In an October 14th press release, the District Department of Transportation announced that over the coming weeks the agency will launch a “public outreach tour,” holding open houses in all eight wards to “engage residents and businesses in the implementation of improvements proposed for the transit system for the city, including streetcars.”

At these meetings, DDOT will present its DC’s Transit Future study, which studied short- and long-term transit improvements to enhance the District’s existing transit network, including streetcars, bus rapid transit (BRT) and limited-stop rapid bus such as the Metrobus Express routes already running on Georgia Avenue/7th Street, 16th Street, and on the 30’s line.  DDOT will also update residents on construction of the first two streetcar lines on H Street-Benning Road NE and in Anacostia, which is already in progress.

According to the press release, the program for the open house meetings will consist of “display boards, maps, information about the proposed system, and opportunities for participants to speak individually with and ask questions of project team members.”

Open House Schedule:

Ward 6: Thursday, October 22, 2009, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

J.O. Wilson Elementary, 660 K Street, NE

Ward 1: Monday, October 26, 2009, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

Columbia Heights Education Campus, 3101 16th Street, NW

Ward 4: Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

Brightwood Elementary, 1300 Nicholson Street, NW

Ward 2: Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

NEW LOCATION: Hyde Elementary at 3219 O Street NW

Ward 7: Thursday, October 29, 2009, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

Thomas Elementary, 650 Anacostia Avenue, NE

Ward 8: Monday, November 2, 2009, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

Savoy Elementary, 2400 Shannon Place, SE

Ward 5: Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

Luke Moore Academy , 1001 Monroe Street, NE

Ward 3: Wednesday, November 4, 2009, 7 pm – 8:30 pm

Stoddert Elementary, 4001 Calvert Street, NW

For more information about the streetcar project and the upcoming open house meetings, you may visit DDOT’s Streetcar webpage or call the project hotline at 703-682-5060.