Top priorities for DDOT don’t top everyone’s list
By: Michael Neibauer
Examiner Staff Writer
May 8, 2008
WASHINGTON — Mayor Adrian Fenty has ordered the D.C. Department of Transportation to address the "top transportation concerns" citywide, but critics question whether the list the agency compiled was based on real need, or on who made the most noise.
The top 26 concerns, from sidewalk repairs to crosswalk repainting, were immediately moved to the front of the line for DDOT action, and mostshould be resolved by Sept. 30, according to an April 18 memo from Emeka Moneme, DDOT director. They were chosen based on the volume of complaints received by the mayor’s community relations team and how long each issue was in the system, Fenty spokeswoman Dena Iverson said.
But a glance at the list finds a number of the items are in the backyards of outspoken community leaders, or political friends of elected leaders.
The sidewalk outside 4601 Tilden St. NW, home to Ward 3 Democrats Chairman Thomas Smith, is one of that ward’s four top concerns, according to DDOT. Two of the four Ward 2 issues, both sidewalk repair jobs, are in the single member district of Alex Padro, a particularly vocal Shaw advisory neighborhood commissioner.
"I think by and large they’re terribly minor," Ward 3 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Cathy Wiss said of the listings. "I have a sidewalk where there’s no handicap ramp. I have no sidewalk on Nebraska Avenue across from Wilson High School." Smith, who also serves on the Spring Valley ANC, said the asphalt sidewalk on Tilden is dilapidated and "incredibly unsafe." Hisneighbors, he said, have complained about it for years.
"The squeaky wheel does get the grease," said Padro, who has made a lot of noise about sidewalks on the 900 block of Q Street and the 1600 block of Ninth Street. "But it’s interesting which of the projects they decided had priority."
D.C. Council members were befuddled by the list. Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells said the two issues picked for his ward are right next to each other — 1100 New Jersey Ave. and 1100 North Capital St. Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh said she has a "raft of issues" for DDOT to address, but the top priorities left her "quite surprised."
"This is what they came up with?" she asked. "Why didn’t they ask me?"
mneibauer@dcexaminer.com
