On January 11, 2018, CHRS testified before the Council against DDOT’s (and EventsDC’s) proposed “Park Drive” on the west bank of the Anacostia River. The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail runs 20 miles along the river, passing near Barney Circle and RFK Stadium. It’s an amazing resource. But DDOT proposes to build a “Park Drive” for vehicles, paralleling the Riverwalk Trail.
- The proposed road is in a 100-year floodplain. No road should be ever be built here.
- This is a natural resource area and roads are a danger to wildlife.
- Residents of eastern Capitol Hill have repeatedly opposed the “Park Drive” in public meetings.
Charles Allen was at the hearing, and after our testimony he stated that he is “no fan” of the Park Drive, agreed that it would be a commuter connection, and added that if there was a lot of traffic, it might later be expanded from the proposed 2 lanes to 4 lanes.
Proposed Park Drive, DDOT Middle Anacostia Crossing Study (2005) – Blue Arrow = Park Drive; Green Arrow = Anacostia Riverwalk
Anacostia Riverwalk in red (source, DDOT) – Orange Arrow = RFK Stadium