In an attempt to improve pedestrian safety in and around Washington Circle, where Pennsylvania Avenue, New Hampshire Avenue and K Street converge, the D.C. Department of Transportation tripled the number of signalized crosswalks, from six to 18, and increased the number of crosswalks in and out of the circle, from four to six.
With all the new crosswalks, drivers are now getting backed up. The recent change from one-way to two-way traffic on a portion of New Hampshire Avenue has exacerbated the problem.
DDOT is trying to address the complaints from drivers while accommodating the needs of pedestrians and the adjacent George Washington University hospital, adding temporary crossing guards to the circle during rush hours. Also, traffic-signal technicians have been working on the lights to try and ease the congestion.
