K Street (Washington, D.C.)

K Street is a major thoroughfare in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. known as a center for numerous lobbyists and advocacy groups. In political discourse, "K Street" has become a metonym for Washington's lobbying industry since many lobbying firms were traditionally located on the section in Northwest Washington which passes from Georgetown through a portion of downtown D.C.[2] Since the late 1980s, however, many of the largest lobbying firms have moved out; as of 2012, only one of the top-20 lobbying firms has a K Street address.[3]

K Street Northwest and Northeast

The 1500 block of K Street NW in Downtown, Washington, D.C.
Maintained by	DDOT
Length	4.0 mi[1] (6.4 km)
Location	Northwest and Northeast, Washington, D.C.
West end	Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown
Major junctions	I-66 / US 29 / Rock Creek Parkway in West End Pennsylvania / New Hampshire Avenues at Washington Circle Connecticut Avenue at Farragut Square Massachusetts / New York Avenues at Mount Vernon Square
East end	Florida Avenue in Near Northeast
North	L Street
South	I Street
Construction
Commissioned	1791

Location

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In the Washington D.C. street grid there are two unconnected streets designated as K Street. The term "K Street" almost always refers to the northern K Street.

The northern K Street, which carries a segment of U.S. Route 29, begins in the city's Northwest quadrant as K Street NW, just west of the abutment of the old Aqueduct Bridge on the Georgetown waterfront. The street travels east underneath the Whitehurst Freeway, crosses Rock Creek on the K Street Bridge, and continues through downtown D.C. After its intersection with North Capitol Street, the street's designation changes to K Street NE as it enters the Northeast quadrant. The street ends at Florida Avenue in the Near Northeast neighborhood, just south of Gallaudet University. It briefly reappears further east in the Carver neighborhood.

The Georgetown section of the street was known as Water Street prior to the Georgetown street renaming of 1895. West of 33rd Street NW, the United States Postal Service still recognizes both "K Street" and "Water Street" in addresses. The westernmost end of K Street occupies the former right of way of the Georgetown Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. When that line was abandoned, K Street was extended west to the Washington Canoe Club. The rest of the Georgetown right of way is now occupied by the Capital Crescent Trail, which begins at the terminus of K Street.

The southern K Street runs between the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, crossing the Southwest and Southeast quadrants (as K Street SW and K Street SE, respectively).

Traffic configuration

Current

IFC Headquarters at the crossroads of K Street and Pennsylvania Avenue at Washington Circle in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood

K Street provides a major east-west thoroughfare for traffic through Washington, primarily from Mount Vernon Square to the Whitehurst Freeway. The street continues through Georgetown under the Whitehurst Freeway; however most westbound traffic exits to the freeway. A portion of the street travels in a tunnel underneath Washington Circle, allowing through traffic to avoid the circle. Portions of the street are divided into both "local" (or service) lanes and "express" lanes in both directions.[4]

Proposed

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has been studying the conversion of K Street into part of a proposed busway.[5] The route would begin at Georgetown University, cross downtown Washington on K Street, switch to Massachusetts Avenue at Mount Vernon Square, and end at Union Station. Currently, the DC Circulator provides service along most of the proposed route, although it must share right of way with other vehicles.

A streetcar line spanning from 26th Street NW to the H Street line's terminus at Union Station is planned as the next phase of DC's streetcar expansion.[6]

Lobbying

"K Street" is the common and often negative metonym for Washington's lobbying industry.[7][8] Many of the major Washington lobbying firms were located on the section in Northwest Washington which passes from Georgetown through a portion of downtown D.C., although the strip has grown less popular for lobbyists in recent years.[2][3] The major lobbying firms that remain on K Street, as of 2017, include CGCN Group, K&L Gates and Wiley Rein.[9]

See also

• Lobbying in the United States
• Tufton Street - a similar location in London hosting think-tanks and lobbyists

References

1. Google (March 9, 2019). "K Street NW and NE" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
2. Birnbaum, Jeffrey H. (June 22, 2005). "The Road to Riches Is Called K Street". The Washington Post. p. A01. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
3. Zak, Dan (February 5, 2012). "K Street: The route of all evil, or just the main drag?". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
4. David Alpert (July 30, 2009). "K Street Transitway options balance buses, bikes, cars, and loading". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
5. Halsey III, Ashley. "Navigating a Bus Path For K Street - Again." Washington Post. August 30, 2009.
6. "From seedy to sought-after: D.C.'s Mount Vernon Triangle becoming urban village". Washington Post. January 30, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
7. "Lobbying Database - OpenSecrets". OpenSecrets.org. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
8. Montopoli, Brian (October 27, 2009). "Grayson Calls Linda Robertson A "K Street Whore"". cbsnews.com "Political Hotsheet". CBS. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
9. "Another lobbyist joins the administration". POLITICO. Retrieved July 18, 2017.

External links

• K Street Busway project leaflet
• "The Road to Riches Is Called K Street"