DDOT unveils final design to consolidate traffic, widen sidewalks and close cut-throughs at Pennsylvania and Minnesota avenues

Tyler Williams, representing the District Department of Transportation, presented the agency’s final design for the Pennsylvania and Minnesota Avenue intersection, saying the plan consolidates diagonal slip lanes into a single signalized intersection and adds pedestrian, transit and safety improvements.

The design replaces existing diagonal roads through the north and south park areas with contiguous green space, shortens crosswalks with bulbouts and straightened crossing paths and relocates bus stops to improve rider access, Tyler Williams said. Julie Pike, roadway design branch manager, said the final design was completed in 2024 following a multi‑year process that included an approved land transfer with the National Park Service in 2021.

The plan includes a set of safety-focused enhancements Christine Mayer, associate director for multimodal safety engineering, described in detail: a consolidated crossing near Lafont/L'Enfant Square allowing riders to cross in a single signal phase; a new signalized crossing at Prout Street; access management changes on 25th Street to limit through commuter traffic; a reconfigured Minnesota Avenue with two‑way operations through the intersection; and a future signal at Nicholson and White Place to improve school and neighborhood crossings. Mayer said the corridors are on DDOT’s High Injury Network and the design reflects updated crash analyses.

DDOT staff said construction procurement is complete and they anticipate issuing a construction notice in spring. "The construction is expected to last approximately 2 years with a grand opening in 2028," Pike said. Staff advised residents to expect longer-than-normal delays at this high‑volume transit hub during construction and said contractor-produced block‑by‑block schedules will be shared as they are finalized.

DDOT described operational changes to manage diverted traffic: a dedicated left-turn lane and signal phasing adjustments at 23rd Street, bollards in the interim to deter cut‑throughs, and a reroute of the Route D10 bus to 27th Street that will require moving eight parking spaces and installing new stop locations along that corridor. Mayer said DDOT coordinated bus tests with WMATA and that WMATA conducted trial runs in January to confirm vehicle turning movements and clearance.

On pedestrian access, staff said Pennsylvania Avenue sidewalks will be widened to 10 feet to serve heavy transit boarding and alighting activity. DDOT also committed to post‑construction monitoring and a formal before/after evaluation of crashes, operations and ridership to assess whether the project meets safety and performance goals.

The project team encouraged residents to submit comments through the formal Notice of Intent process and to attend an in‑person outreach meeting at Boone Elementary School on Saturday; staff also posted a Title VI survey link and other materials on the project website.