Upcoming Meeting on Intersection of 18th Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE

Tomorrow, July 22, at 10am, ANC Commissioner Brian Flahaven will host a meeting to discuss options for improving the safety of the intersection of 18th Street SE and Potomac Avenue SE, which is the entrance to Congressional Cemetery.

In a post on his blog, Flahaven explained, “Numerous vehicle accidents have taken place at 18th and Potomac, primarily due to Potomac Avenue’s transition from a two-way to one-way street at 18th Street SE. When traveling east on Potomac Ave, vehicles often move over to the left lane prior to its conversion to a two-way street, leading to collisions or near collisions with vehicles turning right onto Potomac Ave from 18th Street.

“Additionally, numerous pedestrians with dogs cross this intersection daily to access the main gate of Congressional Cemetery. Vehicles rarely yield to pedestrians and drivers often honk or yell if a pedestrian attempts to cross Potomac Avenue. Pedestrian and vehicle traffic at the intersection tend to be high during the same times (morning and evening rush hour), exacerbating the situation.”

Representatives from the District Department of Transportation will be in attendance to discuss with residents what should be done to improve the intersection for pedestrians and vehicle traffic.