Arlington Blvd/Rt 50 Trail Thread

[Tim Kelley]

@chris_s 133956 wrote:

Lovely. Not “I know it’s VDOT policy not to plow these, I’m looking into how to change that policy” instead “Let’s see if we can get the local jurisdiction to clean up VDOT’s mess.”

In talking with other more local VDOT staff, it sounds like the upper management has dug in their heels. Here’s a letter I had passed along to me from last year from the VDOT commissioner:

March 16, 2015

Dear Mr. Holt,
Thank you for your email of March 4, 2015 as it relates to maintaining off road paths that run adjacent to the roadway. I know you are especially concerned about not being able to use the bike paths along Sudley Manor Drive and University Blvd. in Prince William County during recent snow storms. We do request our snow plowing crews to be mindful of pushing large amounts of snow onto sidewalks, intersections and driveways; however, sometimes this is an unintended consequence of making the roadways safe and passable, especially when dealing with large amounts of snow and long durations of cold temperatures.
As you noted in your email the 2004 Commonwealth transportation Board’s Policy for Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations states that VDOT does not provide snow or ice removal on sidewalks or shared-use paths. This policy has not changed and at this point VDOT does not plan on recommending changes to this policy due to the many miles of sidewalks and shared-use paths across the Commonwealth and the additional costs and dedicated resources needed to provide snow and ice removal for these facilities.
Thank you for your email and interest in bicycling safety.

Sincerely,

Charlie A. Kilpatrick, P.E.
Commissioner

I’ve been in touch with some Fairfax County and Prince William bike advocates about a concerted effort. I’ll continue to poke at this and keep you updated.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tim Kelley 133990 wrote:

In talking with other more local VDOT staff, it sounds like the upper management has dug in their heels. Here’s a letter I had passed along to me from last year from the VDOT commissioner:

I’ve been in touch with some Fairfax County and Prince William bike advocates about a concerted effort. I’ll continue to poke at this and keep you updated.

So, if you’re not in a car, VDOT doesn’t give a shit about you. Good to know. I wonder how this lines up with ADA guidelines and some constitutional civil rights issues. Plowing over sidewalks AS A POLICY is not only inconvenient for peds/bikes, but also provides a distinct disadvantage to the handicapped and poor.

[mstone]

@Tim Kelley 133990 wrote:

I’ve been in touch with some Fairfax County and Prince William bike advocates about a concerted effort. I’ll continue to poke at this and keep you updated.

Probably more effective to reach out to disability advocates and PTAs. This isn’t a bike issue: we had to close schools because kids couldn’t walk on the sidewalk, and people in wheelchairs are flat-out stuck. (And the people actually making these decisions in the state house could not care less about people on bikes.)

[mstone]

@TwoWheelsDC 133992 wrote:

So, if you’re not in a car, VDOT doesn’t give a shit about you.

They are following the direction they have gotten from Richmond.

[Anonymous]

March 16, 2015

Dear Mr. Holt,
Thank you for your email of March 4, 2015 as it relates to maintaining off road paths that run adjacent to the roadway. I know you are especially concerned about not being able to use the bike paths along Sudley Manor Drive and University Blvd. in Prince William County during recent snow storms. We do request our snow plowing crews to be mindful of pushing large amounts of snow onto sidewalks, intersections and driveways; however, sometimes this is an unintended consequence of making the roadways safe and passable, especially when dealing with large amounts of snow and long durations of cold temperatures.
As you noted in your email the 2004 Commonwealth transportation Board’s Policy for Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations states that VDOT does not provide snow or ice removal on sidewalks or shared-use paths. This policy has not changed and at this point VDOT does not plan on recommending changes to this policy due to the many miles of sidewalks and shared-use paths across the Commonwealth and the additional costs and dedicated resources needed to provide snow and ice removal for these facilities.
Thank you for your email and interest in bicycling safety.

Sincerely,

Charlie A. Kilpatrick, P.E.
Commissioner

I don’t believe this statement. I’ve lived in VA since 1997, and every time it snows, there are gigantic piles of snow blocking curb cuts at every intersection. There is NO effort to avoid blocking sidewalks and curb cuts, not even after much smaller snows. None.

