Editing K Street (Washington, D.C.)

{{short description|Major thoroughfare in Washington, D.C.; a metonym for the U.S. lobbying industry}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox street
| name                    = K Street Northwest and Northeast
| marker_image            = 
| native_name             = 
| native_name_lang        = 
| alternate_name          = 
| image                   = 1500 block of K Street.JPG
| image_size              = 
| image_alt               = The 1500 block of K Street NW in Downtown, Washington, D.C.
| image_map               = 
| caption                 = The 1500 block of K Street NW in [[Downtown, Washington, D.C.]]
| map_type                = 
| map_size                = 
| map_caption             = 
| map_alt                 = 
| other_name              = 
| former_names            = 
| part_of                 = 
| namesake                = 
| type                    = 
| owner                   = 
| maint                   = [[District Department of Transportation|DDOT]]
| length                  = 
| length_mi               = 4.0
| length_ref              = <ref name=length>{{google maps |title=K Street NW and NE |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/3200+K+St+NW,+Washington,+DC+20007/38.9024949,-76.9896798/@38.9019296,-77.0437573,14z/am=t/data=!4m14!4m13!1m10!1m1!1s0x89b7b64e941921a1:0xdd8cabc5e58a403!2m2!1d-77.0627556!2d38.9025836!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0450766!2d38.9025256!3s0x89b7b7b751575bc7:0xe80da6b06f827a22!1m0!3e0 |access-date=March 9, 2019}}</ref>
| length_notes            = 
| width                   = 
| area                    = 
| addresses               = 
| location                = [[Northwest (Washington, D.C.)|Northwest]] and [[Northeast (Washington, D.C.)|Northeast]], [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| arrondissement          = 
| quarter                 = 
| postal_code             = 
| metro                   = 
| coordinates             = 
| direction_a             = West
| terminus_a              = [[Wisconsin Avenue]] in [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown]]
| junction                = {{Plainlist|
*{{jct|state=DC|I|66|US|29|road|[[Rock Creek Parkway]]}} in [[West End (Washington, D.C.)|West End]]
*[[Pennsylvania Avenue|Pennsylvania]] / [[New Hampshire Avenue]]s at [[Washington Circle]]
*[[Connecticut Avenue]] at [[Farragut Square]]
*[[Massachusetts Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Massachusetts]] / [[New York Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|New York Avenue]]s at [[Mount Vernon Square]]
}}
| direction_b             = East
| terminus_b              = [[Florida Avenue]] in [[Near Northeast]]
| north                   = [[L Street (Washington, D.C.)|L Street]]
| south                   = [[I Street (Washington, D.C.)|I Street]]
| main_contractor         = 
| cost                    = 
| references              = 
| commissioning_date      = [[L'Enfant Plan|1791]]
| construction_start_date = 
| completion_date         = 
| inauguration_date       = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| demolition_date         = 
| designer                = 
| known_for               = 
| status                  = 
| website                 = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->
| embedded =
}}
[[File:K Street NW at 19th Street.jpg|alt=Street sign for K Street, with tall office buildings in background|thumb|K Street in [[Washington, D.C.]] has become a [[metonym]] for the American [[lobbying]] industry.]]
'''K Street''' is a major [[thoroughfare]] in the [[United States]] [[Capital (political)|capital]] of [[Washington, D.C.]], known as a center for [[lobbying]] and the location of numerous [[advocacy group]]s, [[law firm]]s, [[trade association]]s, and [[think tank]]s. In political discourse, "K Street" has become a [[metonymy|metonym]] for [[lobbying in the United States]], the same way [[Wall Street]] in New York City became a metonym for the U.S. financial markets, since many lobbying firms are or traditionally were located on the section in Northwest Washington which passes from [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown]] through a portion of [[Downtown (Washington, D.C.)|Downtown Washington, D.C.]]<ref name=kstreet>{{cite news |first=Jeffrey H. |last=Birnbaum |title=The Road to Riches Is Called K Street |date=June 22, 2005 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/21/AR2005062101632.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=A01 |access-date=June 17, 2008 |archive-date=February 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216235548/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/21/AR2005062101632.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Egerod |first=Benjamin C. K. |last2=Hassell |first2=Hans J. G. |last3=McCrain |first3=Josh |last4=Miller |first4=David R. |date=2025 |title=Descriptive representation on K street: Race and gender among federal lobbyists |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lsq.12490 |journal=Legislative Studies Quarterly |language=en |doi=10.1111/lsq.12490 |issn=1939-9162|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Location==
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2025}}{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{coord| 38.902507| -77.03}}
| zoom = 12
| float = right
| width = 400
| height = 100
| caption =
| title =
| scalemark = 60
| map-data-light=Q6342989
|shape = image
|mark = Red pog.svg
|mark-size1 =
|mark-coord= {{coord| 38.904265| -77.070408}}
|label =  West end of K St. NW
|label-color = black
|label-pos=top
|mark-title= West end of K St. NW
|mark-coord1= {{coord|38.902513| -76.989778}}
|label1 =  East end of K St. NE
|label-color1 = black
|label-pos1 = top
|mark-title1 = East end of K St. NE
}}

