ACTION NEEDED: Realize Rosslyn & the Intersection of Doom

[chris_s]

Also I know it’s easy to get disillusioned and cynical because this problem has lingered for so long with so little progress, but Arlington takes its planning extremely seriously. This is a golden opportunity.

If we can get some policy into the Sector Plan, it has a much, much higher chance of getting implemented.

[runbike]

I was pretty excited to see all of the new cycletracks proposed for Rosslyn as part of this plan. As a daily commuter into the heart of Rosslyn I can say that while getting to Rosslyn is easy, getting through Rosslyn on a bike can be downright terrifying. In addition to fixing the intersection of doom (which I agree should be #1 on the list of requests) I’d like to make one other suggestion that I think most Custis/Rosslyn cyclists could get behind.

Specifically, can we also push for a two-way cycle track on WB Lee Highway (ideally running from N. Ft. Meyer Dr. to just short of Uhle St. where the Custis Trail turns off to follow I-66)?

The Realize Rosslyn campaign glosses over this area since the Custis already runs that same distance, but as all the daily riders know that section is little more than a glorified sidewalk. During peak times it can dangerous for both cyclists and pedestrians alike due to its narrow width and poor sightlines. Having driven/ridden/bused along that Westbound stretch of Lee Highway for many years, I can tell you that it is almost never backed up and that turning the far right lane into a separated cycletrack would not cause any major loss of service for cars. This is also supported by the 2012 Rosslyn Multi-modal transportation study (a pretty good read overall BTW – http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/ProjectsAndPlanning/file83483.pdf) which gives A and B grades for service level along that entire stretch of road, both AM and PM. I couldn’t make it to the open house and will be out of town for the 19th meeting, but I did write to the Principal Planner about this (as well as the intersection of doom!). I encourage others to do the same and hope we can add this to our list of future improvements. The way I look at it, this is a pretty easy fix since all it needs is some striping and a barrier installation.

[chris_s]

@run/bike 79554 wrote:

Specifically, can we also push for a two-way cycle track on WB Lee Highway (ideally running from N. Ft. Meyer Dr. to just short of Uhle St. where the Custis Trail turns off to follow I-66)?

Would you settle for widening the trail to 16′? Coming as part of the long-delayed, abysmally-named (but still coming) N. Lynn Street Esplanade and Lee Highway/Custis Trail Safety Improvements

16′ Custis from Lynn to Oak + a planted buffer between the road and the trail. This also helps the sight-lines quite a lot at the Marriott Driveway.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

[consularrider]

While the above would be a nice improvement over the current situation, I like the proposed idea of a buffered cycletrack to the Custis turn off before Uhle St better. I see more conflicts on the section between Scott and Oak than I do in the Oak to Ft Myer. I think much of that is due to the curving nature of the trail in that area and the sound barrier wall right along the edge of the trail. Lee Highway would not lose any space over what is proposed and the using a cycle track next to a sidewalk would help limit bicycle/pedestrian conflicts. Only going as far as Oak is short sighted.

[MattAune]

But that is going to end where the sound barrier starts, no?

I would much rather have a 2 way cycle-track that goes all the way up the hill over the 66 bridge and join in where the trail makes the 90 degree turn.

[runbike]

Can’t agree enough with the two previous posts. Protected cycle track removes potential bike-ped conflicts completely. With the added benefit of far less constuction required to implement! If the county is willing to go with killing a lane for the “esplanade” project, I can see absolutely no reason why they wouldn’t get behind the cycle track…cheaper and more effective!

[chris_s]

1) I agree.
2) This ship has sailed.

[bobco85]

I like the trail widening in general, but I do wish they could continue it to the 90 degree turn on the Custis. That would involve removal and reconstruction of the sound barrier between Oak and Quinn which would be expensive, but I think it would be worth it.

My main concern about the widening design is that the curb cuts at the intersections may still force opposite-traveling people toward the middle of the trail. For example, if you want to cross Ft Myer Drive, even though the trail is 10 feet wide, the awkward angle and shape of the curb cut actually only give a few feet of space to maneuver.

I never even thought about having a cycletrack along the right lane of Lee Hwy up to the 90 degree turn on the Custis, and I think it’d be great if they decided to do that. However, I don’t know how they would justify to Joe Car Driver that they removed a car lane to put a cycletrack right next to a trail (unless they made that portion of the trail pedestrian-only).

[consularrider]

@bobco85 79611 wrote:

… I never even thought about having a cycletrack along the right lane of Lee Hwy up to the 90 degree turn on the Custis, and I think it’d be great if they decided to do that. However, I don’t know how they would justify to Joe Car Driver that they removed car lane to put a cycletrack right next to a trail (unless they made that portion of the trail pedestrian-only).

My own clearly biased observation (including during both morning and evening commuting hours) along this stretch is that there is almost never enough traffic along that portion of westbound Lee Highway to justify three lanes. In fact, I think a cycle track could run all the way to the Lyon Village shopping center connection to the Custis Trail and not really inconvenience Joe Car Driver. After all, shortly after the I-66 entry past Lyon Village Lee Highway becomes two lanes each way.

[chris_s]

More publicity: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/22084

Man they let all sorts of riff Raff write for GGW these days.

Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

[rcannon100]

Windy Run Blog Post.

[Tim Kelley]

@rcannon100 79816 wrote:

Windy Run Blog Post.

Thanks for the heads up on the Tag Cloud–sometimes it gets stuck and needs to be refreshed. Remember the time it kept showing all the random condiments like kethcup, mustard and relish? Well now, “Pickles” is still in there for some reason though…

[rcannon100]

@Tim Kelley 79851 wrote:

Remember the time it kept showing all the random condiments like kethcup, mustard and relish?

[chris_s]

Don’t forget tonight’s board meeting!

[chris_s]

This just in. 😎

It was great speaking with you at last week’s Realize Rosslyn Open House. I very much appreciate your feedback, along with the feedback provided by Chris Slatt, regarding bicycle/pedestrian safety at the Lee/Lynn intersection. Staff is in agreement that the Rosslyn Plan Framework should be revised to include a new policy directive (under Transportation Theme 3) which addresses the need to improve the safety and efficiency of the intersection of Lynn Street, Lee Highway and the Custis Trail. Staff is also recommending changes be made to the bicycle facilities map (Map T5) which would include a new callout box and language related to improving bicycle/pedestrian safety at the Lee/Lynn intersection.

I am happy to answer any questions you may have on these proposed changes and look forward to seeing you at tonight’s County Board meeting.

Sincerely,
Kelly Cornell
Transportation Planner
Arlington County Division of Transportation

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