Time to Invest in Our Roads and Alleys

I like to use this column to provide helpful information that you might not otherwise hear about. Information about the budget, our credit rating or legislation I’m proposing. This time, I’m writing about something I know almost all of you are familiar with … the poor condition of our roads.

Last week, a transportation research organization called TRIP ranked the District as having the worst roads in the country compared to the 50 states. The study deemed 92 percent of our major roadways in “poor” condition. A story about the rankings appeared in the Washington Post.

Obviously, our frequently used city roads are going to receive much more wear-and-tear than a miles-long straightaway in Montana, but that’s no excuse to accept our roadways in the poor condition we all too often find them.

I was shocked when the District Council voted to transfer funds away from street and alley repair with this year’s budget. I introduced an amendment to restore the higher funding level that the Mayor had initially proposed, but my colleagues voted against it.

Since the beginning of my time on the Council, I’ve championed investments in our streets, alleys and sidewalks. These kinds of public infrastructure investments not only make our city more livable, but pay for themselves with increased residential and commercial activity, improved public safety, and higher tax revenues.

In the budget that the Council just passed, we earmarked $113 million for the D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT). This budget includes funding for streets, alley, and sidewalks, along with several major bridge repair projects. It is a huge sum of money to be sure, and now we need to make sure that we are getting our money’s worth.

We can’t spend money to repave a street and then tear it up a month later for utility work. I introduced a bill several years ago that forbids the city from tearing up a street that has been repaved for five years. We need to coordinate across agencies to get utility or other underground work done before we repave a street. While I’m pleased to say that bill passed, I’ve had to step in at least once to make sure it’s followed.

I’ve driven through streets all across the Ward with our new DDOT Director, Leif Dormsjo. I believe Director Dormsjo has already taken important steps to improve his agency and begun the necessary work to better maintain our public assets. I’ll continue to work with him to make sure this happens.