In the Washington D.C. [[Grid plan|street grid]] there are three unconnected east-to-west street segments designated as K Street NW / NE, and also a southern K Street.

The middle segment of K Street NW / NE, which carries a segment of [[U.S. Route 29 in the District of Columbia|U.S. Route 29]], begins in the city's [[Washington, D.C. (northwest)|Northwest quadrant]] as K Street NW, just west of the abutment of the old [[Potomac Aqueduct Bridge|Aqueduct Bridge]] on the [[Georgetown (Washington, D.C.)|Georgetown]] waterfront.  The street travels east underneath the [[Whitehurst Freeway]], crosses [[Rock Creek (Potomac River)|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 [[Washington, D.C. (northeast)|Northeast]] [[Address (geography)#Quadrants|quadrant]]. The street ends at [[Florida Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Florida Avenue]] in the [[Near Northeast]] neighborhood, just south of [[Gallaudet University]].

K Street NE briefly reappears further east in the Carver neighborhood, extending from Bladensburg Road for six blocks to Maryland Avenue NE.

The westernmost (Georgetown) segment of K street NW 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 River|Potomac]] and [[Anacostia River|Anacostia]] rivers, crossing the [[Washington, D.C. (southwest)|Southwest]] and [[Washington, D.C. (southeast)|Southeast]] quadrants, as K Street SW and K Street SE, respectively.

==Traffic configuration==

===Current===
[[File:Pennsylvania Avenue and K Street.JPG|thumb|[[International Finance Corporation]] (IFC) Headquarters at the crossroads of K Street and [[Pennsylvania Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Pennsylvania Avenue]] at [[Washington Circle]] in the [[Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.|Foggy Bottom]] neighborhood]]
K Street provides a major east–west thoroughfare for traffic through Washington, primarily from [[Mount Vernon Square]] to [[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 [[frontage road|service]]) lanes and "express" lanes in both directions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3087/k-street-transitway-options-balance-buses-bikes-cars-and-loading/ |title=K Street Transitway options balance buses, bikes, cars, and loading |author=David Alpert |date=July 30, 2009 |work=Greater Greater Washington |access-date=January 5, 2012 |archive-date=October 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012052152/http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/3087/k-street-transitway-options-balance-buses-bikes-cars-and-loading/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Proposed===
The [[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]] has been studying the conversion of K Street into part of a proposed [[Bus rapid transit|busway]].<ref>Halsey III, Ashley. "Navigating a Bus Path For K Street - Again." ''Washington Post.'' August 30, 2009.</ref> The route would begin at [[Georgetown University]], cross [[Downtown Washington, D.C.|downtown]] Washington on K Street, switch to [[Massachusetts Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Massachusetts Avenue]] at [[Mount Vernon Square]], and end at [[Washington Union Station]]. The [[DC Circulator]] provides service along most of the proposed route, although it must share the right of way with other vehicles.

A streetcar line spanning from 26th Street NW to the [[H Street Line|H Street line]]'s terminus at Union Station is planned as the next phase of [[DC streetcar|DC's streetcar expansion]].<ref>{{cite news |title=From seedy to sought-after: D.C.'s Mount Vernon Triangle becoming urban village |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/28/AR2010012804734.html?sid=ST2010012902292 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=January 30, 2010 |access-date=January 5, 2012 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304212003/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/28/AR2010012804734.html?sid=ST2010012902292 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A proposal announced on April 7, 2022, would redesign K Street between 12th and 21st Streets, N.W. The proposal would remove the service lanes in favor of dedicated bus and [[bike lane|bicycle lanes]]. Under the proposal, construction would begin in the spring of 2023.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/04/07/dc-k-street-transitway/ "K Street makeover will bring dedicated bus lanes, remove service lanes"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408004714/https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/04/07/dc-k-street-transitway/ |date=April 8, 2022 }}, [[The Washington Post]], April 7, 2022</ref>

