2019 DCS Design Criteria

2019·7.6 MB·English

by  District Department of Transportation

DESIGN CRITERIA
2019
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d.
District Department of Transportation
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF ENGINEER
We are very pleased to announce the completion of the technical update to the DC Streetcar Design
Criteria (January 2012). This document has been updated to reflect the latest streetcar industry
standard and design guidelines, and lessons learned since the release of the first edition in 2012.
The DC Streetcar Design Criteria {2019 Revision) provides both general uniform and minimum guidelines
and specific design criteria for use in the development, design and construction of the streetcar system.
We are confident that the use of this document will enable the District Department of Transportation
(DDOT), agencies, consultants, planners, engineers, architects and other professionals to more
efficiently translate DC requirements into acceptable design solutions. The DC Streetcar Design Criteria
{2019 Revision) is intended to serve as a living document that will evolve to reflect changes in industry,
engineering, operation, and maintenance, and policy of DC Streetcar program.
Implementing a successful streetcar system that will serve the District of Columbia is our key goal. With
the development and update of this Design Criteria and Standard Drawings we have taken a very
important step towards this direction.
~~
Dawit Muluneh, PE
Chief Engineer Associate Director
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d.
District Department of Transportation
FOREWORD
The DC Streetcar Design Criteria (2019 Revision) is a technical update to the previous Design Criteria
issued in January 2012. This comprehensive document provides a general framework and the basis for a
uniform design for the DC streetcar system. These criteria allow the city's project team and partners to
develop preliminary and final designs for any streetcar project that might be undertaken by the District
I
Department of Transportation (DDOT).
These criteria are not in~ended to replace the level of initiative and competence expected from DDOT,
agencies, consultants, and professionals in the performance of their duties. It is not a substitute for
engineering judgment and sound engineering practice. Professionals involved in -the DC streetcar
program are encouraged to carefully consider the principles of the Design Criteria in the context of the
needs of individual projects. Exceptions may apply in special cases. If a guideline is not appropriate and
that a more appropriate solution is available, suggestions to this effect should be raised for
consideration by DDOT.
The DC Streetcar Design Criteria (2019 Revision) should be viewed as a "living document," which is
subject to change or revisions as we continue to work towards our goal to implement a successful
extensive streetcar system in the city. A strong foundation is needed that provides guidance to achieving
this goal. The completion of this Design Criteria is one the steps towards achieving this foundation.
~g
Diyar Bozkurt
Project Manager
Program Manager (Construction & Engineering)
Transit Delivery Division
Infrastructure Project Management Division
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ACKNOWLEDEMENTS 

The DC Streetcar Design Criteria (2019) was prepared under the guidance of the District Department of 
Transportation with the assistance of HDR Engineering Inc. in association with ZGF Architects LLP and 
LTK Engineering Services, and Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. 

Many thanks to the people who helped make this document possible: 

Infrastructure Project Management Division, DDOT 
 Dawit Muluneh 
 Paul Hoffman 
 Diyar Bozkurt 
 Ali Shakeri 
 Errol Williams 

Traffic Operations & Safety Division, DDOT 
 Gregg Steverson 

Transit Delivery Division, DDOT 
 Emile Smith 
 James Benton 
 Howard Chang 
 Raka Choudhury 
 Charles Dingboom 
 Diane L. Patterson 

Public Space Regulations Division, DDOT 
 Dr. Petrosian Levon 
Urban Forestry Division, DDOT 
 John Thomas 
 Earl Eutsler 

Parking & Ground Transportation Division, DDOT 
 Evian Patterson 
 Jerry Lyle 

Planning and Sustainability Division, DDOT 
 Stephen Plano 
    DC Streetcar Design Criteria – 2019 | Acknowledgements
 Jim Sebastian 
 Reginald Bazile 
 Darren Buck 
 George Branyan 
 Mike Goodno 
 Jamie Hanson 
 Robyn Jackson 

Public Information Division, DDOT 
 Terry Owens 
 Mario Sessions 

Equity & Inclusion Division, DDOT 
 Cesar Barreto 
 Brett Rouillier 
 Alice Kelly 

Office of the General Counsel, DDOT 
 Glenn Dubin 
 Cheri Hance Staples 
 MaeLena Cephas 

DC Office of Planning 
 Dan Emerine 

DC State Historical Preservation Office 
 Andrew Lewis 

DC Department of Environmental and Energy 
 Julienne Bautista 

National Capital Planning Commission 
 Lucy Krempf 

HDR Engineering, Inc. 
 Marc Soronson 
 Maggie Adams 
 Rob Victor 
  DC Streetcar Design Criteria – 2019 | Acknowledgements
 Kevin Walsh 
 James Brown 
 Ron Garraffa 
 Javier Ortiz‐Velez 
 Hope Gist 
 Stacy Weisfeld 
 Johnathan Weidman 
 Mike Jeansonne 
 Dan Nelson 
 Kate Ko 
 Jacqueline Lavalleye 
 Christopher Oswald 

ZGF Architects 
 Otto Condon 

LTK Engineering Services 
 Mark Cohen 

Commun‐et 
 Ian Swain 
 Charlotte Ducksworth 

Interfleet 
 Frank Pierson 
RATP Rev USA 
 Keith Jones 
 Cleve Cleveland 
 Gretchen Wolfe 
 David Sitra 
 Ulysses Johnson 

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. 
 Damian Carey 
 Kenneth Shields 
 Alicia Rowe 
 Abbe Karp 
 Robert McPherson 
    DC Streetcar Design Criteria – 2019 | Acknowledgements
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