ECA asks DDOT for safety improvements on 2nd, 3rd, 4th and T Streets NE

On February 18, 2022, the Eckington Civic Association requested that the District Department of Transportation consider implementing traffic calming measures on 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and T streets NE, including:

  1. concrete bulb-outs with tree boxes on 2nd Street NE and 3rd Street NE from R Street NE to Rhode Island Avenue NE;
  2. contraflow bike lanes on 2nd Street NE and 3rd Street NE from R Street NE to Rhode Island Avenue NE;
  3. speed humps on 2nd Street NE and 3rd Street NE from R Street NE to Rhode Island Avenue NE;
  4. all-way raised crosswalks at the three-school-adjacent intersection of 2nd and T Streets NE;
  5. all-way stop intersections where U Street and Seaton Place intersect with 2nd and 3rd Streets;
  6. sidewalk widening with installation of tree boxes on T Street NE from 2nd Street NE to the Metropolitan Branch Trail connection;
  7. sidewalk-adjacent bike lane and raised platform bus stops and bioretention on 2nd Street NE from T Street NE to R Street NE;
  8. curbside protected bike lanes on 4th street NE (in lieu of painted lanes); and
  9. Reducing the speed limit on all roadways in question to 20 mph.

None of the proposed changes would significantly impact parking or vehicle traffic patterns. These requests are consistent with safety improvements that DDOT first proposed in its 2014 Mid-City East Livability Study and that were requested by the ECA in 2019.

We look forward to working with DDOT on these and other safety improvements in Eckington

You can view the full letter here.

ECA Launches Call for Grant Concepts

The ECA is requesting initial concepts for programs, projects, or activities that will serve Eckington residents. The ECA will consider concepts for projects within the following categories:

  • Improving the environment and health – environmental, sustainability, or health programs, projects, or services that improve the quality of life for Eckington residents
  • Promoting community engagement – programs or projects supporting community engagement and/or providing opportunities for neighbors to connect with each other
  • Supporting our youth – programs offering skill building, education, mentorship, civic engagement, or other community-building activities for Eckington youth
  • Enhancing traffic, biking, & pedestrian safety – educational or other programs promoting safety on Eckington’s roads and sidewalks

The ECA will award grants in two tiers: $200-$500, or $501-$1000. The ECA expects to grant up to $3,000 in total through this opportunity.

Questions will be accepted until March 4th, and concepts are due to the ECA at noon ET on March 14th. After evaluation, applicants proceeding to final evaluation will be invited to present to the Civic Association at our April 11th Virtual Meeting. For more detail, see the Request for Initial Concepts.

February 2022 Virtual Meeting Agenda

Feb. 14, 2022 | 7:00PM-8:30PM 

How to Participate in Our Virtual Meeting
Link: meet.google.com/ryy-qwco-bod 
Or dial: +1-219-654-2369‬ PIN: ‪149 080 474‬#

Agenda Items

ECA business — 7:00-8:15 pm

  • Establishing an ECA grant process
    • Feedback re: proposal to fund projects/programs/services that improve: environment/health; community engagement; youth; traffic/biking/pedestrian safety
    • Feedback re: evaluation criteria (that projects/programs/services: are available to a wide swath of Eckington residents; are aligned with ECA objectives; feasible; have sustainable/durable impacts; will be implemented by qualified organizations or individuals)
    • Vote to set aside $3,000 in ECA funds for 2022 grants.
  • Engine 12 RFP (2225 5th Street NE and 513 Rhode Island Avenue NE)
    • Presentation by EastBanc group (Nate Klass)
    • Presentation by MXTR Ventures (Stephen Rodiger
    • Vote on ECA letter to DMPED advocating for:
      • That all of the new housing be affordable (max 50% AMI) and that a significant portion of the units by deeply affordable (30% AMI) 
      • That the new housing include a significant number of family sized units
      • That a the project include a DCPL branch library to serve Edgewood and Eckington
      • That DMPED consider moving the fire station permanently to another location in the neighborhood so that the Library can occupy the ground floor (which is DCPL’s preference for new facilities) 
    • Vote on ECA letter to Mayor Bowser, Councilmember McDuffie, and Councilmember Trayon White requesting that the funding for the Edgewood/Eckington library be moved forward from FY 2024 to FY2023 so that it aligns with this development process. 
  • Discussion of and vote on draft letter to DDOT re: traffic safety on 2nd, 3rd, T and 4th Streets NE.
  • Short updates:

Updates from the offices of elected representatives and community members — 8:15-8:30 pm

Upcoming Meetings & Events

January 2022 Meeting Highlights

Highlights from our first meeting of 2022 have been posted.

