Chapter 23C. Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Areas.

§ 50–2371. Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Area Program.

(a) There is established the Bicycle and Pedestrian Priority Area Program ("Program"), which shall be implemented by the District Department of Transportation ("DDOT"). The purpose of the Program shall be to enhance implementation of rapid infrastructure changes and enforcement attention in specific geographic areas identified pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of this section.

(b)(1) Under the Program, DDOT shall designate corridors, including blocks immediately adjacent to the corridor, around the District as Priority Areas, taking into account the following criteria:

(A) Use by bicyclists and pedestrians;

(B) The frequency of collisions involving a pedestrian or bicyclist;

(C) The severity of collisions involving a pedestrian or bicyclist; and

(D) Any other bicycle and pedestrian safety data collected by DDOT.

(2) Upon being designated a Priority Area, a corridor shall retain that designation for at least 5 years.

(c) By July 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, the Mayor shall transmit to the Council a report that includes detailed information about the implementation of the Program, including:

(1) An explanation of why each Priority Area was selected;

(2) A summary of the improvements made in the previous year to each Priority Area, including the use of automated traffic enforcement, the use of traffic control officers, temporary traffic safety improvements, and long-term modifications; and

(3) A description of modifications to traffic patterns and infrastructure that DDOT recommends occur within each Priority Area, and a timeline for implementing the modifications, which may include:

(A) Not allowing a right turn when a motor vehicle operator has a red light at a signalized intersection;

(B) A reduction of the speed limit;

(C) The installation of protected bicycle infrastructure; and

(D) The increased use of traffic control officers and the automated traffic enforcement system.

(d) The Mayor, pursuant to subchapter I of Chapter 5 of Title 2, may issue rules to implement the provisions of this section.

(e) For the purposes of this section, the term:

(1) "Collision" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 50-2201.02(3).

(2) "Motor vehicle" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 50-2201.02(11).

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