K & WATER STREET IMPROVEMENT PLAN
K and Water Street were home to an active railroad and port terminal for more than a century. In 1980, the railroad lost its last customer, and the rail line was converted into the Capital Crescent Trail and a fully paved street—the one you drive, walk, work, live and bike along today.
What Needs Improvement?
While the adjacent private and National Park Service properties have seen remarkable change since 1980, the streetscape has not changed significantly in nearly 40 years.
The convergence of businesses, residences, commercial office space, and recreational activities now cause conflicts between cars, cyclists and pedestrians. Additional problems include drag racing, tour buses and trucks damaging infrastructure while turning around on Water St, traffic issues while looking for parking, and congestion around the Wisconsin Ave and K St intersection, among others.
What’s the Solution?
In summer 2016, Toole Design Group delivered a concept plan for the K / Water St corridor that can be rapidly installed using off-the-shelf materials such as planters, roadway paint, and traffic control devices. The plan includes changes and improvements in the following key areas:
This concept plan was created as a result of Georgetown 2028—the Georgetown BID’s 15-year-action plan. The K / Water St corridor was identified as an area in need of substantial evaluation and change to improve safety and livability.
What’s Next?
DDOT is developing the concept into engineering plans that can be activated along the corridor. The Georgetown BID anticipates receiving these plans by the end of June, along with a notice of intent--a document expressing the agency’s intent to proceed with this project. The lower-Georgetown community will have a chance to comment on these plans and influence the design.
The BID will be bringing together a steering committee to try and best coordinate all the community’s goals so that we can advance them with this planning effort.
The History of K & Water St