rehabilitation of h street, n.e.
The District Department of Transportation entrusted Volkert Engineering to redesign the six-lane commuter thoroughfare into a multi-modal corridor supporting mass transit and an enhanced pedestrian experience. Streetcar transfer points, strategically located at three intersections, were designed as outdoor gathering spaces that extend the sidewalk towards the roadway increasing the pedestrian area and providing traffic calming devices along the corridor.
Volkert Engineering responded to the public’s desire of improving accessibility to and from transit stops, as well as strengthening the physical connection from the side streets to the corridor’s businesses. The streetscape design carefully balances these components to accommodate the three principles of sustainability: economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability.
One of the biggest challenges was maintaining adequate services for the thousands of residents and businesses impacted by the work. This included planning a multiple-phased Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) to reduce the impacts on traffic and parking, as well as developing a plan to relocate and upgrade utilities without suspending service.
Another complicated part was the integration of the streetcar infrastructure and its track system. H Street NE is a critical segment of the streetcar system, and Volkert’s role in incorporating this service into the current infrastructure will help future mass transit systems in the District of Columbia.
Services Provided: Site Survey, Geotechnical Study, Civil Engineering, Lighting Design, Roadway Design, Traffic Management, Stormwater Management, Utility Relocation, Landscape Architecture, Public Outreach