CABI on Columbia Pike

[PotomacCyclist]

Some reading material:

VDOT site for the Washington Blvd. bridge over Columbia Pike: http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/route_27-244_interchange.asp

Washington Blvd. Trail: http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/ProjectsAndPlanning/capprojects/page86861.aspx
– Construction set to begin next month?

Note the bottom map on that page. It shows the proposed bike network for the eastern part of the Pike. The blue dots mark sidewalks/paths under bridges/overpasses. The Washington Blvd. bridge is being reconstructed now. The wider sidewalks under 395 are finished. Street-level lighting is in place, but not connected yet. There are still some rough patches on the sidewalk along Joyce St., north of the overpass.

[dasgeh]

Thanks for the great summary, PotomacCyclist. My understanding is that we should get the wider sidewalks under the Washington Blvd bridge with the project that’s going on there now.

Also, there’s some talk that some bridges could connect the bike blvds along the Western end of the Pike, so that there’s a longer alternative to the Pike. Not a lot of traction for the bridges, yet, but the talk is still there. Unless I’m wrong.

[bobco85]

@PotomacCyclist 47679 wrote:

Some reading material:

VDOT site for the Washington Blvd. bridge over Columbia Pike: http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/route_27-244_interchange.asp

Washington Blvd. Trail: http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/ProjectsAndPlanning/capprojects/page86861.aspx
– Construction set to begin next month?

Note the bottom map on that page. It shows the proposed bike network for the eastern part of the Pike. The blue dots mark sidewalks/paths under bridges/overpasses. The Washington Blvd. bridge is being reconstructed now. The wider sidewalks under 395 are finished. Street-level lighting is in place, but not connected yet. There are still some rough patches on the sidewalk along Joyce St., north of the overpass.

I’m not sure that construction will begin anytime soon on the Washington Blvd trail due to the opposition from the Penrose neighborhood regarding the number of trees (~180) that will be cut down for the trail (cutting down trees means less of a buffer between the neighborhood and Washington Blvd traffic, and it will also affect the stream running through there). They appear to have an alternative plan that will cut down only about 120-140 trees (some of which are non-native and/or dying), and part of the plan is to plant native trees elsewhere in the county, but right now the plan seems stuck in limbo. (My opinion: all was fine with the plan originally, then a bit of NIMBY-ism came in, and eventually environmental groups got involved).

[jhr]

@PotomacCyclist 47677 wrote:

All this will improve cycling in certain sections along Columbia Pike, IF all the plans are carried out. Some sections of the road will still be difficult for cyclists. There’s also the streetcar project in the coming years. The tracks could be an issue for those brave souls who ride on the Pike, but it shouldn’t be a problem for those crossing the Pike at a 90-degree angle.

If Southgate goes away and they start installing tracks for the streetcar before they expand the sidewalks on Columbia Pike and build the elusive Army-Navy Country Club connection, it’s really going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

Edit: Maybe we should take this to a new “complain about Columbia Pike” thread since it’s not really CaBi related.

[PotomacCyclist]

Conditions on and around Columbia Pike could be relevant for new CaBi members in that area. As more of the Columbia Pike stations come online, the poor state of bike infrastructure on the Pike will become a bigger issue, especially among casual cyclists who are riding for the first time as adults.

[PotomacCyclist]

A brief update on a possible timeline for improvements to the eastern end of Columbia Pike: http://www.arlnow.com/2013/04/11/major-road-improvements-coming-to-columbia-pike/

‘The timeline for the final piece of the multimodal project — from Washington Boulevard to S. Joyce Street — is still up in the air. The county is currently in talks with the federal government about a land swap that would allow the county to “realign” Columbia Pike to make a straighter, more direct connection with S. Joyce Street. If all goes well, Roberts says that work could be completed in 2018.’

Bill Roberts is the Transportation Program Manager for Arlington County.

So don’t expect those sidepaths east of Courthouse Rd. in the immediate future. Work is going on at the other sections of Columbia Pike. Check the article for more details.

[consularrider]

@PotomacCyclist 47677 wrote:

… Some sections of the road will still be difficult for cyclists. There’s also the streetcar project in the coming years. The tracks could be an issue for those brave souls who ride on the Pike, but it shouldn’t be a problem for those crossing the Pike at a 90-degree angle.

Let’s hope they do a better job than Edinburgh did with Princes Street!

[GuyContinental]

@consularrider 49765 wrote:

Let’s hope they do a better job than Edinburgh did with Princes Street!

If ever there was an argument for a fat-tire bike…

[Steve]

@GuyContinental 49770 wrote:

If ever there was an argument for a fat-tire bike…

Or against balance bikes: http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/07/bicycle-mod-lets-you-ride-streetcar-rails/2569/

[dasgeh]

@Steve 49774 wrote:

Or against balance bikes: http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/07/bicycle-mod-lets-you-ride-streetcar-rails/2569/

The translation should be “streetcar wheel track bike”. Like the training wheels.

[chris_s]

@bobco85 47723 wrote:

I’m not sure that construction will begin anytime soon on the Washington Blvd trail due to the opposition from the Penrose neighborhood regarding the number of trees (~180) that will be cut down for the trail (cutting down trees means less of a buffer between the neighborhood and Washington Blvd traffic, and it will also affect the stream running through there).

The County is moving forward with the new plan. Last I checked the plans were about to go into VDOT for final approval. They are still hopeful for construction to begin this year.

[Author]

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