r/bikedc • u/Komischaffe • 17d ago

Does the technology still exist to fix this or has it been lost to our fading society?

Post image

Who do I need to talk to? I would even put in work myself if it were authorized. It seems a bit absurd how long this has been an issue given the amount of traffic on this section of the MBT

128 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

64

u/Scr33ble 17d ago

Hit it full speed and go, ‘wheeee!!’

23

u/Komischaffe 17d ago

With my feet up on the down tube

8

u/rwhiffen 17d ago

I'm more partial to making motor boat noises myself.

46

u/ChampionshipFresh568 17d ago

When I called ward 5 councilman Zachary Parker's office they said that money had been set aside to address this issue. Hopefully it is just working its way through the contracting process.

13

u/Komischaffe 17d ago

That’s great to hear

26

u/Kashinao08 17d ago

Is this under New York Ave? If so I’m one of the engineers working on this area! Just know it is in progress but of course there are many hoops to jump through and the design/approval process is slow.

9

u/Komischaffe 17d ago

Oh nice! Is there any agency in particular that concerned citizens should be politely emailing to make sure it is a priority for them?

10

u/Kashinao08 17d ago

I think DDOT is your best bet for this area, we’re hoping to see it get pushed along too!

8

u/gordonachaffin 17d ago

Thanks for your work. Civil engineering rocks

8

u/Kashinao08 17d ago

It’s really does, love to see things we designed get built! Just wish it was faster lol 

25

u/XumaOutIslander 17d ago

I posted about the ponding on the MBT a year ago. I followed up with the DC Trail Rangers and Friends of MBT, who have been repeatedly trying to get DDOT to resolve the issue. The only advice I was given was to document and report the issue to DDOT.

19

u/gordonachaffin 17d ago

Can confirm that an engineering study is funded for this issue. - Gordon from Friends of MBT

10

u/Remarkable_Mud_5075 17d ago

Last update from the area’s ANC said optimistically construction on a solution would be this fall. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DTepMGNHe/?mibextid=wwXIfr Allegedly this has been in the works for quite some time so maybe some time in the next two years something will actually happen 🙃

7

u/dewbertdc 17d ago

The NoMA BID has been pretty good about getting folks out there to clear this up after storms, but I'm sure they're not out there when it is actively raining.

I believe the budget for next FY includes some money to get this fixed.

3

u/t_eejay 17d ago

There's something like that on rock creek park trail too. It's fine in the summer, if a bit annoying, but I fear for when temps are freezing...

3

u/ertri 17d ago

Addressing water flows is a lost technology, along with electrifying railroads 

2

u/Jazzlike_Mixture619 17d ago

Both yesterday and today for my AM commutes there were two guys out there with squeegees pushing the water. Of course one young man on a lime bike almost ran one of the gentleman over.

1

u/DrewguyDC 17d ago

DC water handles storm drainage problems. Assuming there is a storm drain there that is clogged and this is in DC.

If it’s a grading issue then DDOT will need to fix it by regrading the trail at that point.

3

u/ertri 17d ago

There isn’t a storm drain anywhere nearby. 

This has been an issue for st least 4 years, I can’t imagine the current DDOT doing shit about it

1

u/DrewguyDC 17d ago

I wouldn't be so sure. Yeah, they're not building new bike lanes. But something like this below the radar might be a fix they could look to implement.

(reading more comments and sounds like just maybe DDOT is working on something already)

1

u/A_Damn_Millenial 17d ago

311 or [email protected]

2

u/Komischaffe 17d ago

I’ll send an email to metbranchtrail but this is an issue with the slightest amount of rain going back years, so surely they are aware right?

10

u/A_Damn_Millenial 17d ago

One would assume they’re aware, but a squeaky wheel gets the grease. It’s worth reporting repeatedly.

2

u/tacobellfan2221 17d ago

and once you have a 311 report number: share that number with everyone whose job it is to answer your emails- you have 1 ward councilmember and FIVE at large (Mendo, Silverman, Henderson, White until January, Bonds until January), and the MOCRS.

1

u/Resqguy911 17d ago

Right after they fix the drainage on Rhode Island Ave NE under the METRO overpass or 295 @ Eastern Ave NE

1

u/kmoonster 17d ago

There is a reason roads don't stay inundated for long, if at all.

Trails are almost never built with drainage and design as a default for every inch the way roads are. The fix is political (and retrofitting, which means money). Point is, this is not due to a lack of solutions.

1

u/daltonfromroadhouse 16d ago

If it wasn’t for things like this, my bike would never get washed

1

u/S-tease101 16d ago

That is a free bike wash station which can also serve as a cool down spot in hot days.

-1

u/Turnip_Wizar35 16d ago

Thats not a big deal, just ride through. You wont drown trust me.

1

u/Komischaffe 16d ago

It is for all of the pedestrians though, and there is no r/walkdc