New traffic pattern on Crystal Drive, as of Sat., June 15

This topic has 13 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 9 months ago by bobco85.

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June 14, 2013 at 2:48 am #913569

PotomacCyclist
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The section of Crystal Drive between 23rd and 26th Streets in Crystal City will be converted to a two-way road, starting on Saturday, June 15. From the Jaleo restaurant/Buffalo Wild Wings down to the Airport Access Road overpass. Cyclists will finally be able to travel southbound in the street on Crystal Drive past 23rd Street, without having to salmon (which is not a wise move).

The existing alternatives are to ride (slowly) on the sidewalk (but the southern half of that block has a narrow sidewalk, which is not wide enough for a pedestrian and a bike at the same time) or to ride over on 23rd St. and then ride down Clark St., which has a lot of potholes and metal grates.

Police officers will be on hand to direct traffic, as many road users may be confused by the new configuration.

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A couple weeks later, the north section of Crystal Drive will also be converted to two-way travel, from 12th St. to 15th St., next to the pedestrian entrance to Long Bridge Park. (Clark St., on the other side of the Crowne Plaza hotel, will also become a two-way street.) After this work is complete, Crystal Drive will be two-way from 12th St. down to 26th St.

(The section from 26th St. to 27th St. will be converted to two-way travel next year.)

http://sites.arlingtonva.us/ccpc/construction-underway/
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Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)

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June 14, 2013 at 3:40 am #972903

KLizotte
Participant

Yeah! It’s about time :p

August 4, 2013 at 4:44 pm #977473

CaseyKane50
Participant

New lane markings have been put down on the section of Crystal Drive between 12th and 15th Streets. This section of Crystal Drive should be opening early next week. It appears that there won’t be a bike lane headed north bound, but south bound will have a bike lane.

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August 5, 2013 at 1:23 pm #977466

consularrider
Participant

@CaseyKane50 59978 wrote:

New lane markings have been put down … It appears that there won’t be a bike lane headed north bound, but south bound will have a bike lane.

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Actually, it must have the world’s narrowest bike lane.

Maybe that’s a two way cycle track on the left hand side?

August 5, 2013 at 2:10 pm #977433

bobco85
Participant

I don’t understand the use of the double solid white lines, but there appears to be enough room to make it a hybrid bike/parking lane like on South Hayes Street between 15th Street and Eads Street. At least on South Hayes Street there are markings to let drivers know how much they should let their cars stick out.

August 5, 2013 at 2:43 pm #977445

mstone
Participant

@bobco85 60010 wrote:

I don’t understand the use of the double solid white lines, but there appears to be enough room to make it a hybrid bike/parking lane like on South Hayes Street between 15th Street and Eads Street. At least on South Hayes Street there are markings to let drivers know how much they should let their cars stick out.

hybrid bike/parking lane? is that code for “scamming green credits via overprovisioned parking”?

August 17, 2013 at 7:43 pm #978632

CaseyKane50
Participant

It appears as if the markings are finished on this section of Crystal Drive. A bike lane is in place for south bound riders, but the double solid white lines are definitely not marking off a bike lane in the northbound direction. You can ride to the right of the double solid white lines, but you will be in the door zone of any parked car. A biker will probably be safest taking the lane.

The county might need to adjust the sign just past 15th Street to indicate that the bike lane has ended.

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Update: I sent an email to Katherine Youngbluth (Street Improvements – Crystal City) and David Goodman (Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements) asking them if there were any plans to add sharrows to the northbound lane and suggesting they should adjust the bike lane sign.

August 23, 2013 at 8:38 pm #979218

CaseyKane50
Participant

@CaseyKane50 61319 wrote:

Update: I sent an email to Katherine Youngbluth (Street Improvements – Crystal City) and David Goodman (Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements) asking them if there were any plans to add sharrows to the northbound lane and suggesting they should adjust the bike lane sign.

Based on the response I got, it appears the project is still not complete. There is however, a good explanation for the double white lines.

Here is the response from Katherine Youngbluth.

Hello Casey,

Thank you for your email and I apologize for the delayed response; I just got back from vacation on Monday and have been trying to catch-up and keep up with my emails.

The Crystal Drive Two-Way Conversion Phase 1 project (which you have attached photos of below) has not yet been accepted by the County from the construction contractor, which means that there are still signage and other aspects of the project that need to be worked on. We are continuously working with the construction contractor to resolve a number of issues.

The Crystal City Multi-Modal Transportation Study and Crystal City Sector Plans called for a bicycle couplet for Crystal Drive and South Clark Street with Crystal Drive having the southbound bicycle lane and South Clark Street having the northbound bicycle facility. The concept for the northbound bicycle lane on South Clark Street between 15th Street South and 12th Street South is currently being developed is anticipated to be a cycle track. We expect to be in construction on the South Clark Street cycle track next year. The double white lines below will be a future transit lane, which will remove the on-street parking in the area. In the long term, the streetcar will run in this lane and travel northbound before turning westbound on 12th Street and travel onto Pentagon City.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Katherine D. Youngbluth, AICP

Capital Project Management Coordinator
Division of Transportation
Arlington County Government
2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Ste 900
Arlington, VA 22201

August 26, 2013 at 8:11 pm #979335

NicDiesel
Participant

@bobco85 60010 wrote:

I don’t understand the use of the double solid white lines

I saw the “official” response but I really think this is a case of the painting crew getting confused. Still, it’s nice to be able to do an almost complete Crystal City loop before and after work.

November 15, 2013 at 7:47 pm #986065

CaseyKane50
Participant

Green paint has been put down on the southbound bike lane

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November 15, 2013 at 8:09 pm #986079

consularrider
Participant

oooooh, pretty!

Just in time for the 4MR bridge demolition detour.

November 15, 2013 at 8:11 pm #986080

PotomacCyclist
Participant

@consularrider 60000 wrote:

Actually, it must have the world’s narrowest bike lane.

Maybe that’s a two way cycle track on the left hand side?

Almost every time I ride up the road, I try to ride in between the two narrow white lines. Mostly because… it’s there. Sort of like the technical skating elements they used to have in the Olympic ice skating competitions, only on a bike.

November 15, 2013 at 8:22 pm #986087

CaseyKane50
Participant

Of course. The sign says it is a bike lane

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November 15, 2013 at 10:46 pm #986107

bobco85
Participant

They should paint it green, you know, just for kicks!

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