I've said before that WMATA's SafeTrack work is highly needed, but that it's also going to be highly disruptive. Beginning this Saturday, and for the next three weeks or so, we're going to find out exactly how disruptive this will be. Starting on Saturday, June 18th, the Potomac Avenue and Stadium-Armory stations on WMATA's Blue/Orange/Silver lines will be closed for repairs through July 3. Shuttle buses between the Eastern Market and Benning Road/Minnesota Avenue stations will help continue the connection on Metrorail, but regular Metro riders will see very significant impacts throughout the system. I encourage commuters - like myself - who rely on these stations to explore transit alternatives at GoDCGo during the SafeTrack closures. This phase of Metro's intensive repair process is going to require a different kind of commute for many of us who would normally use the Blue/Orange/Silver lines. This isn't going to require a slower or delayed commute; it's going to require people to plan for a different way to get to work and travel altogether. I have been in constant contact with WMATA and DDOT about ways to lessen the disruption of these closures for commuters and the neighborhoods surrounding the impacted stations, including bus lanes, bus bridges, more traffic control officers, taxi lanes, and more. Once Surge #2 is underway, I hope the repairs and mitigation plan move ahead smoothly, but if things aren't working as hoped, please let me know. I'll work with WMATA to fine-tune any problems that arise.

Community Meeting on Ward 6 Short-Term Family Housing Site: Wednesday, June 22

On Wednesday, June 22, I will host a community meeting in Southwest at Friendship Baptist Church to discuss the Ward 6 Homeward DC Short-Term Family Housing site, 850 Delaware Avenue, SW. This will be the site where the city will rebuild the Southwest community health center, and co-locate up to 50 units of emergency family housing for homeless families. I'll outline the Council's decisions and how we changed the initial proposals, and also talk with the community about next steps and how neighbors can be engaged as the work continues to move forward. The Mayor's Homeward DC team, including the Department of Human Services and the Department of General Services, will also be on hand to answer questions and hear from the community. I hope to see you there.

Free Summer Meal Program For Youth Begins On Monday

The DC Free Summer Meals Program starts up on Monday for all youth 18 and under at sites across the District. In Ward 6, meals will be served throughout the summer at King Greenleaf Rec Center in Southwest; Kennedy Rec, Shaw Library, and Walker-Jones Rec in Northwest; and Rosedale Rec and Sherwood Rec in Northeast. Most sites will serve two meals a day -- stop in to find out more about hours and days. There is no cost and no enrollment.

Upcoming Events
Friday, June 17: DC Jazz Festival at Yards Park, through June 19
Friday, June 17: Friday Night Fishing begins, weekly through August
Saturday, June 18: Safetrack Surge #2 Begins, Potomac Ave & Stadium-Armory Stations Close
Saturday, June 18, 10:30am-3:30pm: SW Library Summer Reading Program Kick-off Events
Saturday, June 18, 1-5pm: Shaw Main Streets Open House
Wednesday, June 22, 6:30pm: Community Meeting on Ward 6 Homeward DC Site
Friday, July 1, 8am-9:30am: Ward 6 Community Office Hours in Mt. Vernon Triangle
Monday, July 4, 10am: Barracks Row Fourth of July Parade
Friday, July 8, 8am-9:30am: Ward 6 Community Office Hours in Southwest
Thursday, July 14, 6:30pm: Future of Buzzard Point Park Planning Meeting


As always, thank you for your support and please let me know if there’s anything I or my staff can do to help you or your neighborhood.

Charles Allen