11th Street Bridge Project to Begin

NOTICE:

11th Street Bridge Project Construction to Begin

On or about Tuesday, December 29, 2009, contractors will begin 11th Street Bridge Project construction activities, which may be noticeable to area residents and businesses but ultimately result in a number of important benefits.

Initial work will include pile driving in the Anacostia River to construct foundations for three new bridges - one for local and two for freeway traffic. Barrier placement, off-roadway clearing, and drainage work is also to begin adjacent to both directions of DC 295, later resulting in shoulder encroachments and minor lane shifts. Eventually, land-side pile driving on both sides of the river will be required to construct new connecting ramps and improve the highway. To minimize impacts, noise and vibration levels will be monitored at all times.

The new bridges will be constructed between the existing bridges, which are projected to serve almost 180,000 vehicles per day by 2030, allowing contractors to maintain all existing travel movements and 12-foot travel lanes except during approved work in off-peak travel hours.

In addition, contractors will practice good neighbor construction by establishing designated haul routes, having most materials delivered via the river or highway, controlling dust, and requiring that workers not park on neighborhood streets.

Scheduled for completion in mid-2013, the $300 million project will:

• Improve mobility by providing separate freeway and local traffic connections to both directions of DC 295, the Southeast-Southwest Expressway, and local streets on both sides of the Anacostia River;
• Provide a shared path for pedestrians and bicycles, as well as rails to allow future streetcar connections;
• Replace the existing functionally deficient and structurally obsolete bridges;
• Provide an additional alternate evacuation route from our Nation's capital, and;
• Include new trail connections, improved drainage, and other environmental investments.

The 11th Street Bridge Project and District Department of Transportation regret any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding during construction.

For more information, please call Public Information Manager Bryon Johnston

at 202-484-2330, Ext. 137 or email

ddotpublicaffairs@dc.gov.

Pennsylvania Ave. SE, Great Streets Project start on December 28th.

***DDOT TRAFFIC ADVISORY***

Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Great Streets Project

To Begin Monday, December 28, 2009

Temporary Lane Closures Scheduled

(Washington, D.C.) - The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduled to begin infrastructure and roadway construction work on the Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Great Streets Project on Monday, December 28, 2009, weather permitting.

The Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Great Streets project covers 2 miles of construction from 200 ft. west of 27th Street to Southern Avenue and will include the installment of a median, streetscape, utility upgrades, new curb, gutter, pavement and landscaping.

During the first five months of the project (weather permitting), the pre-phase work will not require permanent lane closures, however, motorists are advised that temporary closures will be in place.

Once the initial pre-phase is completed, the remaining construction will be conducted in four full phases with permanent lanes closures in effect (not scheduled to begin until May 2010).

During the pre-phase, work will require single lane closures at specified locations from 27^th Street to Southern Avenue both in-bound and outbound on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Work Hours during the pre-phase will be from 9:30am – 3pm Monday through Saturday.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty along with District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Gabe Klein and representatives from the Federal Highway Administration recently kicked-off the project taking the opportunity to thank other city agencies, regional partners and especially the community and neighbors who have been a part of the planning of the project from the beginning.

The project is designed to create a safe place where residents, visitors and regional travelers can travel over, across, to and through the corridor on foot, bus or car with ease and comfort while developing a street that is kind to the natural and human environment with majestic trees, enhanced park spaces, and reduction of the environmental impact of the corridor.

Details of the project and pending phases can be seen on the project website atwww.ddot.dc.gov/pennave. The location of the project construction office is 2410 Minnesota Avenue SE. The office staff can be reached at (202) 641-6739 and walk-in hours are Monday through Thursday 1 to 4 pm.

Seasons Greeting!

After the season past of tumult and challenge, this Holiday Season should be a time for and of mirth, murth, love, compassion, and family. Cheers to all and Happy Holidays!!!

Penn Branch Citizen Civic Association

A New Years Eve Celebration

You are cordially invited to join

The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church

for a night to remember!

Featuring the Jazz sounds of R&R (Howard E. Riley, Jr. and Terrence Richburg) and Christian Comedian Tommy Taylor Jr.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Watch Night Service at 10:30pm in Sanctuary

New Years Eve Celebration

Immediately following service in Chapel

(Approximately 12:10am, Jan 1, 2010)

The Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church

3000 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20020

Reverend Dr. Kendrick E. Curry

Senior Pastor

— $25.00 Adults (19 & up); $10.00 Youth (13 -18); Children 12 and under free—

Call 202-581-1500 for tickets and additional information or call Alberta Paul at 202-575-2920

Council of the District of Columbia

Committee of the Whole

Notice of Public Roundtable

John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20004

Chairman Vincent Grey

ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC ROUNDTABLE

BY THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON

PR 18-585, “BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA REGINALD M. FELTON CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2009;”

PR 18-587, “BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA KENDRICK E. CURRY CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2009;”

PR 18-622, “BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ELAINE CRIDER CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2009;” and

PR 18-623, “BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA CEDRIC BOBO CONFIRMATION RESOLUTION OF 2009”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2009, 11:00 A.M.

JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING, ROOM 500

1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW

Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray announces the scheduling of a public roundtable by the Committee of the Whole on PR 18-585, the “Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia Reginald M. Felton Confirmation Resolution of 2009;” PR 18-587, the “Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia Kendrick E. Curry Confirmation Resolution of 2009;” PR 18-622, the “Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia Elaine Crider Confirmation Resolution of 2009;” and PR 18-623, the “Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia Cedric Bobo Confirmation Resolution of 2009.” The public roundtable is scheduled for Friday, December 18, 2009, at 11:00 a.m., in Room 500 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. The purpose of the roundtable is to provide the public with an opportunity to comment upon the Mayor’s nomination of Reginald M. Felton; Kendrick E. Curry; Elaine Crider; and Cedric Bobo for appointment as a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia.

Persons who wish to testify are requested to contact Aretha Latta, Administrative Assistant to the Committee of the Whole, by telephone at (202) 724-8196 or by e-mail at alatta@dccouncil.us, and furnish their names, addresses, telephone numbers and organizational affiliation, if any, by the close of business on Wednesday, December 16, 2009. Witnesses should bring 20 copies of their written testimony to the roundtable or submit one advance copy of their written testimony by Wednesday, December 16, 2009. Persons presenting oral testimony may be limited to 3 minutes in order to permit each witness an opportunity to be heard. Written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record in their entirety. All statements should be submitted to the Committee of the Whole, Council of the District of Columbia, John A. Wilson Building, Suite 410, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20004.

DDOT Planting More Than 3,000 New Trees

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Media Contact: John Lisle at 202-671-2004

Citywide Tree Planting Season Now Underway

(Washington, D.C.) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has begun planting more than 3,000 new street trees to help meet Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s Green DC Agenda goal of expanding the tree canopy and establishing the District as one of the world’s pre-eminent green cities.
From reducing crime and domestic violence to improving economies and recuperation rates of hospital patients, research has proven that trees provide critical benefits to cities far beyond aesthetics, air quality, and water runoff.
From December to May, DDOT’s Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) will plant the new trees across all eight wards of the city. Planting locations are based on requests that were made by residents to the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center before July 15, 2009.
“One of the most effective ways a resident can improve the social, ecological, and economic value of a neighborhood is to help ensure new trees thrive,” said John Thomas, DDOT’s Chief Forester. “In the first two years, these new trees need attention to get established. We ask residents to share that responsibility, and in the end we will all benefit from a beautiful tree canopy across the city.”
Residents are already responsible for maintaining property to the curb. Those who go a step further and sign a partnership agreement to water, mulch, and monitor the health of specific trees in the first two years after planting, will receive free watering bags and instructions from UFA.
The tentative planting schedule will begin with Ward 7, then Ward 8, 5, 6, 2, 1, 3, and 4. The planting schedule for specific neighborhoods will be posted on the UFA website this week, but is subject to change due to equipment, weather, emergencies, and other extenuating circumstances.
In addition, UFA will plant 100 elm trees in a partnership with Casey Trees and team up with the organization Trees for Georgetown to plant 40 new trees in that historic neighborhood.
The mission of the Urban Forestry Administration is to establish a full population of street trees within the District and to ensure that those street trees are maintained in a healthy and safe condition. UFA has 16 certified arborists on staff who are responsible for issuing permits, enforcing regulations, and caring for approximately 140,000 trees throughout the city.
####

John Lisle | Public Information Officer | District Department of Transportation | Office of the Director | 2000 14th Street, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20009 | 202-671-2004/direct | 202-486-5838/cell | 202-671-0650/ fax | John.Lisle@dc.gov, e-mail | www.ddot.dc.gov

Christmas Ice Show at Fort Dupont Ice Arena

The Fort Dupont Ice Arena is hosting its annual Christmas Ice Show on Sunday, December 13 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. The theme is “Motown Memories Holiday Ice Show”. The show will be held at the Fort Dupont Ice Arena, 3779 Ely Place, SE, WDC 20019. The show is free but a $5 donation per person is suggested. For more information contact: Emily Mayer, Skating Director, 202-584-5007.

Meeting Annoucement: National Museum of American History and Culture building plans for the National Maul

You Are Invited

to the

Tier II Environmental Impact Statement
Public Scoping Meeting

to discuss the proposed
National Museum of African American

History and Culture Building

Thursday, December 10, 2009
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Smithsonian Castle
Castle Commons
1000 Jefferson Drive S.W.

Washington, DC 20560

The Smithsonian Institution and the National Capital Planning Commission will host a combined public and agency scoping meeting on the proposed construction of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The new museum will be built on the National Mall on a five-acre site at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
The meeting will solicit public comments for consideration in the Tier II Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which will assess potential effects of constructing and operating the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Since the Tier I EIS was completed in summer 2008, an architectural team has been selected for the museum and pre-design studies, including a geotechnical report, have been completed. The Tier II EIS will study the effects of more refined concept alternatives that the architectural team will develop using the building parameters and design principles that came out of the Tier I EIS. The meeting also will cover the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 process. Discussion topics will include land use and visitation, cultural resources, transportation, and natural resources. Representatives of the selected architectural team of Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup will be at the meeting.

Comments also can be submitted as follows:

• By e-mail: NMAAHC.EIS.Comments@aecom.com
• By mail: EDAW/AECOM
  Attn: NMAAHC EIS Comments
  601 Prince Street
  Alexandria, VA 22314