D.C.  Pedestrian  Advisory  Council   Meeting  Minutes   September  28,  2015,  6:30  p.m.   441  4th  Street  NW,  Room  1117  

  Attendees:  Sonia  Conly,  Edward  Johnson,  Will  Stephens,  George  Tobias,  Gerard  Wall,   Heather  Edelman  (PAC  staff),  Andrea  Adleman  (Bicycle  Advisory  Council),  Cesar   Barreto  (District  Department  of  Transportation  (DDOT)),  Anne  Carey,  Eileen   McCarthy,  Edward  O’Connell  (United  States  Attorneys  Office),  Mary  Connaught   O’Connor  (Office  of  the  Attorney  General).     Start:  George  Tobias  convened  the  meeting  unofficially  at  6:35  p.m.  A  quorum  was   not  present.     1.  Introductions:  Attendees  introduced  themselves.     2.  Public  comments:  There  were  none.     3.  Invited  speakers:  Assistant  U.S.  Attorney  &  D.C.  Office  of  the  Attorney  General:   Assistant  U.S.  Attorney  Edward  O’Connell  explained  that  he  prosecutes  vehicular   homicide  cases  in  the  District.  Each  year  there  are  about  30  fatalities  in  the  District   that  are  investigated  by  the  Metropolitan  Police  Department  (MPD)  Major  Crash   Unit  and  reviewed  by  O’Connell  to  see  if  they  are  appropriate  for  prosecution.  About   50  percent  of  those  are  appropriate  for  prosecution,  he  said.  Charges  range  from   second  degree  murder  to  voluntary  manslaughter,  involuntary  manslaughter  and   vehicular  homicide.  O’Connell  explained  that  a  second  degree  murder  charge  might   result  if  a  driver  showed  "conscious  disregard  of  known  risk  of  death  or  serious   injury,"  he  said.  If  a  driver  was  fleeing  police,  drove  at  excessive  speed,  went   through  a  signal  and  killed  a  pedestrian,  that  would  likely  result  in  a  second  degree   murder  charge.  Some  mitigation  would  be  present  for  a  voluntary  manslaughter   charge.  An  involuntary  manslaughter  charge  would  likely  result  if  a  driver  killed   another  person  and  there  had  been  gross  deviation  from  a  reasonable  standard  of   care.  Negligent  homicide,  which  is  a  5-­‐year  felony,  occurs  if  someone  killed  another   person  because  they  failed  to  exercise  due  care.  Negligent  homicide  is  the  only   charge  that  is  vehicle-­‐specific.  The  standard  for  it  is  civil  negligence.  O’Connell   explained  that  people  typically  plead  guilty  if  he  charges  them  because  the  evidence   generally  is  so  strong  because  of  surveillance  cameras.  O’Connell  said  that  the  large   number  of  surveillance  cameras  and  DDOT  red  light  cameras  all  over  the  District   help.  There  are  so  many  private  cameras  that  capture  city  street  views,  he  said,  so   he  frequently  has  video  of  a  fatal  collision.       As  with  all  felonies,  to  bring  an  indictment  he  has  to  bring  evidence  to  a  grand  jury.   O’Connell  said  that  about  half  of  traffic  fatalities  are  criminal  and  more  than  half  of   those  involve  intoxication.  He  has  handled  two  cases  this  year  that  involved  PCP  use.   O’Connell  said  he  is  not  a  fan  of  crosswalks  that  do  not  have  a  stop  light  or  stop  sign   because  drivers  do  not  stop  at  them.  From  his  perspective,  operating  red  light    

  enforcement  cameras  and  engineering  roads  for  slower  traffic  help.  O’Connell   commented  that  Suitland  Parkway  and  Military  Road  are  roadways  that  drivers  use   like  freeways.  O’Connell  also  said  that  the  District’s  confusing  diagonal  intersections   are  the  locations  of  many  of  his  cases.  Drivers  get  confused  about  which  signal  to   watch.  O’Connell  mentioned  Memorial  Day  weekend  when  Rolling  Thunder  comes   through  town  as  a  time  when  traffic  fatalities  often  occur  because  so  many  people   come  to  the  city  who  do  not  know  how  to  drive  around  here.  Eileen  McCarthy  asked   whether  his  office  also  handles  cases  in  which  a  pedestrian  is  seriously  injured  and   does  not  die.  