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Feb. 22, 2003
Adrian Fenty
D.C. Council Member
Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Mr. Fenty:
On behalf of ANC3D, I would like to commend you for your legislative
efforts to provide greater protection for pedestrians in our city.
The legislation you sponsored to have the city pay for the full cost of a
new sidewalk abolishing the inhibiting provision requiring residents to
pay half the cost has made it far easier to construct a sidewalk along
busy roads, such as Arizona Avenue in our neighborhood, so that
pedestrians no longer need to walk on the roadbed. In effect, the
criterion for a sidewalk no longer is the willingness of an individual
resident to pay half the cost but rather whether the sidewalk is necessary
for the safety of pedestrians.
Similarly, we support the legislation you have introduced to change the
law so that drivers be required to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk,
not just yield. The current law requiring drivers to yield is ambiguous in
its application, both to drivers as well as pedestrians. The result is
that crossing in a crosswalk, as on MacArthur Boulevard, often turns into
a game of dodge-em, with the pedestrian uncertain whether the driver will
yield and the driver interpreting yieldas meaning he or she can speed in
front or behind the pedestrian.
I do hope that Councilmember Kathy Patterson, as Chair of the Judiciary
Committee, will give favorable consideration to your legislation, and for
that reason I shall send her a copy of this letter.
Mayor Williams has set the laudable goal of making Washington into a
pedestrian friendly city.You are providing legislative leadership in
achieving that goal.
Sincerely yours,
John W. Finney
Chair, ANC3D
Cc: Councilmember Kathy Patterson
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