==Lobbying==
"K Street" is the common [[metonymy|metonym]] for [[Washington, D.C.]]'s [[lobbying]] industry, often used negatively in [[Campaign advertising|political campaign advertisements]], the same way [[Wall Street]] in [[New York City]] became a metonym for the U.S. financial markets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/index.php |title=Lobbying Database - OpenSecrets |access-date=October 29, 2010 |publisher=OpenSecrets.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728092547/http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/index.php |archive-date=July 28, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = Brian | last = Montopoli | title = Grayson Calls Linda Robertson A "K Street Whore" | date = October 27, 2009 | publisher = CBS | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-5427087-503544.html | work = cbsnews.com "Political Hotsheet" | access-date = October 29, 2010 | archive-date = October 24, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101024134932/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-5427087-503544.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> Many of the major D.C.-based 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.<ref name="kstreet"/><ref name="zak">{{cite news |last=Zak |first=Dan |date=February 5, 2012 |title=K Street: The route of all evil, or just the main drag? |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/k-street-the-route-of-all-evil-or-just-the-main-drag/2012/01/26/gIQAAnKdsQ_story.html |access-date=February 7, 2012 |archive-date=January 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101223434/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/k-street-the-route-of-all-evil-or-just-the-main-drag/2012/01/26/gIQAAnKdsQ_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since the late 1980s, many of the largest lobbying firms have moved off of K Street into larger spaces on adjacent streets; {{As of|2012|lc = y}}, only one of the top-20 largest lobbying firms has a K Street address.<ref name="zak" /> The major lobbying firms that physically remain on K Street, as of 2017, include [[CGCN Group]] and [[K&L Gates]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/politico-influence/2017/07/17/another-lobbyist-joins-the-administration-221371|title=Another lobbyist joins the administration|website=POLITICO|access-date=July 18, 2017|archive-date=July 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717223820/http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/politico-influence/2017/07/17/another-lobbyist-joins-the-administration-221371|url-status=live}}</ref> although smaller and midsized lobbying and [[advocacy group]]s as well as [[law firm]]s, [[trade association]]s, some [[think tank]]s, and members of the [[public affairs industry]] who commonly interact with each other still occupy spaces on K Street and adjacent areas of [[Downtown (Washington, D.C.)|Downtown Washington, D.C.]]

The 2003 [[HBO]] [[television series]] ''[[K Street (TV series)|K Street]]'' about a lobbying firm takes its name and location from the street.<ref name="Stanley">{{cite news |last=Stanley |first=Alessandra |date=September 14, 2003 |title=Inside Washington Politics, Turned Inside Out |pages=40 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="Shales">{{cite news |last=Shales |first=Tom |date=September 15, 2003 |title=HBO's ''K Street'', In Uncharted Territory |pages=C01 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref name="Gallo">{{cite news |last=Gallo |first=Phil |date=September 16, 2003 |title=''K Street'' |pages=10 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref name="Bianculli">{{cite news |last=Bianculli |first=David |date=September 16, 2003 |title=Been Down This ''Street'' |pages=82 |work=[[The New York Daily News]]}}</ref><ref name="Buckman">{{cite news |last=Buckman |first=Adam |date=September 16, 2003 |title=''K Street'' Stands for "Kooky" |pages=82 |work=[[The New York Post]]}}</ref><ref name="Bianco">{{cite news |last=Bianco |first=Robert |date=September 19, 2003 |title=Well-intentioned ''K Street'' is headed the wrong way |pages=12E |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Capitol Hill]], a [[metonym]] for the [[United States Congress]] and the largest historic residential [[Neighborhoods in Washington, D.C.|neighborhood in Washington, D.C.]]
* [[Rue de la Loi|Rue de la loi]] in [[Brussels]], the world second-largest lobbying location after K Street, focused on the [[European Union]]
* [[Think Tank Row (Washington, D.C.)|Think Tank Row]], an area containing a notable cluster of [[think tank]]s located on or around [[Massachusetts Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Massachusetts Avenue]] NW in Washington, D.C., between [[Thomas Circle]] and [[Dupont Circle]]
* [[Tufton Street]], a similar location in London hosting think-tanks and lobbyists

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120717015759/http://www.wmata.com/about/expansion/kst_busway.pdf K Street Busway project leaflet]
*[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/21/AR2005062101632.html "The Road to Riches Is Called K Street"]

{{Streets in Washington, DC}}

[[Category:K Street |K Street ]]
[[Category:Lobbying in the United States]]
[[Category:Streets in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 29]]