Yes, ‘What About the Future?’ BID’s 2028 Plan

Now that the Georgetown Business Improvement District has formally delivered its “Georgetown 2028” plan, other media outlets are chiming it on it, while local news outlets, such as the Georgetowner, have been reporting on the ongoing Georgetown BID discussions for months.

The biggest attention-grabbers about Georgetown’s possible future have been: a Metrorail station, a aerial gondola or cable car from the Rosslyn Metro stop to M or Prospect Street and streetcars along K Street and to Georgetown University. The BID plan is wide-ranging and ambitious — and required reading by Georgetown residents.

The Georgetown BID writes: “Georgetown 2028 – the eight-month-long initiative that led to this plan – was conceived as a strategic approach for the community to envision and plan for Georgetown’s business district evolution over the next 15 years. This plan ensures that today’s leaders can be certain of delivering this historic district to future generations and feel confident that Georgetown remains a world-class commercial district and one of the nation’s most desirable destinations. Simply put, the 2028 vision is to build an economically stronger and more sustainable Georgetown commercial district while bolstering the residential community by preserving what is great about Georgetown, fixing what is broken and creating what is missing.”
“This Action Agenda will be the basis for much of the Georgetown BID’s work in the coming years. The BID will use this plan to develop its five-year renewal plan in 2014, anticipating that BID staffing and budget decisions will align with the 2028 action items it is agreeing to spearhead.”

Herewith, 75 proposed action items by BID for your consideration. For the complete “Georgetown 2028” PDF — which we recommend that you take the time to read — visit Georgetowner.com for details.

Georgetown 2028 Action Agenda

Key: Major milestones in 3, 7 and/or 15 years
Priority Milestones

Canal: Restore, preserve, and activate the C & O Canal
1— Launch a multi-stakeholder planning process for the Canal’s future
2— Fundraise for a new canal barge
3— Demonstrate new programs, activities and designs for public feedback
4— Supplement and enhance the NPS Visitor Center to support more activity
5— Design educational programs that inform the public about the Canal
6— Implement Canal plan and well received demonstration projects

Wayfinding (signage): Enhance visitor’s sense of arrival and ease of navigation
7— Install previously approved wayfinding system from DDOT
8— Explore physical and mobile expansions for wayfinding in commercial areas
9— Develop and implement a gateway strategy for major access points to the commercial district

Improved streetscapes: Maintain a historic and charming character in the 21st Century
10— Develop design and material guidelines for street furniture and landscaping
11— Pilot temporary sidewalk widening programs
12— Identify and improve pedestrian choke points on commercial corridors
13— Create active pedestrian links through alleyways and side streets
14— Install parklets on commercial side streets
15— Improve the safety and convenience of pedestrian crossings
16— Improve pedestrian connections between Georgetown University and M Street

Wisconsin Avenue renewal: Foster engaging retail activity from M Street to Book Hill
17— Create a forum for property owners on 1300 and 1400 block to plan for the future
18— Establish a community-owned building for a bookstore

Waterfront District: Develop new retail, restaurants and programs south of M Street
19— Create frequent, recurring programs that promote street life
20— Explore policies to limit the holding of liquor licenses in safekeeping
21— Pilot parklets adjacent to retailers and restaurants
22— Promote the conversion of ground floor space into retail and restaurant destinations
23— Improve and expand pedestrian connections between M Street and K Street
24— Leverage small public spaces for seating, public art and games
25— Explore artistic installations and lighting that add interest to Whitehurst Freeway and Key Bridge
26— Improve street and bridge lighting to enhance safety
27— Integrate streetscape improvements with major transit initiatives

Office vacancy: Align with D.C. government development priorities
28— Integrate Georgetown into District’s tech sector initiatives
29— Conduct a feasibility study on ubiquitous wi-fi and high-speed internet
30— Market unique office stock to start-up and creative companies
31— Identify incentives for building renovations that increase sustainability

A Better Connected Georgetown: Improving the Transportation Experience
32 Bring a Metro Station to Georgetown by 2028
33 Bring fast and reliable downtown streetcar service to the Georgetown Waterfront
34 Study and potentially construct a gondola lift linking Georgetown to Metro
35 Form a Georgetown Streetcar Partnership to coordinate advocacy
36 Explore streetcar extensions west to Georgetown University and beyond
Transforming K Street into a Successful Gateway
37 Study a bicycle/pedestrian bridge connecting Georgetown with Rosslyn via Roosevelt Island
38— Support more water taxi service through better dock management
39— Pilot a taxi stand to serve the Waterfront District
40— Coordinate commuter shuttle services from nearby Metro stations
41— Examine limited-access vehicle crossing and other connections to Water Street
42— Improve the safety and ease of walking to/from Foggy Bottom Metro

Establish Georgetown as a Bicycle Friendly Destination
43— Connect Capital Crescent Trail with Rock Creek Parkway trail on or beside K/Water Streets
44— Install in-street bicycle parking corrals throughout commercial areas
45— Connect bikeways on Georgetown’s periphery all the way into Georgetown
46— Install at least 4 new Capital Bike share stations in commercial areas

Better Roadway Management
47— Allow direct evening rush hour access to Rock Creek Parkway from K Street
48— Improve the performance of the Canal Road, M Street, Key Bridge intersection
49— Improve the performance of intersections at the ends of the Whitehurst Freeway
50— Position traffic control officers at major intersections
51— Improve Wisconsin Ave. road allocation in Glover Park to reduce congestion & improve safety
52— Deploy automated enforcement cameras to improve flow and safety
53— Assess and improve signal timing for safety and efficiency of all modes
54— Evaluate and adapt the use of existing peak period lanes to improve efficiency
55— Establish routine meetings with traffic control officers and MPD to prioritize enforcement

Better Parking Management
56— Use pricing and hourly limits to improve availability of commercial on-street parking
57— Improve information on parking availability
58— Coordinate off-street parking resources to make off-peak capacity available
59— Improve the design and enforcement of loading zones
60—Implement shuttle services to and from off-street parking facilities
61— Improve motorcycle and motor scooter parking
62— Improve tour bus parking options
63— Study new parking options if management of existing supply is inadequate

Increasing the Efficiency and Usage of Bus Service
64— Pilot a real-time bus arrival information system
65— Advocate changes outside Georgetown to improve efficiency of Georgetown routes
66— Study options to improve bus speed and reliability within Georgetown
67— Study a free hop-on/hop-off shuttle option within Georgetown and to Metro
68— Adjust Circulator and Metrobus routing to improve efficiency and reliability
69— Pilot tip-based small electric vehicle shuttles
70— Create more welcoming places for people waiting for the bus

Ongoing Data and Analysis and Promotion
71—Assess commercial corridors and other considerations in light of streetcar and Metro status
72— Survey Georgetown visitors to understand travel preferences and behavior
73— Identify plan actions that would be impacted by Whitehurst Freeway deconstruction
74— Develop Georgetown program promoting alternatives to single occupant car travel
75— Conduct ongoing review of Georgetown 2028 pilot & feasibility studies & take appropriate steps