowing and curb extensions could impede ambulances. "My concern is emergency vehicles... You narrow the street for crossing, and all of a sudden, they can't get out," she said. Christine Mayer said DDOT reviews proposed geometry with local fire stations and adjusts curb extensions and placement of flex posts so emergency vehicles retain adequate clearance.

Several participants argued the treatments could worsen congestion or shift traffic to side streets. One participant who identified as Taylor said the proposals were "one‑dimensional" and could increase congestion. Mayer acknowledged the tradeoffs, saying engineers prioritize reducing conflict points and noted operational measures such as dedicated left‑turn lanes can reduce backups by providing space for turning vehicles rather than blocking through lanes.

On enforcement and speed control, staff said budget constraints limit purchases of additional speed or red‑light cameras, so DDOT will consider lower‑cost speed‑feedback signs and speed humps where appropriate. Commissioners and community members asked whether DDOT conducts before‑and‑after studies; Mayer said the agency does evaluate projects after implementation and revisits locations that are not performing as intended.

What happens next: DDOT will bring refined designs to ANCs and impacted residents for further review, post the meeting recording and materials on the project website, and hold an in‑person open house at Perry Street Prep on Saturday. Staff emphasized that the concepts are preliminary and that specific access, emergency‑response and spillover effects will be addressed in subsequent design coordination and safety audits.

Representative quotes in context are limited to statements made by meeting participants and DDOT staff during the Q&A; no formal actions or votes were taken.