Transportation & the Environment Public Hearing

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION & THE ENVIRONMENT MARY M. CHEH, CHAIR NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON B24-673, the Safer Intersections Amendment Act of 2022; and B24-674, the Upgrading Tactical Safety Projects Amendment Act of 2022 Thursday, May 5, 2022, at 12:00 PM Councilmember Cheh’s Facebook Page (facebook.com/cmmarycheh) DC Council Website (https://dccouncil.us/) Council Channel 13 (Cable Television Providers) Office of Cable Television Website (entertainment.dc.gov) On Thursday, May 5, 2022, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, will hold a hearing on Bill 24-673, the Safer Intersections Amendment Act of 2022 and Bill 224-674, the Upgrading Tactical Safety Projects Amendment Act of 2022. The hearing will begin at 12:00 PM and be broadcast live on DC Council Channel 13 and streamed live at www.dccouncil.us, facebook.com/cmmarycheh, and entertainment.dc.gov. B24-673 would prohibit motor vehicles from making right turns against a solid red traffic signal, except where DDOT has determined that allowing right turns on red would improve safety, and has posted signage permitting it. The bill would also legalize the “Idaho Stop” which permits bicycle and scooter riders to treat stop signs as a yield, and red lights as a stop sign, allowing them to proceed through intersections safely while yielding to other traffic and pedestrians. B24-674 would require DDOT to develop and implement an annual plan to convert temporary tactical safety projects such as curb extensions and bike lanes made with plastic flex posts, to permanent more durable materials such as metal and cement. The annual plan would allow DDOT flexibility to determine which projects to upgrade, but would require at least 20% of total existing tactical projects to be upgraded. The plan would be posted online and disseminated to all Advisory Neighborhood Commissions and would be open for public comment for at least 30 days. Due to the imminent threat to the health, safety, and welfare of District residents posed by the spread of the coronavirus, the Council has adapted the methods by which committees may hold public hearings and roundtables to comply with social distancing, large public gatherings, and other public health and safety requirements. Therefore, this public roundtable will be held remotely through the Zoom teleconferencing platform. The Committee invites the public to testify or to submit written testimony, which will be made a part of the official record. Anyone wishing to testify should contact Ms. Aukima Benjamin, Staff Assistant to the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, at least 24 hours prior to the start of the hearing at (202) 724-8062 or via e-mail at abenjamin@dccouncil.us; witnesses will receive information on how to join the hearing at that time. Witnesses who anticipate needing language interpretation, or requiring sign language interpretation, are requested to inform the Committee of the need as soon as possible but no later than five business days before the hearing, which is April 28, 2022. We will make every effort to fulfill timely requests; however, requests received in less than five business days may not be fulfilled and alternatives may be offered. If you are unable to testify at the public hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record; testimony may be submitted to abenjamin@dccouncil.us. The public may also leave voicemail testimony for the Committees by calling (202) 350-1344, which will be transcribed and made part of the hearing record. Members of the public leaving voicemail testimony should speak slowly and clearly, state their full name and the organization they represent, if any, and note the bill, hearing, or agency that they are submitting testimony on. Members of the public are asked to not provide an e-mail, phone number, or other personal contact information in voicemail testimony. The record will close at the end of the business day on May 19, 2022.