Mayor Muriel Bowser is on a mission to clean up and beautify the Capital, launching a series of initiatives that aim to not just spruce up the city for spring but to tackle practical concerns of safety and accessibility, DC.gov reports. At the frontline of these initiatives is "Take a STEP DC," which focuses on sidewalk repairs across 48 miles of walkways, a move inspired by community feedback and data collated by the Department of Transportation (DDOT).
Stepping up to the plate, DDOT has a hefty track record of maintaining nearly 1,500 miles of sidewalks, and since 2018, they've hammered out repairs on 320 miles, "The project began near Eastern High School, where today’s event took place. Such work offers key protections to include compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)," Acting DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum told DC.gov. This work is particularly vital for those who navigate the city with mobility challenges, not to mention the parents, students, and elderly who use these sidewalks daily.
A comprehensive clean-up effort named the Great Streets Corridor Clean Up is also in full swing, targeting 19 corridors across the city for three weeks a joint operation involving several city agencies such as DPW, the Metropolitan Police, and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), as per the Mayor's office. In a similar initiative last fall, crews managed to collect 451.2 tons of waste, highlighting the city’s ongoing battle with litter and illegal dumping.
DPW Director Timothy Spriggs confirmed the scope of the task: "About a dozen teams will be concentrating on these areas during our three-week effort, but our work to make sure our residents have safe and clean streets and sidewalks to navigate on is year-round,” Spriggs emphasized; during this effort, teams will be engaged in a myriad of cleaning activities from gum and graffiti removal to rodent abatement and tree pruning, all part of the larger aim to present a cleaner, orderly urban landscape.
The article on DC.gov also highlighted several efforts underway in all eight wards of the district, including collecting thousands of tons of illegal waste materials and implementing cleanup programs that underscore the administration's commitment to a well-maintained city. Mayor Bowser's FY25 budget reflects this dedication, with substantial investments aimed at transportation infrastructure, street and sidewalk safety, and public works, punctuated by millions in funds dedicated to school safety improvements, local street paving, maintenance of the sidewalk network, and expansion of the city's bike lanes.
