News Release

New Bike Lane Coming to National Mall

Rendering of Bike Lane

NPS/ DCDOT

News Release Date: October 7, 2021

Contact: Mike Litterst, 202 245-4676

WASHINGTON — This week, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) will begin implementing safety improvements on 15th Street, including a two-way protected lane for bicyclists (known as a cycletrack). This project will improve pedestrian safety for visitors to the National Mall and create a north-south bicycle connection between the White House, National Mall and the Jefferson Memorial. The National Park Service will install an additional protected lane on East Basin Drive SW in spring 2022, which will connect with the multi-use trail on the 14th Street bridge.

This project is the result of long-term planning and collaboration between the NPS and DDOT, and it is part of a larger collaboration to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety and access in and around Washington, D.C. The work is coupled with ongoing construction to resurface and widen the Rock Creek Trail between Virginia Avenue NW and the National Mall as well as crosswalk and other multi-use trail improvements and cycletrack connections throughout the District. Learn more at go.nps.gov/NAMATrailsAndRoads.

Construction on 15th Street will last through the fall and involve temporary lane closures for drivers. When the work is complete, there will be three lanes open to drivers on 15th Street – one southbound and two northbound. Pedestrians and bicyclists can continue to use the sidewalks along 15th Street until the project is complete, but they should expect a limited number of disruptions due to construction activity.

NPS