D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 10-A, § 906
906.1 Grand and picturesque streets in the form of avenues, gateway corridors, and parkways, and long-established roads are defining elements of Washington, DC's urban form (See Figure 9.12). They create dramatic points of entry into the District, wind through and define neighborhoods, and connect large parks and open spaces. Today, these thoroughfares are classified by their function as part of the transportation system, but they were created at various times and shaped by different forces. The avenues of the Plan of the City of Washington and the Olmsted Highway Plan establish a system of thoroughfares that have a sense of civic prominence, define neighborhoods, and frame views of the District. There are three types of thoroughfares with varying origins and purpose, each creating distinct places and experiences:
906.2 Major avenues and gateways are shown in Figure 9.12.
Use Washington, DC's major thoroughfares to reinforce the form and identity of the District, connect its neighborhoods, and improve its aesthetic and visual character through context-sensitive landscaping, tree planting, and streetscape design. Special attention should be placed on how public space, building restriction areas, and adjacent buildings contribute to each thoroughfare's character. Focus improvement efforts on thoroughfares with limited amenities.
906.4 Figure 9.12: Thoroughfare Types in DC
906.9
Create more distinctive and memorable gateways at points of entry to the District and in neighborhoods, parks and open spaces, and neighborhood centers.
Gateways should provide a sense of transition, orientation, and arrival through improvements in the form of landscaping, art work, commemoration, and roadway design. They should be designed to make a strong and positive visual impact.
Protect picturesque views and view corridors along avenues, parkways, and other major corridors, particularly along streets that terminate, connect, and frame important neighborhood and national institutions, memorials, and parks. Vistas along such streets should be accentuated by street trees and include distinct facades of high architectural quality along well-defined street walls and, if appropriate, maintain a park-like character.
Focus the District’s avenue and gateway corridor design improvements on historically important or symbolic streets, including 16th Street, Rhode Island Avenue, North Capitol Street, Pennsylvania Avenue SE, and New York Avenue. Support federal efforts to preserve Constitution and Independence Avenues as major boulevards. Coordinate with NCPC to preserve and enhance the character of avenues and streets with shared federal and local interests that have important viewsheds and connections to federal and cultural structures and open spaces.
The grade of new streets should respond to existing topography, the existing grading of nearby streets, and the broader urban context. Grading should reflect the function of the street within the broader Olmstead Highway Plan, such as winding streets in residential neighborhoods with topography, level streets and sidewalks in commercial areas, and formal and consistent treatment along boulevards and avenues.
Conduct a study to determine the feasibility of special design controls that would apply to major thoroughfares and gateway streets to enhance important views and to upgrade the aesthetic quality of key thoroughfares.
Explore the feasibility of enhancing points of arrival into the District at the major Maryland and Virginia gateways to the District through signage, public art, landscaping, restoration and careful maintenance of historic boundary markers, road design and pavement changes, special treatment of boundary streets (Southern, Eastern, and Western Avenues), and related improvements.
See the Historic Preservation Element for more on protecting the special character of the L’Enfant Plan’s streets.
SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).