On Monday, September 12, 2011, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will begin construction on the rehabilitation of Columbus Plaza and Massachusetts Avenue. As part of the rehabilitation efforts the plaza will be reconfigured to improve access and safety for pedestrians and vehicular traffic, while enhancing security. The project is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete and will be carried out in phases to minimize the impact on passengers, employees and the general public.
Although the construction at Columbus Plaza does not affect Amtrak operations, passengers are encouraged to allow additional time to arrive at the station before their train departure.
While construction is taking place the bus, car and taxi drop-off lanes located in front of the station will remain open. Traffic lanes on Massachusetts Avenue and around the plaza will be reduced as needed. Temporary pedestrian walkways and crossings will be marked and designated as such. There will be signage indicating the temporary bus locations.
Certain bus stop locations will be temporality impacted around the construction zone. Please visit www.wmata.com and www.dccirculator.com for service updates and changes.
The main station entrance may be shifted to accommodate the work but will remain in the same general area. Directional signage will be throughout the station advising of any changes.
For your safety, please be mindful of the following:
This $7.8 million construction project will be managed by DDOT and is being implemented through a partnership that involves Amtrak, the Architect of the Capitol, DDOT, the National Park Service, the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) and the Washington Metro Transit Authority (WMATA).
The work area will include the roadway adjacent to Union Station on the east and west sides; Columbus Circle; First Street, NE between Massachusetts Avenue and G Street; Columbus Drive, NE between Massachusetts Avenue and F Street; and the streets that intersect Massachusetts Avenue at Columbus Circle.
The new traffic pattern configuration will allow for vehicles to loop around the plaza to enter and exit the station. Vehicles will no longer be required to travel through the middle of the plaza to exit the station. New sidewalks will also be added to create safe walkways for pedestrians. In addition, improvements will be made to the traffic signal system to enhance the flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic movements throughout the plaza. A bollard security system will also be installed along the perimeter of Union Station.
