Department of Transportation to add bus-priority lanes on 8th Street SE; construction tentatively begins in April

The Department of Transportation on a pre-construction call described a package of bus-priority and safety improvements for 8th Street SE designed to speed transit, improve bus-stop access and make crossings safer.

DOT staff said the project will include an offset southbound bus lane from south of Pennsylvania Avenue to M Street that retains curbside parking, a short northbound bus lane segment north of Pennsylvania Avenue, bus-platform bulb-outs at multiple stops, conversion of angled parking to parallel parking along Barracks Row, pedestrian refuge islands and a contraflow bike lane on D Street. "The main purposes ... are to provide adequate notice and provide details on the construction timeline and its actual impact so that folks who live, work, and go along this corridor know what to expect and when," an Agency official said during the meeting.

Why it matters: DOT said the corridor remains heavily used by buses after the system redesign. The agency cited ridership figures, saying the C-53 had "over 14,000 boardings on an average weekday," and that the corridor carries more than 15,000 combined daily boardings; about 1,200 boardings occur on the 8th Street segment itself. DOT’s needs assessment found slow bus speeds in several locations—often under seven miles per hour and in some places under four—creating the impetus for priority treatments.

Project details: Southbound bus lanes will be in an offset position to retain parking on the curb side; space for the lanes is created in part by converting angle parking to parallel parking along Barracks Row. DOT plans far-side relocations for several bus stops and said moving a stop to the far side of an intersection generally reduces signal-related delay. The agency also plans concrete bus-platform bulb-outs at several stops so buses can align with the curb and board riders more quickly and accessibly.

Safety elements include curb extensions, pedestrian refuges (notably near Eastern Market/Trader Joe’s), daylighting adjustments to meet local parking setback practice, and a contraflow bike lane on D Street to calm traffic near a playground. DOT said it coordinated with WMATA, the fire and EMS stations, and Marine Barracks Washington on operational needs.

Construction schedule and impacts: DOT listed a tentative April 6 start date, weather permitting, with April–July work focused on building bus platforms (about two weeks per platform, rolling work). The agency said it will construct northbound platforms first, then southbound, and complete a full repaving and final striping in August–September. Construction hours are expected to be 7 a.m.–7 p.m. on weekdays; limited weekend daytime work is possible. DOT said travel lanes are expected to remain open with occasional flagging; no systemwide detours are planned.

DOT also briefed attendees on staging and coordination: the first bus-platform construction at 8th and G will require a small staging area that may displace roughly two parking spaces temporarily, and the agency said it will coordinate to avoid conflicts with scheduled parades.

Next steps: DOT said the notice of intent comment period closed the week before the meeting and that final design is near completion. The project web page and the NOI include maps and curb-regulation details and list staff contact information for further questions.