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The
Cause
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Public Safety
Public safety officials have
indicated that Klingle Road is critical to protection of life and
property. These include the Fraternal Order
of Police, the International Fire Firefighters Local 36, the
American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Local 3721 (who
represents paramedics and emergency medical technicians in the
District of Columbia Fire and EMS Department), numerous DC
professional ambulance and wheelchair transport services such as
Professional Ambulance Service, Silver Spring Ambulance Service, Metro
Care Wheelchair Transport, and Ambulance Services Companies.
Safety analyses conducted in the study area reveal that there were
approximately 69 crashes over a 3-year period. The majority of
these crashes, approximately 56, occurred at the intersection of
Connecticut Avenue and Porter Street. In general, it is expected that
the overall accidents in the study area could be reduced if Klingle Road
was open due to the diversion of traffic from the intersection of
Connecticut Avenue and Porter Street. Berger Study, D-10
In September 1994, then DPW Director, Betty Hager Francis wrote a letter
to Woodley Park which states, "[M]any motorists, local residents,
and the Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) and the police department
responded opposing the closure. According to the police department,
periodic closures of the roadway due to storm damage had greatly
increased traffic congestion at Porter St. and Connecticut Ave.
resulting in long delays for emergency vehicles. Since the roadway is
presently closed, emergency services continue to experience delays in
responding to assignments because of longer distances to travel
and traffic congestion which is more frequent and severe due to
increasing traffic volumes." (Exhibit
2)
In November of that same year, US Department of Interior stated to DPW
their understanding that emergency service operations have identified
Klingle Road as a "critical thoroughfare that is necessary to
protect life and property."
Police
and fire officials have stated that open roads enhance police operations
and emergency preparedness. Multiple bridge closings and other emergency
scenarios are less difficult to imagine these days. Many of these
scenarios involve transporting personnel and equipment across wards and
through the city. Eliminating roads restricts logistical options.
Klingle Road provides quick access
from the Reno Road area of the city to major medical facilities such
as the Washington Hospital Center, Children's National Medical Center,
Washington Veteran's Administration Hospital, National Rehabilitation
Hospital, Providence Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children.
Access for medical staff, hospital workers, families, and patients of
the hospitals
located in NW and NE Washington using Klingle
Road to Adams Mill Road to Irving Street, NW.
At the December 13,
2001 Mayor's Press Conference, DDOT Director Dan Tangherlini said:
"What are some of the other issues beyond pure cost
benefit? Safety. This is a very
curvy, winding road. We would never be able to build a road
like this."
All the roads feeding into Rock Creek Park, including Beach Drive
are curvy and winding. The roads and trails of Rock Creek Park form a historically
significant circulation system. The circulation system of the park
also contributes a distinctive layered historic character to the
park. Many of the historic trails were adapted from old
farm roads. All
of the park's serpentine roads were designed as pleasure
drives. The
present road system continues to reflect their original
purpose of providing public access to the enjoyment of
extraordinary rural scenery.
Although adapted to the automobile, the designed
alignment, width and environmental surroundings of these
scenic roads has not substantially changed since the 1920s.
(National Register of Historic Places).
Cyclists
and bikers have safety issues too.
DPW Study
shows safety will increase.
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