A reader sent me an email asking a complicated question about how the traffic patterns and lights are meant to work at 13th and Quebec Streets and Kansas Avenue. Then, as a quick follow up, she asked what’s going on with the new traffic lanes at 9th and Florida?

The reader’s email:

So... I feel kind of silly for asking this question. In part because it has been so long, and in part because I thought I was mostly okay at reading and understanding traffic signs. But the more I think about it, the more confounded I am by the not-so-new-anymore traffic signage at the intersection at 13th/Kansas/Quebec.

Heading northbound on 13th, there is a "straight" lane and a "right turn" lane. But there are three lights, two that point straight, and one that points right. So if I want to turn right from 13th northbound to Kansas, do I get in the right-most lane, and then wait for the right-arrow light to turn green? Or does 13th-to-Kansas count as "straight" and you can do that on a red-right arrow?

Northbound view of Kansas and 13th Street at the corner of Quebec Place NW.

And same, but slightly different question heading southbound from Kansas to 13th: Does the green "straight" arrow mean okay to make a slight left on 13th? Or am I supposed to continue straight on Kansas, which basically forces me to turn right/west on Quebec?

Basically, the signage is binary but the options are three: straight on 13th, slight turn to/from Kansas, or hard turn onto Quebec. Any help here is appreciated!

Southbound view of 13th, Quebec and Kansas intersection. Lots of lights!

And, I know this is not in Petworth but while I am on the subject of traffic lights: the Whole Foods on Florida is the closest to where I live, and that new traffic light by 9:30 Club (9th & V) — I can't even talk about it. What were they thinking???

I didn’t have a good answer, so I reached out to a contact of mine at DDOT to try to get an explanation. Here’s the response:

The traffic signal operation on northbound 13th Street NW at Kansas Avenue NW and Quebec Street NW includes a dedicated through lane and a dedicated right turn lane.

The dedicated through lane controls only the through traffic that is continuing straight through on 13th Street NW. Traffic in this lane is controlled by upward green arrows during the green phase and is not permitted to make a right turn onto Kansas Avenue NW or Quebec Street NW.

The dedicated right turn lane controls all northbound right turns, whether the final destination is Kansas Avenue NW or Quebec Street NW. This traffic must turn from the dedicated right turn lane and obey the right turn arrow display and associated “NO TURN ON RED ARROW” signs. The dedicated right turn lane and separate right turn signal protect pedestrians crossing Kansas Avenue NW and Quebec Street NW from vehicles turning right from 13th Street NW.

In summary, all through traffic must use the dedicated through lane and traffic signals with upward green arrow indications, and all right turning traffic must use the dedicated right-turn lane and traffic signals with right-turn arrow indications.

The lights at Quebec, Kansas and 13th Street NW that cause so much confusion… can I turn right or nah?

Concerning the signal displays on southbound Kansas Avenue NW, the right-side traffic signals display upward green arrows while the left-side traffic signal displays a green ball. The upward green arrow signal heads on the right side, accompanied by a graphic no right turn sign on the pole below the signal displays, indicate that a right turn is not permitted at that location, but through movement is permitted. The left side traffic signal with the green ball display and no associated turn restrictions indicates that left turns to 13th Street NW or Quebec Street NW are permitted.

In summary, the permitted movements for southbound traffic along Kansas Avenue NW are through to continue on Kansas Avenue NW, left to southbound 13th Street NW, and left to eastbound Quebec Street NW.

Regarding the intersection of Florida Avenue, 9th Street and V Street NW, DDOT recently completed a major construction project to improve safety and multi-modal mobility in this segment of 9th Street and Florida Avenue. In keeping with DDOT’s Move DC and Vision Zero objectives, this intersection was fully signalized to improve safety and mobility for all users.

Florida Avenue NW and Vermont… If you’re in the left lane, you can go straight, but then quickly have to move over to the right to continue toward 9th Street toward V Street.

As part of the final design, DDOT added a two-way protected cycle track and bike lanes to the project in order to extend DDOT’s protected bike lane network and make the corridor accessible and safe for more users. As a result, the traffic signal operation at the intersection of Florida Avenue, 9th Street, and V Street NW, includes protected traffic signal operations to eliminate conflicts between bicycles and motor vehicle traffic.

In addition to the special traffic signal operations for bicycles, this intersection also features multiple approaches that cannot run simultaneously, namely westbound V Street and southbound 9th Street. The combination of these factors results in a fairly complex traffic signal operation. However, this complexity is necessary to ensure the safety of all users of the intersection.

DDOT is working with the local ANC and community representatives to fine-tune the traffic signal operation to ensure it reflects the latest traffic patterns now that that larger construction project has been completed.

As an official response, DDOT’s Director Everett Lott said, in general, “The DC Department of Transportation's goals for multimodal transportation options across the city is led by the MoveDC strategic plan that allows us to implement, maintain a safe, reliable, multimodal transportation system. To us Safety is paramount, and we hope that these new traffic signals will help all roadway user better navigate our streets as we continue to add safety improvements across the city.”

Well, there you go. What do you think?