Peeking up through the snow at GU's entrance on Canal Rd are surveyor markers, an indication this FHWA project may be imminent, or at least its interaction with GU's own new South-West Quadrangle project. While there's still a chance that opponents may be able to mount a legal challenge, I wanted to get more specific on what options nearby residents might have to influence the design before it comes back to NCPC. After all, Congress appropriated this in the late '80s as a demonstration project, but much money is going into making retaining walls pretty. We certainly don't want it to be ugly, but what about putting effort into measures that will help pedestrians, cyclists and drivers?

Sensor Technology: Use three sensor s to monitor presence of vehicles. One each at the front of the left-turn lane out of GU and the left-turn lane into GU, that wouldn't activate without a car. One also at the back of the turning-in lane, to activate a median warning sign to keep on driving when the lane is full.

Video Technology: Pole-mounted cameras at GU entrance and Foxhall/Canal intersection, and building-mounted cameras at Key Bridge and Whitehurst intersections. Have these images displayed live over the internet by hosting companies such as EyeCast.com, who just did this for Virginia VDOT's www.HighwayNet.com

Signal Synchronization: Lay cable for this, along with vehicle sensors and real-time video to be another high-tech demonstration project of Intelligent Transport Systems that DPW's Deborah Price has stated she's looking for, including signal pre-emption for emergency vehicles (and transit buses?)

Footpath Widening: Widen the shared cyclist/pedestrian footpath on the G.U. side of Canal Rd by eliminating the path on the canal side, and re-center the median at the same time putting street lights up on the canal wall.

© Bob Andrew, Foxhall