Sycamore Street Project Identified in WCA Conservation Plan: In our neighborhood survey, Sycamore Street was identified by survey respondents as particularly dangerous for pedestrians. Some residents suggested a landscaped median be installed on Sycamore from 26th Street to Williamsburg Boulevard, with appropriate breaks for crossovers and crosswalks. A landscaped median would not only improve the appearance of this area, but would also serve to discipline and direct traffic. Speeding often occurs on Sycamore Street, and some drivers make U-turns across the roadway. A median and crosswalks would afford some additional protection to the many pedestrians who cross Sycamore Street on their way to and from the metro station. Recommendation 33 of our Conservation Plan adopted this goal: "Install a landscaped median and appropriate crosswalks on Sycamore Street from 26th Street to Williamsburg Boulevard."

Sycamore Street Working Group: In the summer 2002, several people who live on Sycamore or must cross it daily to get to the metro station or bike trail suggested that we adopt a median/pedestrian safety project for Sycamore Street as a new NC project. Sycamore resident Ricky Pursley volunteered to chair a working group to organize the project. We publicized the project proposal in WCA newsletters, beginning in August 2002. The project was also an agenda item at WCA meetings, starting in September 2002.

Traffic Study: On 6 September 2002, WCA wrote to the County Staff to request that a traffic study be done of Sycamore Street between 26th Street and the Williamsburg Traffic Circle. The goal of the study was to determine whether changing Sycamore Street from a four lane to a two lane street would cause traffic tie-ups.

Draft Project Proposal: In October and November 2002, the Sycamore Street Working Group developed a draft project proposal for the project. In early November, 2002, we forwarded this proposal to the County Staff, so that staff members could devise more detailed traffic studies on the potential impact of the project.

The project area is shown in the map below.

Preliminary Project Concept: Over the spring and summer 2003, the County did traffic surveys to determine whether they could support our proposal to reduce the number of travel lanes on Sycamore Street from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction. The Public Works Department developed a concept plan consisting of a 13 foot center landscaped median, one travel lane, one bike lane, and a parking lane in each direction. This plan is now just about ready to go to the Sycamore Street Working Group for review.

Want to keep updated on the project? Ricky Pursley is chairing the working group on this project. If you would like to participate in this effort, please contact him at 703-536-7495 (home); 202-663-8757 (work), or email him at: Ricky.Pursley@shawpittman.com or rickyapursley@juno.com

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