Washington DC follow the federal functional classification of streets, not a true grid system. Arterials are intended to carry the major traffic. Better Connecticut than Albemarle or Northampton Streets. |
That part of town does not follow the grid system of downtown. |
This is the unfortunate reality. There is no "better" place to route traffic. Short of digging an expressway underground or getting people back on metro (both essentially impossible these days) you're going to have CT carry the through volume. Its unfortunate that businesses sprung up along CT, because now we know the suburban stroad design is terrible for everyone. Businesses and commuters alike. |
Not unfortunate for residents who patronize those businesses. Surely commuters realize that they are driving on city streets where businesses “sprang up” over 100 years ago? |
The average commuter doesn't care about anything but getting where they are going .1 seconds faster. That's why CT businesses punch well below their weight. The volume of commuters just makes the whole area less pleasant than it could be. CT Ave is almost devoid of "destinations" and relies almost entirely on local patronage. That would be fine if landlords priced rent to reflect that, but they still seem to think they can draw people from across town or the burbs. CT avenue is just a slightly higher end NY Ave, and until people realize it and start fixing the design, its going to be stuck in this "should be good, but isn't" gray zone. |
Really? Wisconsin, Reno/34th, Connecticut, Linnean/Nevada and Utah are all north-south routes, and the lettered streets from Albemarle north to Western couldn't be more of a grid. Look at a map sometime. |
The streeteries are great for the business and the local residents, both the revenue generators the city has. Making it easier for suburban drivers in single occupancy cars should never be the priority. |
There is no functional or aesthetic correlation between NY Ave and CT Ave. none. |
Functionally, you are correct as NY Ave moves something like 4x the cars each day. They terminate about 5 blocks from each other. Aesthetically, they are both dotted with fast food restaurants, gas stations and a Days Inn. A lot of the people who used to live on/near NY Ave now live on/near CT Ave. On the plus side NY Ave takes you by Kenilworth and the Arboretum while CT has more street trees. The biggest difference is that NY Ave borders successful commercial districts like Union Market and Dakota Crossing. CT Ave is bisected by struggling stretches of businesses. In short, NY Ave moves more people while also being a better business incubator because it separates functions while CT Ave jams everything together. |
| It’s good to have those two different choices - NY or CT. You seem to favor NY. |
Lordy, you're unsufferable. Assuming you looked at the map you are referencing you should have noticed that Linnean and Reno are not straight. Heck, you also should have known that state streets aren't either. And then there's Rock Creek Park. For someone that is agressively wrong about everything and constantly opines about matters in parts of town that you have never been you have an impressively smooth brain. |
The amount of things you got factually wrong is astounding. |
It is a traffic sewer that has absolutely zero walkability appeal from the district line to NOMA. the two commercial areas you cite have their back on NY Ave and turn inward or a different orientation. |
I guess you didn't look at a map. There are numbered streets, several "main" north-south routes and the three syllable lettered streets. They are a grid for the most part. |
And yet for so many, it's their primary priority and any shift away from it they decry as a cultural war against their inalienable right to pollute our streets and cities and maim or kill it's inhabitants. |