18th Street Closure Pilot Program

18th Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from Columbia Road to Kalorama Road on the following days:

• Friday, June 26 : 3pm - Midnight
• Saturday, June 27 : 8am - Midnight
• Sunday, June 28 : 8am - Midnight

Click Here for full details including a draft map of the closure

There will be a 20-foot pedestrian pathway down the center of the street that will also serve as emergency access. Businesses will be allowed to expand their operations (restaurant table service and retail sales) into the roadway directly in front of their businesses using the distancing guidelines published by DC Health . They will also be able to utilize sidewalk space in front of adjacent properties with written permission from that property owner or business owner.

This is a pilot project for this weekend only. We anticipate DC Government will tweak this based on observation and feedback. Please help us make this a successful pilot that can be repeated and improved upon moving forward.

Colonial Parking Garage will be open and accessible via the alley behind the east side of the 2400 block of 18th Street. Hoffman Alley will be closed.

There are two designated pickup/dropoff (PUDO) zones on the draft map. One on the south side of Columbia Road, just the west of SunTrust Bank, and one on the east side of 18th Street, south of Kalorama Road adjacent to the basketball courts at Marie Reed School.

The 90 and 96 Metrobuses will be rerouted during the closure. Visit WMATA's webpage for more information.

Business Participation:

Participating businesses will be able to utilize about 12-13 feet of the roadway measured from the curb out into the roadway (not from the bulb-out areas at crosswalks).

Businesses should plan to have some sort of rope, planter, or other means to separate their extended patio area from their neighbors'. Businesses are responsible for providing tables, chairs, and other fixtures and securing them when not in use in such a way that they can't be utilized by pedestrians.

Businesses that would like to utilize additional space in front of their businesses must fill out an online form that includes the following information:

FREE Business Registration

To register, each participating business will need to provide the following information on the form below:

• Name (both corporate and dba)
• Operating address
• Basic Business License number
• Certificate of Occupancy number
• ABRA License number (if applicable) (Certificate of Insurance requires additional coverage) . General FAQs available here.
• Certificate of Insurance (sidewalk café, which are also applicable to retailers)
• Number of Tables (for restaurants)
• Number of Chairs (for restaurants)
• Fixtures they plan to use for display of merchandise (for retailers)
• Number and type of coverings (umbrellas and/or tents) - Cannot exceed their perimeter or block the pedestrian path (for restaurants and for retailers)
• All tents can be no more than 10’ x 10’ and cannot be affixed permanently.
• They can be secured using materials such as blocks or other weights.
• They cannot be enclosed (i.e. they must be open on all sides).
• All umbrellas must be a minimum of 8’ clear of the ground when open.
• Note: Businesses are responsible for providing all tables, chairs, fixtures, tents, and umbrellas, and securing them when not in use in such a way that they can't be utilized by pedestrians.
• Follow the layout provided in the guidelines.
• Follow the guidance from DC Health for restaurants and non-essential retailers .
• If the participating business plans to use the public space in front of the adjacent property they need to provide written permission from the adjacent property owner.

Businesses will not be allowed to use the public space if they have not provided this information. The information will be shared with DC Government once it is final and complete.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR 18th STREET BUSINESS