Help Name the Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Along I-66

[zsionakides]

19. The “Why Couldn’t We Also Build a Trail Alongside the 95/395/495 Projects” Trail

[dkel]

The “Cycling Route Afterthought Project” Trail.

[dasgeh]

@ChristoB50 191286 wrote:

There’s a big “gap” of 66 with no trail running alongside it, between the FFX route and the start of the named Custis Trail near Patrick Henry… It would never occur to me to view that FFX route as a ‘continuation’ of the existing Custis (which itself, doesn’t even run the length of 66 while inside the beltway.)

It’s my understanding that the Custis Trail runs all the way to EFC, but is colocated with the W&OD west of Bon Air Park (Patrick Henry ish). That colocation is why Arlington can plow that section.

One advantage of keeping the name is establishing an expectation that the two indepedent segments will be joined.

[mstone]

@dasgeh 191308 wrote:

One advantage of keeping the name is establishing an expectation that the two indepedent segments will be joined.

I suppose that means that one advantage of a different name is making it clear VDOT won’t be pushed into doing anything more than they already have.

[consularrider]

@dasgeh 191308 wrote:

It’s my understanding that the Custis Trail runs all the way to EFC, but is colocated with the W&OD west of Bon Air Park (Patrick Henry ish). That colocation is why Arlington can plow that section.

One advantage of keeping the name is establishing an expectation that the two indepedent segments will be joined.

Yeah, it’s a little bizarre since mile post 0 for the Custis is at the Bon Air I-66 underpass (not even at the intersection with the W&OD), but there are still signs for the Custis until you hit Van Buren at Benjamin Bannaker Park. Go figure.

[El Swift]

the MVP! “Minimally Viable Path”

[accordioneur]

Of the listed options, I would choose #6 Heart of Fairfax Trail (HFT) so we can call it the “Horrible F*ckin’ Trail”, or #7 Dogwood Trail (DT), so we can call it the “Dogsh*t Trail”.

#1, Kaleidoscope Tail, is probably a typo but would make an excellent band name.

[dasgeh]

@consularrider 191315 wrote:

Yeah, it’s a little bizarre since mile post 0 for the Custis is at the Bon Air I-66 underpass (not even at the intersection with the W&OD), but there are still signs for the Custis until you hit Van Buren at Benjamin Bannaker Park. Go figure.

There’s been lots of talk about signage — I’ll be sure to bring this up.

[Henry]

Connolly’s Run (Ain’t Payin’ Tolls) or CRAPT Trail.

[Bob James]

66 Commuter Connection Trail. I would have loved this trail along 66 when I was commuting between Manassas and Capital Hill. As it was, I had to go an extra 10 miles each way for the safest way in. I like direct trails along highways when you have to get from point A to point B the quickest way. I would ride more scenic routes for recreational riding. Custis is good, but it’s too hilly (especially westbound) to be commuter friendly (especially if when wet, snow, or ice on trail).

[bentbike33]

@Bob James 191360 wrote:

66 Commuter Connection Trail. I would have loved this trail along 66 when I was commuting between Manassas and Capital Hill. As it was, I had to go an extra 10 miles each way for the safest way in. I like direct trails along highways when you have to get from point A to point B the quickest way. I would ride more scenic routes for recreational riding. Custis is good, but it’s too hilly (especially westbound) to be commuter friendly (especially if when wet, snow, or ice on trail).

I don’t think any of the critics here oppose the idea of a trail being built along with the I-66 re-construction, but rather the way it will be built with so much of the trail on the I-66 road grade separated by a glorified jersey barrier rather than outside the soundwall.

[mstone]

@bentbike33 191369 wrote:

I don’t think any of the critics here oppose the idea of a trail being built along with the I-66 re-construction, but rather the way it will be built with so much of the trail on the I-66 road grade separated by a glorified jersey barrier rather than outside the soundwall.

And the way that VDOT kept that particular detail a secret until it was too late to change.

[Crickey7]

Yep, they had a choice between making it a decent, useable trail, and making it something that looks good only on a map.

[zsionakides]

@Crickey7 191377 wrote:

Yep, they had a choice between making it a decent, useable trail, and making it something that looks good only on a map.

While I don’t think it’s ideal to have the trail inside the sound wall, I would rather have more trails that are separated, than worry about them being next to a highway.

In my case it would have been great if they built a trail along 395/95 like they are doing for 66. They could put the whole thing inside the sound wall and I’d ride it to avoid the long roundabout ways I have to commute by.

[mstone]

@zsionakides 191380 wrote:

While I don’t think it’s ideal to have the trail inside the sound wall, I would rather have more trails that are separated, than worry about them being next to a highway.

In my case it would have been great if they built a trail along 395/95 like they are doing for 66. They could put the whole thing inside the sound wall and I’d ride it to avoid the long roundabout ways I have to commute by.

You might, but most people won’t and that will make it harder to argue for future projects because “nobody uses them”.

[Author]

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