 |
 |
|
The
District |
|
|
|
March 2003
News from John Finney, ANC3D
UPGRADE projects: # NEWARK STREET from Potomac to MacArthur. New curb and gutters will be placed along the gutterless street. Originally scheduled for resurfacing, it was upgraded to a new asphalt road because of the poor condition of the current roadway. Wheel Chair ramps will be installed on the east side of the street to provide disabled crossing at Sherier. Poles will have to be replaced at corners of Newark and Sherier to accommodate new wheelchair ramps. FOXHALL PLACE–from W Street to Cul-de-sac–Replacement of curb and gutter and upgrading of the roadway. A curbed circle was considered in the interior of the cul-de-sac but was not included because it would not meet minimum engineering requirement for emergency vehicles. Work will include laying of underground conduits for wiring of streetlights. W STREET from Foxhall Road to dead end–Replacement of curb and gutter and upgrading of highway. The curb will be dropped in front of driveways and drainage basins will be updated. Underground conduits for street lights. The roadway will narrow from 34 feet to 20.5 feet east of Foxhall. RECONSTRUCTION projects ESKRIDGE TERRACE from Dana Place to Garfield Street–Replacement of all sidewalks with the exception of west side sidewalk north of Dana Place in front of Key School. “Tree pruning may be necessary due to the fact that some of the roots are in the roadway. Every effort will be made to preserve the existing trees. The contractor will make every effort to minimize the impact on parents and students being dropped of and picked up. Please advise us of special events/circumstances.” Mr. Khalid can be reached by e-mail at Muhammed.Khalid@dc.gov. His phone number is 671-4577. RESURFACING projects GLENBROOK Road from Loughboro to Rockwood Parkway – new asphalt surface and new curbs and gutters. New underground conduits for streetlight wiring. 45TH STREET from Klingle to Lowell – new asphalt surface and spot repairs to sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Sewer basin improvements. Separate notice will be sent by Mr. Khalid’s office to affected residents well in advance of construction. For further information you can visit the project web site at www.dcroadwaysWard3and4.com. This information will also be placed on our new ANC web site at ANC3D.org. A copy of the engineering drawings for the road work will be placed at the Palisades Branch Library. In his letter to ANC3D, Mr. Khalid said, “we are looking forward to working with you and citizens of your community to successfully complete construction of this project.” To me at least, that seemingly pro forma statement is of great importance in signifying a changing relationship between an executive agency and an ANC. In my two+ years as commissioner, I have whined, wheedled and shouted in trying to get city agencies and our council members to give ANC’s advance notice of impending actions that may affect their neighborhoods. Of all the District departments (and Council), I think, with this voluminous advance notice, DDOT is in the vanguard in trying to keep ANC’s informed in advance of its plans. When it does, it gives residents a chance to review the plans before construction and to enter suggestions or complaints. When it does not, we can get into a nasty snit, as when Spring Valley residents were not informed in advance of the installation of new lights on some of their streets. There still remains the vexatious problem of how do you spread the word to the citizenry–a question that has intrigued me ever since I went into newspapering over a half century ago. The communications age has given us new tools that we are still trying to master. That’s the principal reason for this e-mailed newsletter. Under the skillful direction of Robert Andrew, our ANC3D web site is taking informative shape. But how do you get people to turn to our web site–or read the informative but space-limited Northwest Current.? I am afraid I return in resignation to the Navy saying in World War II, when we communicated in Morse code at eight words a minute: “There’s always some darn fool who doesn’t get the word.” In our case, often it is residents who don’t get informed or involved until after the process has run its course and decisions reached. Then belatedly some can rise up in righteous indignation. I have reached the conclusion that grass roots democracy, which is what the ANC’s are all about, is wonderful, but it can produce some crab grass. I would welcome your positive, even critical suggestions, on how to improve communications in a grassroots democracy. Meanwhile, until the next newsletter, I remain your humble, aging servant. John W. Finney, ANC3D Phone (202) 966-6921 5275 Watson St. NW DC 20016 |
| ||||
