Four Mile Run Trail Closure Along South Glebe — Options

[S. Arlington Observer]

In December Dasgeh reported that Arlington County is planning to close the Four Mile Run Trail for up to a year (starting this summer, I believe) for stream restoration work. [ See this thread: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?9638-December-2015-ABAC-Meeting

The County staff is apparently planning to re-route cyclists across the Mt Vernon bridge to the Alexandria version of the Four Mile Run Trail as a detour. This news hit me very hard because that portion of the trail is a crucial part of my daily commute, and I am not comfortable tangling with S. Glebe Road traffic. So, I set about to see what the alternatives might be. Here is what I have discovered so far.

Aside from the bridge itself, the detour is not bad. The Alexandria trail is mostly newly paved (albeit with an abrupt return to very worn pavement near the end going east.) It is very well lit at night and is, if anything, more flat that then the Arlington segment behind the sewage plant. It IS longer as it is not a direct line.

Going east, once one reaches the end of the Alexandria trail, one can cross back over Four Mile Run on the sidewalk along US 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway). One will be going against auto traffic, but the sidewalk is wide so that should not be too much of a problem. For me, this will mean crossing S. Glebe again and then riding the S. Glebe Road sidewalk back up to S. Eads Street. For those wanting to continue east to the MVT, I am not sure if the county intends to close that part of the FMR trail as well… or what alternatives are suggested.

Westbound the routine would be the same. For me it will involve a ride east on the sidewalk along S. Glebe to US 1, crossing the bridge and then west on the Alexandria FMR trail.

There was some concern expressed about safety on the Alexandria side. I personally do not feel that unsafe there. It mostly passes through open space. There are some houses in one part in the distance but nothing is really that close to the trail. As stated, it is well lit and, if there is ample foot and cycle traffic, one should not worry too much. There may be more people hanging out in the summer, but I suspect there will be more cyclists and pedestrians too. In the winter the wide open spaces and ample lighting prevent anybody from popping out of nowhere.

The detour will take extra time. (I estimate up to 10 more minutes for me, because of the longer course, crossing the creek twice and waiting for the stoplight at S. Glebe and US 1.) Moreover, the Mt. Vernon Avenue bridge is not equipped for bicycles. The best option is probably to use the east side so as to avoid crossing Mt. Vernon Avenue. But the narrow sidewalk is similar to crossing Four Mile Run at the Shirlington Road bridge, only longer. I foresee heavy cycle and foot traffic going both ways on a narrow bit of concrete not suitable for passing. I may end up dismounting and walking over this gap.

If the county was serious about preserving the cycle commuting route a pedestrian/cyclist bridge parallel to the current automobile bridge would be ideal. It need not be fancy (like the one proposed downstream). A simple bridge like the ones that now cross the creek at Shirlington (near the new brewery) and at Barcoft Park would work. The land on both sides appears to already be public (owned respectively by the Arlington and Alexandria.) I suspect that there is no time to get through the wetlands permitting process or money to get this up in the appropriate timeframe. But it would eliminate a very serious situation at the current bridge.

More in a separate posting about other alternatives.

[S. Arlington Observer]

As for alternatives to the Alexandria Four Mile Run Trail, I am afraid there aren’t any good ones.

Taking the lane on S. Glebe is only for the stout of heart and fleet of pedal. Traffic is not slow there. Again, if the County was serious about bike commuting it would consider taking out the median and converting S. Glebe to three auto lanes (with a turn lane in the middle) and one bike lane. Problem solved. This could be done for a year (assuming the project is on time) and then changed back if they like. It might inconvenience some drivers, but so does closing a major cycling artery.

The sidewalks along S. Glebe are dangerous and not very tenable as alternatives. On the south (creek) side it is narrow with tricky cuts for sewage plant entrances. On the north side it even worse. Very narrow with lots of driveway cuts. Some of the ramps (apparently retrofitted for handicapped persons) point into Glebe Road, not across the side street. (How a person in a wheelchair is supposed to dip in and out of Glebe Road is a mystery.)

The County might be able to construct a roadside temporary or permanent path along S. Glebe to replace the closed creekside trail. It owns the park land from the Mt. Vernon bridge to the sewage plant and the plant itself. There are a couple of places where plant infrastructure might make it very tricky. But for much of the route the fence could be moved back enough to create a path or at least enlarge the sidewalk. Again, I doubt this will be funded. But I suspect if it was necessary for automobiles it would be.