In this meeting, ECA members voted:

  • YES on previously discussed draft bylaw amendment to create “officer emeritus” position.
  • YES to submit FY 2023 budget request to advance environmental and equity issues in Eckington & across Ward 5, including: funds for Ward 5 sidewalk and tree box installations, development of a Ward 5 Circulator bus route, installation of continuous air monitoring in Ward 5’s industrial neighborhoods, and more resources for litter collection/removal.
  • YES to submit letter (to be drafted) to Ward 5 ANC redistricting committee:
    • Advocating for the breakup of ANC 5E, which currently includes Eckington, Bloomingdale, Edgewood, Stronghold and Truxton Circle, has over 25,000 residents, and would be comprised of at least 13 single member districts if its boundaries remained unchanged.
    • Expressing preference for Eckington to be part of a commission composed of approximately 7-8 commissioners, a size which is more amenable to stakeholder engagement.
    • Noting that Eckington now has approximately 7,000 residents according to the recent census and that there will be at least three and a half ANC commissioners representing our neighborhood at the conclusion of redistricting.
    • Advocating that to the extent possible, Eckington’s single member districts anticipate the growth of the neighborhood since the 2020 census (residents of Eckington Yards, Eckington 501, and Rhode Island Avenue development all will not figure into redistricting this cycle)

We also flagged a number of opportunities for members to contribute to the Eckington Community, including:

  • Join a short-term committee to establish and award community grants in 2022. Committee members will meet by phone in late January/early February to scope proposed purpose (tentatively relating to supporting organizations that serve Eckington and activities that promote community building, environmental improvements, safety, and opportunities for youth), criteria for grants, and other details for a request for proposals/evaluation process. We will seek to have candidates for ECA consideration by April. To join the committee, please email Taylor (taylor.eckingtoncivic@gmail.com).
  • Join our outreach & liaison committee to support ECA outreach within your building/block. This will include helping to get the word out about ECA and important news, as well as flagging hyperlocal concerns and priorities for the ECA.
  • Be on the lookout for an email from the ECA – expected in the next two weeks or so – with a request for input on 2022 budget priorities for the city. 

Our next meeting will be from 7-8:30 pm on Monday, February 14. We’ll be meeting virtually — feel free to bring your Valentine (or just wine and chocolate).

January 2022 Virtual Meeting Agenda

Jan. 10, 2022 | 7:00PM-8:30PM 

How to Participate in Our Virtual Meeting
Link: meet.google.com/ryy-qwco-bod 
Or dial: +1-219-654-2369‬ PIN: ‪149 080 474‬#

Join the Civic Association: Register here (it’s free)
You can also support the civic association by making a one time or recurring donation

Agenda Items

ECA business — 7:00-8:00 pm

  • Vote on previously discussed draft bylaw amendment to create “officer emeritus” position 
  • Vote to submit FY 2023 budget request to advance environmental issues in Eckington & across Ward 5, including: funds for Ward 5 sidewalk and tree box installations, development of a Ward 5 circulator, installation of continuous air monitoring in Ward 5’s industrial neighborhoods, and more resources for litter collection/removal. 
  • Vote on to submit letter to Ward 5 ANC redistricting committee:
    • Advocating for the breakup of ANC 5E, which now has over 25,000 residents (and would be comprised of at least 13 single member districts if its boundaries remained unchanged)
    • Expressing preference for Eckington to be part of a commission composed of approximately 7-8 commissioners. 
    • Noting that Eckington now has approximately 7,000 residents according to the recent census and that there will be at least three and a half ANC commissioners representing our neighborhood at the conclusion of redistricting. 
    • Advocating that to the extent possible, Eckington’s single member districts anticipate the growth of the neighborhood since the 2020 census (residents of Eckington Yards, Eckington 501, and Rhode Island Avenue development all will not figure into redistricting this cycle)
  • Short updates:
    • ECA to establish and award community grants in 2022 
    • Join our new committees:
    • DC’s Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development extended the deadline for responding to its RFP for 2225 5th Street NE and 513 Rhode Island Avenue NE to February:
      • DMPED and the DC Public Library have not had any conversations about this property (or, it seems, about DCPL’s need for a library location in Edgewood/Eckington by FY 2024)
      • One thing the ECA will consider is whether to advocate that DMPED reissue its RFP to specifically include a library and/or permanently move the fire station to another location
    • DDOT revealed that Florida Avenue and North Capitol Street are part of its near-term vision for bus priority. We anticipate working with them on this in the coming year. 

Updates from the offices of elected representatives and community members — 8:00-8:30 pm

Upcoming Meetings & Events