O’Connell  said  that  in  those  cases  drivers  can  be  charged  with   aggravated  assault,  which  is  a  felony.     O’Connell  reported  that  he  has  a  sentencing  on  Wednesday  related  to  the  fatality  on   Southern  Avenue  in  May  near  United  Medical  Center  in  which  the  motorist  was   driving  too  fast.  Cesar  Barreto  of  DDOT  said  a  crosswalk  was  very  recently  installed   at  that  location  on  Southern  Avenue.  A  Hawk  signal  or  APS  device  (pedestrian  signal   device)  is  planned.  Edward  Johnson  said  public  service  announcements  that  are   repeated  are  essential  for  getting  people  to  pay  attention.       Mary  Connaught  O’Connor,  a  prosecutor  from  the  Office  of  the  Attorney  General,   introduced  herself  and  explained  that  she  handles  cases  involving  repeat  DUI   offenders.  PCP  and  synthetic  drugs  are  often  a  factor,  she  said.  O’Connor  said  traffic   cameras  are  helpful  in  her  investigations,  however,  the  police  officers  she  works   with  do  not  have  the  same  time  available  for  their  investigations  as  the  officers  in   the  Major  Crash  Unit.  Camera  footage  is  gone  after  10  days,  so  she  does  not  always   get  the  camera  footage  she  needs.  In  addition,  she  could  have  access  to  video  feed   from  police  stations,  but  the  person  assigned  to  pulling  that  footage  is  no  longer   employed  with  MPD,  so  O’Connor’s  office  is  having  trouble  getting  the  footage  at  this   point.  Johnson  suggested  that  a  portion  of  tax  revenue  from  big  development   projects  go  to  police.  McCarthy  reported  that  the  Bicycle  and  Pedestrian  Working   Group  recommended  an  increase  for  the  Vision  Zero  Safety  Enhancement  Fund.     (Will  Stephens  arrived  at  about  7:40  p.m.)     4.  DDOT's  ADA  Transition  Plan:  Barreto  reported  on  the  ADA  Transition  Plan,  a  plan   for  making  the  District’s  public  rights-­‐of-­‐way  accessible  to  individuals  with   disabilities.  Barreto  explained  that  DDOT  released  the  plan  on  September  18  and  is   in  the  45-­‐day  stage  of  getting  public  input.  The  plan  will  be  updated  every  year  and   requires  Federal  Highway  Administration  approval.  The  District  has  660,000   residents,  and  68,000  of  them  have  disabilities,  with  the  highest  concentration  in   Wards  7  and  8,  he  said.  Half  a  million  commuters  enter  the  District  daily,  and  18   million  visitors  come  here  annually.  The  transition  plan  deals  with  sidewalks,  curb   ramps,  crosswalks,  and  any  amenities  in  public  space.  The  plan  will  be  available  on  a   website.  DDOT  will  be  sharing  it  with  ANC  commissioners.  The  plan  requires  going   ward  by  ward  with  the  DDOT  infrastructure  team,  going  asset  by  asset,  and  using  an   evaluation  tool  to  see  if  standards  are  being  met.  District  standards  exceed  federal   standards,  Barreto  said.  Accessibility  is  a  civil  right,  he  said,  and  DDOT  is  working  to    

  educate  staff  and  people  in  the  city  about  the  issue.  Barreto  said  he  would  like  to   receive  feedback  from  the  PAC.  Sonia  Conly  asked  how  we  promote  development  for   all  people.  Barreto  said  any  project  that  involves  the  public  realm  goes  through  the   DDOT  team  that  reviews  plans  and  checks  for  ADA  compliance.  Conly  is  concerned   that  once  an  issue  comes  to  Barreto’s  office  it  is  too  late.  The  Office  of  Planning   should  be  concerned  with  how  things  are  put  together  on  a  bigger  scale,  she  said.   Gerard  Wall  commented  that  ANCs  should  have  knowledgeable  people  review  plans   when  developers  are  seeking  ANC  support.  Wall  said  the  ADA  Transition  Plan  is  an   opportunity  to  promote  Vision  Zero,  and  he  recommended  that  Barreto  use  this   opportunity  when  speaking  with  ANCs  to  make  the  process  an  education  campaign   about  access  everywhere,  not  just  on  the  street.  