Some mentioned 31st Street South (at least for those wishing to access S. Eads Street.) That is not really any help because it only covers part of the lost segment. Going east one has to ride along the sidewalk then cross busy Glebe to get to (the well named) S. Hill St. to get to 31st. The beginning would then be a very steep hill on Hill. 31st S itself. is a reasonable street without much grade once one finally gets on it. It ends going east at S. Eads.

Going west on 31st one is dumped back onto S. Glebe with the options of either a) entering Glebe traffic, b) proceeding along the very narrow and highly cut up sidewalk, or c) crossing S. Glebe to use the slightly less treacherous sidewalk on the other side of the road. I sampled it both ways. Not worth the risk and effort to only replace part of the lost FMR trail.

All in all, I think taking the Alexandria detour is the best option. That trail itself is in very good shape now. But crossing the creek at Mt. Vernon Avenue is going to be a major problem.

[dasgeh]

Thanks for writing these up. I have major concerns with both the substance and process for what’s happening here. Arlington is planning to close a major cycling route, and they seem to have done little to no homework (before our last meeting) about what they need to do to make the alternatives acceptable. And yes, I put the onus on the County to give us at least one acceptable alternative. As you’ve noted, simply instructing us to use one of the other routes as-is is not, in my opinion, acceptable.

County staff is supposed to come back to the BAC having actually done their work. It seems to me like the alternatives are:

1) The currently proposed detour, with upgrades to the sidewalk along Route 1, and some solution for Mt Vernon Avenue (either upgraded sidewalks, or take a lane to make a protected two way cycletrack, with appropriate curb cuts). Note that it has been asserted that there is more crime on the ALX FMR Trail, and that it feels less safe. If either of those are true, they must be addressed as well.

2) Take a lane on Glebe to create a protected two-way cycletrack (note: this option leaves the runners up a creek, so to speak).

3) Improve sidewalks along Glebe to create a sidepath of acceptable width and quality for riding.

S. Arlington Observer brings up the great point that whatever the option the County goes with, it must provide a connection to Eads. I will add that the detour must be maintained throughout the winter.

[lordofthemark]

WRT crime, people will need to be specific about their concerns. See the discussion in WashCycle.

[S. Arlington Observer]

@lordofthemark 132117 wrote:

WRT crime, people will need to be specific about their concerns. See the discussion in WashCycle.

Can you offer a link or some search directions on finding the discussion you reference? Was it specifically about the Alexandria trail? Washcycle is a big site and I am not familiar with it. I do want to read whatever may be relevant.

[lordofthemark]

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2016/01/as-part-of-stream-restoration-county-plans-temporary-closuredetour-of-four-mile-run-trail.html

[peterw_diy]

Has anyone talked with Alexandria staff about cleaning up the parking lot between Mt Vernon Ave and the soccer field? The new asphalt is nice but that parking lot has been rough every time I’ve ridden through lately.

[CaseyKane50]

@peterw_diy 132125 wrote:

Has anyone talked with Alexandria staff about cleaning up the parking lot between Mt Vernon Ave and the soccer field? The new asphalt is nice but that parking lot has been rough every time I’ve ridden through lately.

Yes, sent a note last week requesting that the lot be repaved. Also, had previously discussed getting the trail repaved east of the recently repaved section. The city was receptive to the trail repaving, so I am hopeful that the parking lot will also be addressed.

[S. Arlington Observer]

@lordofthemark 132124 wrote:

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2016/01/as-part-of-stream-restoration-county-plans-temporary-closuredetour-of-four-mile-run-trail.html

Thanks to Lordofthemark for the link to the Washcycle discussion. It is very interesting and helpful.

As for safety, the incident of concern to some is apparently a murder that took place in December. The body was found near the baseball field (not on the trail) in the park. According to the Washington Post the crime is believed to be gang related and the victim was “targeted”. In other words, it was not a random crime. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/teen-charged-two-others-in-custody-in-death-of-man-found-in-alexandria-park/2016/01/13/76be6f40-ba10-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html

In evaluating crime risk it is important to keep perspective. The public at large was not targeted. This puts the crime in a category similar to domestic disputes – disturbing and tragic, but not necessary a threat to public safety generally. The alleged perpetrator has been arrested. The perpetrator is listed as being from Arlington, not Alexandria, calling into question whether or not the Arlington side of the creek would be any safer. The incident happened when the trail was closed for construction, meaning that there would not be any foot or cycle traffic in the area.

Last night I rode the Alexandria FMR trail home. I was not actually aware of the murder investigation, but I doubt it would have changed my intention. There were only four murders in all of Alexandria last year. Cyclists routinely ride through jurisdictions and where four in a week (or even a day) is not unheard of. I am not aware of any ongoing crime activity in the area.

