On southbound 14th Street, at N Street Northwest, contractors are creating the initial island, as part of DDOT’s 14th Street NW Streetscape project.
For commuters, the project will begin at Florida Avenue Northwest and run about a mile to Thomas Circle.
While the District has created a network of bicycle lanes, including ones protected behind parked cars, bike commuter Drew Stuyvenberg said the concrete islands will provide an extra level of safety on busy 14th Street.
“Right now it’s really just a paint stripe on the road, to demarcate the bike lanes, and some (drivers) feel at liberty to use that as a place to load or unload,” Stuyvenberg said.
Despite ongoing construction, lane shifts and limited visibility on 14th Street to accommodate the new islands, Stuyvenberg continued to use the route on Thursday.
“I feel safer on 14th than most of the other routes, largely because of the bike lanes,” Stuyvenberg said. “On top of that, the light timing’s better on 14th, so it’s a short-term headache for some long-term gain.”
Eventually, bus shelters will be erected on the bus islands, which will act as a buffer for a 5-foot bike lane that will include a curb to separate it from sidewalks.
Other transportation improvements in the streetscape project include ADA-compliant ramps, new streetlights and traffic signals, multi-space parking meters, benches, bike racks and landscaping.
