Adams Morgan bus lane project moves forward as opponents vow fight

WASHINGTON (7News) — Construction on the Columbia Road NW Bus Priority Project is approximately 50% complete.

The project was touted as a solution to the congestion on Columbia Road affecting cyclists, pedestrians and especially bus riders through Adams Morgan.

“A 2002 study by the Washington DC Department of Transportation found that buses are slower than walking on this route because there is so much congestion,” said Elizabeth Kiker, executive director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association.

“The side effect is that the existing bike lanes may be a little safer, but they are not being created from scratch,” said Peter Wood, ANC 1C03.

The plan calls for bus/bike lanes to be built on Columbia Road from 16th Street to California Street.

The project includes protected bike lanes and bus-only lanes, as well as relocating bus stops or increasing the spacing between stops to reduce delays in an area that the city says has a history of unsafe conditions and serious accidents.

Nevertheless, there is loud opposition to the plan.

READ MORE | Metro to close some Blue, Orange and Silver Line stations for construction projects in December

“They're marketing it as bus efficiency so the buses will go faster,” said Shawn Fenty, owner of Fleet Feet Sports on Columbia Road. “They seem to want to jam protected bike lanes into that corridor. That limits the flexibility of all users in the corridor.”

Fenty also criticizes the number of parking spaces that will be lost due to the new lanes.

Opponents also said that the installation of pedestrian islands would make the street unsafe for everyone.

“Instead of stopping to pick up people safely, the buses are holding up traffic for miles,” said Nancy Shevlin. “We've never had traffic jams on this side before. Now we have them, and it's not just because of the construction.”

Shevlin said a driver had an accident on one of the islands on Thursday morning.

Some supporters of the project said this was a sign that the systems were working.

“I think it should be a barrier for cars,” says Jason Berger, who frequently rides his bike on Columbia Road. “I think cars can drive very fast here and make turns without looking. When they do that, I am literally affected on a daily basis. So I'm very happy to have a solid object in the way.”

One problem for opponents is that the project is already in its fourth phase and the concrete work is almost half completed.

However, after a bike lane project on Connecticut Avenue was abandoned, opponents said they could and should try to stop it.

RELATED TOPICS | Debate over possible bike lanes on Connecticut Avenue in DC continues

“Nothing is impossible,” Fenty said. “They put it in so they can take it out, but we are under no illusion that it won't be difficult.”

“There are people trying to get the attention (of elected officials) and say we want to make the streets safer for everyone, including cyclists,” said Jocelynn Johnson, who opposes the lanes. “We can't organize a meeting that they don't show up to.”

“We don’t want to say they shouldn’t be safe, but we should be safe too.”

Wood insists the process has been transparent and has been ongoing since 2021.

“I think the next steps are to make the bus system really enjoyable to use and get ridership to the level it needs to be,” he said.

“I think drivers need to understand that not all roads are open to them and that pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users also have access,” Kiker said.