The only part of the trail I found to be mildly disturbing is the approach to a bridge over a tributary of Four Mile Run. That approach is sort of dark and the narrow bridge could easily be blocked. (More lighting to the approach would be helpful.) Otherwise the trail is lit like an urban street. It certainly felt safer than the dark Arlington FMR trail between Eads Street and the MVT.

Rumors and fear can build on themselves. If people are fearful they won’t use a route. The lack of traffic then makes the route seem more dangerous, perpetuating the cycle. If even a reasonable number of people use the trail I think it will be as safe as an off road trail can be. It is certainly better lit and the sight lines are actually good.

I also found the ride to be only about four minutes longer than using the Arlington side of the creek – and that was with having to go from S. Eads Street east to US 1 and then back west. (Though, in fairness, I used the existing Arlington FMR trail instead of the Glebe sidewalk.) So, basically, to me, the issue remains access to the Alexandria FMR trail via the Mount Vernon bridge. At this point I am not overly worried about crime safety (especially when others use the trail) and the time difference is not great enough to justify using the dangerous Glebe Road sidewalks (or Glebe Road itself) even if trying to access S. Eads Street.

[KLizotte]

FYI: I’ve ridden the Alexandria side of FMR and the surrounding neighborhoods at least 50 times now during the day and at dusk (never when fully dark) and have never seen anything scary or experienced any problems. The playing fields are typically quite busy in the early evening during the warmer weather. I consider it safe and am a woman.

[lordofthemark]

Mr Beekman’s tone nonetheless left me dissatisfied. If we want the detour to succeed, I think we need to take concerns seriously, and see if we can do something to improve conditions, not just tell people their concerns are unwarranted (and comparison to other parts of the region is a particularly weak argument in my opinion).

I would suggest there are three categories of actions to address the safety issue. One are things the govts can do to directly improve safety. Improving lighting at select locations where it is not good enough now, seems like the priority. Maybe police bike patrols, but I would not get my hopes up. Second are things to improve the route, to attract more riders. The bridge improvements that have been discussed, and repaving the parking lot. Third, things we can do as a biking community. Maybe organize some rides, to get people more familiar. Maybe to commit to riding there more often before the reroute, to get an upward spiral of riding started. Or any other ideas people have.

[S. Arlington Observer]

I will commit to ride it some as part of my evening commute (and morning one if I am ever in the position of not running late.) I’ll be out of town next week but will try to pick up thereafter while it is still dark after work. I’ll report any issues. I hope others will as well.

I actually like it. The view is much better than the sewage treatment fence and the parking lot on the backside of The Berkeley one has on the Arlington side.

I do agree that the concerns have to be addressed.Getting a critical mass of use should make everyone feel better and if there are any logistical or safety issues better to know them before it becomes necessary to find out.

[CaseyKane50]

Has anyone talked with Alexandria staff about cleaning up the parking lot between Mt Vernon Ave and the soccer field? The new asphalt is nice but that parking lot has been rough every time I’ve ridden through lately.

@CaseyKane50 132131 wrote:

Yes, sent a note last week requesting that the lot be repaved. Also, had previously discussed getting the trail repaved east of the recently repaved section. The city was receptive to the trail repaving, so I am hopeful that the parking lot will also be addressed.

Parks and Recreation has provided updated information to the Park and Recreation Commission (scroll down to page 65) that the parking lot will be repaved this spring and mileage markers will be added to the trail.

Four Mile Run Restoration Dana/Ron 90% complete 15‐Apr‐16
Notes: Wetland restoration complete. Trail repairs and parking lot will be complete in spring. Ribbon cutting anticipated in Spring.

Four Mile Run Trail Improvements and Mile Markers Dan R. and DW 5% complete 31‐Dec‐15
Notes: Mile Markers at warehouse and will be installed after the Four Mile Run Restoration project is complete.

[chris_s]

The Year-Long Four Mile Run Closure is about to begin. Construction staging will begin the week of September 19th.

This will be the detour.

Many thanks to Alexandria for doing some extra paving to make the detour less painful.

[Steve O]

@chris_s 145776 wrote:

The Year-Long Four Mile Run Closure is about to begin. Construction staging will begin the week of September 19th.

This will be the detour.

Many thanks to Alexandria for doing some extra paving to make the detour less painful.

I’m thinking I might just take Glebe Road if I’m going to CCCC or WTFCC, since the connection to Eads is so much better. Hopefully I can have some pleasant conversations with motorists and explain to them that our separated ROW will be closed for a year. I’m sure they will understand and happily yield the lane to me.

[Author]

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