A task force on this issue has been meeting since July, and will present its recommendations at a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Capitol Hill Natatorium, 700 North Carolina Ave. SE.

The task force — sponsored by Councilwoman Sharon Ambrose, D-Ward 6, Metropolitan Police Department Capt. Alan J. Dreher and the Capitol Hill Restoration Society — identified traffic congestion and pedestrian safety as key problems affecting the area.

The intersections at Independence and North Carolina avenues SE, Seventh Street and North Carolina Avenue SE, and Seventh and C streets SE were identified as particular problems.

Among the recommendations to be discussed is a proposal to extend parking meter enforcement and residential permit parking to Saturdays in the area bounded by Sixth Street, Eighth Street, In-dependence Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Petitions requesting Saturday enforcement will be circulated among residents of the 600 block of North Carolina Avenue SE, the 600 block of C Street SE , the 700 block of Independence and North Carolina avenues SE and the 200 and 300 blocks of Eighth Street SE.

Farmers selling at the market would be entitled to one parking space exempt from meter restrictions under the plan.

Already, faded and missing street signs have been replaced throughout the area. Additional two-hour parking spaces have been created in the 300 block of Seventh Street and the 600 block of North Carolina Avenue SE. Wheelchair ramps have been installed at Seventh and C streets.

Recommendations for immediate action include creation of "zebra" striped pedestrian crosswalks at Seventh and C streets SE, North Carolina at Seventh Street SE and at Eighth and C streets SE. Illegal right turns from Independence Avenue onto North Carolina Avenue will be discouraged through increased enforcement by police and extension of the traffic island at the intersection. Increased enforcement against red light running and speeding on Independence Avenue was also recommended.

The task force recommended installing two-hour parking meters on the south side of the 600 block of North Carolina Avenue and the 700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The task force also recommended prohibiting parking around Hine Junior High School from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays to discourage commuter parking.

The task force recommended further study on the possibility of making Seventh Street one way and the proposal that the 200 block of Seventh Street be closed to vehicular traffic on weekends.

Copyright 1999, The Common Denominator