News Release

Share your thoughts on safety and operational improvements for Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway

Date: March 17, 2025
Contact: Autumn Cook, 771-215-6954

WASHINGTON — Approximately 50,000 vehicles travel Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway (RCPP) each day, making it a vital connection between northwest Washington, D.C., and downtown. The National Park Service (NPS) is committed to ensuring a safe and smooth experience for all road users. To enhance safety and improve operations, the NPS is developing a Multimodal Safety and Operational Improvements Plan. This plan will address traffic patterns and infrastructure needs along the corridor from the intersection of RCPP at Shoreham and Beach Drives NW to the intersection of Ohio Drive SW at Independence Avenue and 23rd Street SW. 

The NPS invites the public to attend a virtual public meeting and share written comments on the development of the Plan and a corresponding Environmental Assessment (EA) for RCPP. 
 
Purpose of the Plan 
The Plan will:  

• Improve safety for visitors and commuters.  
• Minimize vehicle congestion.  
• Increase pedestrian and bicycle safety and access.  
• Extend the useful life of roads and trails along RCPP in a way that respects the corridor’s scenic and historic character.  
   

Improvements the Plan will address 
The Plan will look at:  

• Ending reversible lanes. 
• Improving safety and operations at four locations affected by ending reversible lanes. 
• Widening the Rock Creek Multi-Use Trail between P Street NW and Virginia Avenue NW. 
• Installing a roadway barrier to improve safety between P Street NW and Virginia Avenue NW.  

The Plan will also examine pavement resurfacing and restoration on RCPP and its connecting ramps, sign improvements, pavement striping, and repair and installation of guardrails. 
 
How to Participate 
The NPS values community involvement in shaping this project and you can participate in a few ways. You are encouraged to attend a virtual public scoping meeting on April 2, 2025, to learn about the project, and you are invited to submit written comments either online or by mail during the 30-day public comment period from April 2 to May 2. 
 
Virtual meeting details: 
Date: April 2, 2025 
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.  
To join: Join the meeting now 
 
Submit written comments: 

1. Visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/RockCreekParkway to submit online comments. 
2. By Mail: Send written comments to: 

Superintendent 
Rock Creek Park 
Attn: RCPP Multimodal 
3545 Williamsburg Lane NW 
Washington, DC 20008 

Please make sure mailed comments are postmarked by May 2, 2025. Note that all submissions, including personal details, may be publicly accessible. While requests for confidentiality will be considered, full privacy cannot be guaranteed. 
 

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