Mt Vernon Trail Problems Identified in 1990

Columbia Island Conflicts: No current conflict (I dont remember this problem)
Narrow Hump Back Bridge: Fixed
No Access to Pentagon: Fixed
Graverly Point: Fix has been planned with process well under way
No Access to Crystal City: Fixed
Hazardous Trail Crossings at Airport: A number of them have been fixed. I think only one remains
Lack of Directional Signs: Fixed
Lack of River Crossing: Fixed
Dangerous Grades at WW: Improved
Clearance of Tree Trunks: Pretty sure that has been fixed

And NPS has fixed a few other things like the 14th Street Bridge ramp

I’d like to personally thank NPS for making so much progress on them over the last quarter century. More needs to be done. But NPS has been responsive, met with members of the cycling community, and made solid improvements.

I do love the notation about the Intersection of Doom. It has been Decades of inaction. Well, no, we do now have curb cuts!

Agree largely with rcannon. While I love to pile on the NPS as much as the next guy, a lot of those problems have been fixed, even if it did take almost a quarter century.

Maybe by 2040, all the issues will finally be addressed, just in time for much of the trail to fall victim to rising sea levels.

I think a lot of the slowness has to do with a lack of funding. I’ve noticed how long it takes to simply pick up the trash along the trail, cut the grass, etc. Also, the National Mall is becoming a embarrassment given how badly some of the landscaping/infrastructure has deteriorated. And how long will those jersey barriers remain around the Jefferson Memorial?! I’ve been visiting the national parks around the country and most of them could sure use some more money too.

One way to speed things up is to write to one’s congresspeople and ask that NPS receive more funding.

@chris_s 85905 wrote:

Still a problem 24 years later:
The Intersection of Doom [safety]
Slippery Boardwalks [safety]
Columbia Island Conflicts with traffic [safety]
No access from South Arlington [access]
Conflicts at Gravelly Point (I’ll believe they’re fixing it when I see it) [safety]

No progress in the amount of time it takes to raise a human being from nothing to an adult, productive member of society.

I see some promising signs out of NPS in the last few years, but if letting known safety problems linger for decades is OK because they made progress on some other stuff is “OK” and that makes them “responsive” then when we may be part of the problem.

You have to remember they fixed the most expensive, “highest-hanging” fruit first – Wilson bridge, Humpback bridge, tunnel under CSX right of way.

@chris_s 85905 wrote:

Still a problem 24 years later:
The Intersection of Doom [safety]
Slippery Boardwalks [safety]
Columbia Island Conflicts with traffic [safety]
No access from South Arlington [access]
Conflicts at Gravelly Point (I’ll believe they’re fixing it when I see it) [safety]

No progress in the amount of time it takes to raise a human being from nothing to an adult, productive member of society.

I see some promising signs out of NPS in the last few years, but if letting known safety problems linger for decades is OK because they made progress on some other stuff is “OK” and that makes them “responsive” then when we may be part of the problem.

Small correction – many 24-year-olds aren’t yet adult, productive members of society.

@chris_s 85905 wrote:

Conflicts at Gravelly Point (I’ll believe they’re fixing it when I see it) [safety]

I’m not sure why they don’t just create a second path near the parking lot to let the wheeled traffic bypass the chemical toilets/airport enthusiasts. I’m surprised there aren’t serious accidents that happen there due to the clueless masses congregating near the portajohns.

@dasgeh 85946 wrote:

That’s basically the plan, but like Chris, I’ll believe it when I see it.

The separated bike and pedestrian paths have been a total game changer for cycling in our house. Just widening the MVT another 3-4 feet would seriously improve that MUT.

@dasgeh 85949 wrote:

I attending an NPS briefing for Hill staff on their surface transportation budget. It’s pitiful. And, unlike many other authorities that manage roads, they don’t have many other options. They have to beg Congress for money, beg local jurisdictions to partner with them to give them money, or beg rich people for money (which is what got the Washington Monument fixed so quickly).

Okay, I’m sure I’ve made this point before here, but WHY is major, interstate-like highway still under the jurisdiction of NPS? I’m not talking about the Road to the Sun or other purely recreational park roads, but many of our “parkways” (e.g., the BW Parkway, GW Parkway, [insert others in other cities I’m unware of]) are essentially interstate highways and a crucial, heavily relied upon part of the regional infrastructure. As such, they should be under the jurisdiction of the appropriate state highway administration and its regulatory scheme. The status quo seems kind of stubborn and dumb, IMHO.

Liz