[americancyclo]

March 16, 2015

Dear Mr. Holt,
Thank you for your email of March 4, 2015 as it relates to maintaining off road paths that run adjacent to the roadway. I know you are especially concerned about not being able to use the bike paths along Sudley Manor Drive and University Blvd. in Prince William County during recent snow storms. We do request our snow plowing crews to be mindful of pushing large amounts of snow onto sidewalks, intersections and driveways; however, we know it won’t happen and do not enforce this at all. sometimes this is an unintended consequence of making the roadways safe and passable for more important people, especially when dealing with large amounts of snow and long durations of cold temperatures.
As you noted in your email the 2004 Commonwealth transportation Board’s Policy for Integrating Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations states that VDOT does not provide snow or ice removal for anyone that doesn’t drive everywhere. This policy has not changed and at this point VDOT does not plan on recommending changes to this policy due to the many miles of sidewalks and shared-use paths across the Commonwealth and the additional costs and dedicated resources needed to provide snow and ice removal for these facilities.
Thank you for your email and good luck not dying, you crazy bike rider!

Sincerely,

Charlie A. Kilpatrick, P.E.
Commissioner

FTFY.

I tried to walk the 0.9 miles from a metro to my home the other day and was completely stymied in to taking a detour that nearly doubled my distance. The only way to get between Falls Church Dr and Idylwood Rd (crossing under I-66) is covered in up to seven feet of snow.

Fairfax needs to start clearing at least the “last mile” to public transportation hubs. Better yet, the last two miles.

[annoyedindc]

Had to drive today because I overslept. But I was able to scout out the Rt 50 path from my car.

Washington Blvd Bridge & path to on/off ramps to 50 West bound – large blocks of snow in the path. May be able to weave around it slowly.

Sidewalk on Rt50 WB side infront of Sheffield Court Apartments – completely blocked still. Is it the property owner’s responsibility to clear this?

Couldn’t see the other parts of WB side of 50 trail. Will look tonight on the way home.

East bound trail between base and Iwo Jima – hahahahahahahhaha. No.

I’ll update tonight after my drive home. Hoping the rain/warmth clears up a lot of the snow.

[elbows]

@annoyedindc 134162 wrote:

Washington Blvd Bridge & path to on/off ramps to 50 West bound – large blocks of snow in the path. May be able to weave around it slowly.

Sidewalk on Rt50 WB side infront of Sheffield Court Apartments – completely blocked still. Is it the property owner’s responsibility to clear this?

I rode this trail last night from Courthouse to 27 because I forgot how even 11 days after the storm, cyclists who aren’t on roads or limited paths are still screwed. With the CaBi lights and in the rain, I could barely see the obstructions at times. Re. Sheffield Court, even if they aren’t required to keep the path clear since there is no enforcement, their turf is being majorly chewed up cyclists and peds who have to tromp through the grass to avoid a file piles of snow. One employee with a shovel could remediate the situation in half an hour.

[acorn]

Does anyone know how the sidewalks along Rt 50 in Arlington are near Glebe Rd and George Mason? (by Unitarian Church, etc)
After big snowfalls, those sidewalks are often covered with 2 feet of snow from plowing along 50 for weeks afterwards- anyone know the status?

[americancyclo]

I’m going to try to ride westbound from Iwo Jima to 10th St on the North side of the ABT tonight, unless anyone advises me against it!

[Tim Kelley]

@americancyclo 134245 wrote:

I’m going to try to ride westbound from Iwo Jima to 10th St on the North side of the ABT tonight, unless anyone advises me against it!

You should be okay with a little dodging, ducking, dipping, diving and dodging at the top of the hill. From this morning:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10864[/ATTACH]

[vern]

He should be able to bunny hop that obstacle.

[Tim Kelley]

With the North/West side of the Rt 50 trail through Rosslyn/Courthouse being mostly clear, the South/East side is still impassable.

This is almost two weeks after the start of the storm, including several days with temps as high as 60 degrees and significant rainfall.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10866[/ATTACH]

[Tgl4]

That’s exactly what I encountered today trying to check out the conditions on my normal commute route (Pershing to Rt 50 to Memorial bridge and along the Mall). Really frustrating as there’s not really another good way to get to Iwo Jima that doesn’t involve navigating Rosslyn during rush hour, which I don’t think I’m confident enough to do. If that’s what it looks like after rain and 60 degree temps I’m looking at a much longer time out of commission than I anticipated.

[Tim Kelley]

Awesome news! VDOT finally responded with some action to our trail clearings requests!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10930[/ATTACH]

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