Norton Writes in Support of Protected Bike Lane Connecting Union Station and Capitol; Announces Funding in Transportation Bill on Floor Now

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released a letter she wrote to Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers and District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Leif Dormsjo urging support for the construction of a protected bicycle lane facility on Louisiana Avenue NE between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds. Norton said D.C. biking advocates have already gotten the construction of the bike lane included in DDOT's MoveDC two-year action plan for D.C.'s transportation future. Norton said the project has broad support from the community, local officials, and Members of Congress.

Norton helped include federal funding to support safe streets projects in the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015, which she introduced with the three other bipartisan Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders. The bill is being debated on the House floor this week.

In her letter, Norton wrote, "A protected bike lane between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds on Louisiana Avenue would improve safety and provide a vital link between already existing bike lanes in the area.…There is uniform support by the surrounding community for a protected bike lane on Louisiana Avenue connecting Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C have both written to your offices expressing strong support for the bike lane. In addition, my congressional colleagues representing our bipartisan Congressional Bike Caucus, of which I am a member, have written in support of this bike lane."

Norton's full letter is below.
Stephen T. Ayers
Architect of the Capitol
SB-15, U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Leif Dormsjo
Director
D.C. Department of Transportation
55 M Street, SE
Suite 400
Washington, DC 2000

Dear Architect of the Capitol Ayers and Director Dormsjo:

I am writing to support bicyclists in the District of Columbia who have gotten the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) to include in its MoveDC plan the construction of a protected bicycle lane facility on Louisiana Avenue NE between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds. This project has broad support from the community and Members of Congress, and it would provide a vital benefit to the many residents, visitors, and workers that traverse the area by bicycle.

A protected bike lane between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds on Louisiana Avenue would improve safety and provide a vital link between already existing bike lanes in the area. Union Station and the U.S. Capitol are separated by multi-lane roadways with fast-moving traffic, which poses safety risks to the residents, workers, and visitors destined for Union Station, the U.S. Capitol, and points beyond. DDOT has already constructed protected bike lanes on Pennsylvania Avenue NW and First Street NE and throughout the city. Filling in the missing link on Louisiana Avenue NE would help complete this network of bicycle lanes.

There is uniform support by the surrounding community for a protected bike lane on Louisiana Avenue connecting Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C have both written to your offices expressing strong support for the bike lane. In addition, my congressional colleagues representing our bipartisan Congressional Bike Caucus, of which I am a member, have written in support of this bike lane. This support shows that a protected bike lane is needed, and will provide a safer and more efficient connection between Union Station, a major transportation hub, and the U.S. Capitol and surrounding neighborhoods.

As you evaluate the feasibility of a protected bike lane facility between Union Station and the U.S. Capitol Grounds, I ask that you keep my office informed. I will have staff follow up with your offices on a timeline for completion.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton

CC: The Honorable Earl Blumenauer, Co-Chair, Congressional Bike Caucus
The Honorable Vern Buchanan, Co-Chair, Congressional Bike Caucus
Councilmember Charles Allen, Ward 6
Mark Kazmierczak, Chair, Transportation/Public Space Committee. ANC 6C
Greg Billing, Executive Director, Washington Area Bicyclist Association