It  is  not  enough  to  get  me  inside  the   building,  but  to  not  make  me  come  in  the  back  door,  Wall  said.  It  is  about  being  able   to  fully  be  involved  in  the  life  of  the  city.  ANCs  need  to  be  mindful.     (Guests  from  the  United  States  Attorneys  Office,  Office  of  the  Attorney  General,  and   DDOT  departed  at  7:45  p.m.)     5.  DDOT  update:  George  Branyan  was  not  present  but  Heather  Edelman  shared  a   brief  report  he  submitted  by  email:  DDOT  installed  a  crosswalk  on  Southern  Avenue   near  the  driveway  to  United  Medical  Center.  The  mid-­‐block  uncontrolled  marked   crosswalk  has  a  couple  of  enhancements,  such  as  advance  stop  lines,  in  street   pylons,  and  advance  signs.  There  are  also  speed  feedback  trailers.  A  HAWK  signal   should  be  constructed  by  the  end  of  December.     6.  MPD  update:  Terry  Thorne  was  not  present  but  McCarthy  reported  information   he  wanted  to  share:  four  people  were  hit  by  a  car  at  1st  and  H  Streets  NW.  A  family   was  hit,  and  the  grandmother  died  later.  McCarthy  also  reported  that  Capt.  Sledge   did  an  enforcement  at  43rd  Street  and  Military  Road  NW.  Thorne  plans  to  do  one   sting  per  week  in  October,  one  of  which  may  be  on  Southern  Avenue.     7.  Discuss  Bicycle  and  Pedestrian  Safety  Act  of  2015  and  Vision  Zero  Act  of  2015:   McCarthy  reported  that  the  working  group  formed  by  Councilmember  Mary  Cheh   drafted  a  report,  although  the  final  report  has  not  been  released.  McCarthy  said  the   report  includes  many  good  suggestions,  but  one  regret  she  has  is  that  there  was  not   agreement  on  speed.  The  suggestion  to  lower  speeds  on  local  streets  to  20  miles  per   hour  may  get  thrown  out.  Meanwhile,  two  bills  were  introduced.  McCarthy  and   Edelman  drafted  comments  on  the  Cheh  bill.  Conly  and  Will  Stephens  volunteered  to   be  part  of  a  work  group  on  the  Vision  Zero  bill.  A  date  for  a  hearing  or  roundtable  on   the  bills  has  not  been  set.     8.  Rules  Regarding  Winter  Sidewalk  Safety:  McCarthy  reported  that  the  Department   of  Public  Works  sent  out  proposed  new  rules  for  shoveling  sidewalks,  and  she   submitted  her  own  personal  comments  on  the  rules.  The  comment  period  is  now   closed.  Conly  and  Johnson  both  expressed  concerned  that  a  business  that  is  16  feet   wide  and  one  that  is  a  full  block  get  the  same  fine,  which  is  unfair  to  small   businesses.  McCarthy  commented  that  there  was  quite  a  bit  of  animosity  from    

  several  members  of  the  City  Council  toward  this  bill  and  this  is  what  got  through.   DPW  is  working  with  plow  operators  to  train  them  not  to  dump  snow  on  the  curb   cut.       9.  Report  on  PAC’s  August  field  trip:  Tobias  reported  on  an  MPD  enforcement  on   14th  street  near  Trader  Joe’s.  Many  drivers,  including  cab  drivers  and  a  bicycle,  were   cited  for  failing  to  yield  to  pedestrians.  Stephens  commented  that  nearly  every  time   Thorne  crossed  the  street  a  driver  violated  the  law.  He  said  the  enforcement   confirmed  anecdotal  evidence  he  had  received  that  for-­‐hire  drivers  often  violate   right-­‐of-­‐way  rules.     10.  Response  to  PAC’s  letter  to  Chief  Lanier:  Edelman  reported  that  MPD  Chief   Lanier  sent  a  brief  response  acknowledging  the  PAC’s  letter  to  her  supporting   enforcement  actions.     11.  Approval  of  July  minutes;  next  meeting  date  (Oct.  26)  and  topics:  Tobias  moved   to  approve  the  July  minutes.  Conly  seconded  the  motion.  The  minutes  were   approved.  The  next  PAC  meeting  will  be  Oct.  26  and  topics  covered  will  likely   include  the  two  bills  related  to  road  safety.  The  group  could  also  discuss  the  ADA   plan.  The  group  also  discussed  checking  in  with  PAC  members  who  have  had  low   attendance  rates.     End:  The  meeting  ended  at  8:15  p.m.