We are excited to inform you that lots has been happening since the launch of our #CaptheGap_DC campaign. What started as a distant vision – to create a green park covering North Capitol street underpass – is inching closer to reality in terms of technical analysis, political will and funding. Specifically:
- The North Capitol Deck Over Park (NCDOP) Steering Committee has been advocating for the project and providing technical feedback. You will have seen our yard signs, website, and petition. We also engaged our local residents, Civic Associations and DDOT and participated in D.C. Government Committee and Budget hearings. Thanks to you we now also have more than 500 petition signatures supporting the vision. See attached the North Capitol Deck Over Committee progress report for more detailed information.
- DDOT established a 14-member Community Advisory Committee, of which we are a part of along with representatives from multiple areas and organizations along North Capitol Street. Currently we are waiting for a crucial report from the engineering consulting firm hired by DDOT to conduct the feasibility study in the next months.
- In FY2022, the Mayor and DC Council approved $1 million in funding for a feasibility study to consider the deck over and, more broadly, the entire North Capitol Street Corridor. In FY2023, they approved $3 million in budget for the concept design phase towards a safer, more inclusive and welcoming North Capitol Street.
- Most recently the North Capitol redesign project was officially submitted by DC Mayor for Federal funding in November 2022 under the Build Back Better bill that allocates $3 billion to DC. The transformation of North Capitol Street would be completed in 2030. Here is the Mayor’s BBB task force report, that includes reference to the projected timeline for and the potential for the North Capitol Deck Over Park:
We are excited to have contributed to raising attention to the issues and opportunities of North Capitol and to see that the deck over park idea is being considered as a visionary project for certain sections of North Capitol as well as 295 in the Mayors BBB infrastructure Task Force Report.
The Deck Over Park is formally part of the bold, green thinking to improve the quality of life for DC residents.
We will keep you updated when key developments arise. In the meantime, we wanted to thank you all for your excitement of this vision and support thus far. We could not have done it without you! Please tell your neighbors and friends about the park vision, our website and our petition!
On behalf of the North Capitol Deck Over Park “CaptheGap_DC” Campaign