Overview
- WABA, which filed suit Monday, says the Justice Department confirmed work will not begin before March 30 and is asking a judge to lock in the pause.
- The National Park Service and U.S. Department of Transportation say taking out the protected lane will ease congestion for the Cherry Blossom Festival and the nation’s 250th anniversary events.
- The Federal Highway Administration said the change returns “common sense” to city planning and argued the lane reduced road capacity near the Mall.
- Advocates and Mayor Muriel Bowser cite a D.C. transportation study showing crashes fell 46% and bike injuries dropped 91% after the lane was installed.
- The contested stretch sits on federal land through the National Mall and connects the White House area to the Tidal Basin and the 14th Street Bridge.