Waterside Drive - Road Safety Improvements

NPS IS SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT:
In accordance with the NEPA, the NPS is preparing an EA to evaluate the proposed safety improvements where the southbound ramp of Waterside Drive merges onto Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway in Washington, D.C. The purpose of this proposed project is to improve traffic flow and to minimize the number of accidents along the Parkway in the vicinity of Waterside Drive. In addition, the EA also will consider ecologically sensitive methods of stabilizing the stream bank on the opposite side of Rock Creek from Waterside Drive. Severe erosion of this bank occurred during August and September of 2011, the result of flooding caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. This erosion is affecting the stability of the adjacent Rock Creek Trail.

Proposed safety improvements at this location originally were part of a larger planning effort, undertaken by the NPS and the FHWA in 2006, to reconstruct and rehabilitate Beach Drive and the Potomac Parkway. At that time, an EA was prepared for this project, part of which discussed safety improvements at Waterside Drive. In July 2011, soon after construction began at the intersection, the NPS learned that the design for this section of the project was different than what was described in the 2006 EA. Consequently, the NPS halted construction at Waterside Drive to re-initiate planning and compliance for this portion of the project. Construction of other portions of the project will continue as planned.

As part of this planning effort, the NPS seeks public input. A public scoping meeting to discuss the project will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2011, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center. The Nature Center is located at 5200 Glover Road NW, Washington, D.C. 20015. For directions, visit the park's Website at http://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/directions.htm.

Comments on the project will be accepted through Friday, November 18, 2011.

Document Content:

PUBLIC SCOPING NOTICE - WatersideDrive   (50.1 KB, PDF file) Waterside Drive Project Site Figures SCOPING INFORMATION   (4.4 MB, Word file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.