Improve Regional Bike Connections!!!

[dasgeh]

Can we add build the bridge from Long Bridge Park across the GWPkwy to the MVT?

[Steve O]

@chris_s 141116 wrote:

One of our regional transportation authorities (the NVTA), which controls a huge amount of regional transportation funding in Northern Virginia, wants to know what regional projects they should be focusing on for the next decade or two. You can submit comments here. These should be projects that would have a regional impact and involve Northern Virginia jurisdictions.

Here are a few (Arlington-centric) ideas, please add your own for others to co-opt:
– Complete the Arlington Blvd Trail from the TR bridge to Fairfax City
– Widen the Custis Trail
– Widen the Mt Vernon Trail
– Tunnel the Custis Trail underneath Lynn Street
– Build the W&OD a bridge over Lee Highway

Submit Comments Here or attend an in-person event.

I suggest changing the 4th one to:
– Eliminate the conflicts at the Lee/Lynn intersection. (A tunnel is the most expensive way to only partially solve the problems there. Many of the existing conflicts will remain even with a tunnel. There are cheaper, more holistic solutions.)

And the last one could be genericized: Build a grade-separated crossing at the W&OD & Lee Highway (bridge or underpass: either one works)

[bentbike33]

Extend MVT to and across the American Legion Bridge.

[dasgeh]

And of course! Spout Run Trail! (in other words, create a trail along Spout Run Parkway and up into Rosslyn using the GWMP northbound onramp from the Key Bridge

[Tania]

I submitted a comment about extending the bike lane on Gallows Road to at least the Dunn Loring Metro station (after which riders can go one block west and take Merrilee to continue south).

[chris_s]

@dasgeh 141163 wrote:

Can we add build the bridge from Long Bridge Park across the GWPkwy to the MVT?

I prefer – “rebuild the Long Bridge railroad bridge and include a bicycle and pedestrian connection on it connecting Long Bridge Park to DC including connectors to the Mt Vernon Trail, Ohio Dr and Maine Avenue” except that’s like 95% DC.

[Steve O]

@chris_s 141176 wrote:

I prefer – “rebuild the Long Bridge railroad bridge and include a bicycle and pedestrian connection on it connecting Long Bridge Park to DC including connectors to the Mt Vernon Trail, Ohio Dr and Maine Avenue” except that’s like 95% DC.

I’m not sure I would connect these two. One could build a connector from Long Bridge Park to the MVT without having to rebuild the entire railroad bridge across the Potomac River. That’s a pretty enormous project, and I wouldn’t want my little bitty bike connector project to be dependent on it.

[dasgeh]

@Steve O 141180 wrote:

I’m not sure I would connect these two. One could build a connector from Long Bridge Park to the MVT without having to rebuild the entire railroad bridge across the Potomac River. That’s a pretty enormous project, and I wouldn’t want my little bitty bike connector project to be dependent on it.

True, though if both end up being built, shouldn’t they connect easily? Maybe rephrase as:

connect LBP to the MVT in a way that would facilitate an easy connection to any rebuilt Long Bridge railroad bridge that includes a bicycle and pedestrian connection to DC

[DismalScientist]

Jeez, just connect the southern trail under the Humpback bridge to Boundary Channel Drive.

[bobco85]

My ideas for Northern VA regional bike connections are as follows:

1. Create a bike/ped crossing from Belle Haven Rd to the MVT across the GWMP (bridge preferred)
2. Build a bridge over I-495 to connect Falls Church and Merrifield along US-50
3. Build sidepath along Dolley Madison Blvd/Chain Bridge Rd through Tysons
4. Create continuous sidepath and widen/improve existing sidepath on Braddock Rd from Backlick Rd to GMU
5. Build sidepath from Mt Vernon Memorial Highway to Pohick along US-1 (will be part of National Bicycle Route 1)
6. Create continuous sidepath on US-50 between Gallows Rd and Fairfax Circle
7. Establish bicycle connections through Seven Corners along US-50 and Route 7
8. Bicycle facilities on Great Falls Rd from Falls Church to McLean
9. Bicycle facilities on Old Dominion Dr from Marymount U to McLean

[napes]

Rails AND trails please in Northern Virginia. As someone who has seen excellent sidepaths along European train tracks, I would like to see some official government effort to get something similar along CSX and Norfolk Southern lines. Much of the rail property runs along the most level channel available.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11919[/ATTACH]
(source: http://www.virginiaplaces.org/rail/vre.html)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11920[/ATTACH]
(source: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_analysis/financing/appendix/presentations/evans.htm)

[chris_s]

@Steve O 141180 wrote:

I’m not sure I would connect these two. One could build a connector from Long Bridge Park to the MVT without having to rebuild the entire railroad bridge across the Potomac River. That’s a pretty enormous project, and I wouldn’t want my little bitty bike connector project to be dependent on it.

I can totally see where you’re coming from, but given that the Humpback Trail connection is almost 100% certain to happen at this point, I don’t see a huge gain in advocating for just a connection from LBP to the MVT. I’d rather put my energy into the DC connection.

And nothing that takes place on NPS land is a “little bitty” project.

[Steve O]

@chris_s 141198 wrote:

I can totally see where you’re coming from, but given that the Humpback Trail connection is almost 100% certain to happen at this point, I don’t see a huge gain in advocating for just a connection from LBP to the MVT. I’d rather put my energy into the DC connection.

And nothing that takes place on NPS land is a “little bitty” project.

“little bitty” is relative. The LBP/MVP connector is a 7-digit project; The bridge over the river is a 9-digit one.

Also, it parallels the existing 14th St. Bridge crossing, so I’m not sure how much value it adds. Perhaps investing in the DC-side connections off the bridge (which has nothing to do with this thread about NoVA projects–oh well) would be a better use of resources.

That said, both is better than one. So I would also advocate that even with the Boundary Channel Drive/Humpback connector, I would still be in favor of a direct connection from Long Bridge Park down to the MVT.

[lordofthemark]

@Steve O 141202 wrote:

Also, it parallels the existing 14th St. Bridge crossing, so I’m not sure how much value it adds. Perhaps investing in the DC-side connections off the bridge (which has nothing to do with this thread about NoVA projects–oh well) would be a better use of resources.

Not that I think the Long Bridge project is a NoVa project, but A. IIUC the proposed MUP on the Long Bridge will be wider, and presumably safer, than the 14th Street bridge MUP, which IMO is already problematic at current volumes, and will only grow worse if we get more cycling between NoVa and DC. B. It will shorten the route from NoVa to SW and near SE DC, both rapidly growing, bike friendly areas.

[dasgeh]

@Steve O 141202 wrote:

Also, it parallels the existing 14th St. Bridge crossing, so I’m not sure how much value it adds. Perhaps investing in the DC-side connections off the bridge (which has nothing to do with this thread about NoVA projects–oh well) would be a better use of resources.

The value is not the MVT – Ohio Dr part (though, of course, that’s necessary for the rest). The biggest value is connecting LBP to MVT; Ohio Dr to Maine Ave; LBP to Ohio; LBP to Maine; MVT to Maine (if that makes sense). You could only concentrate on Ohio to Maine, but the end result, assuming we get everything we want, would be a disjointed zig zag to get from LBP to Maine. We have the opportunity for a straight shot – let’s go for that.

Oh, and the 14th St Bridge sidepath is pretty close to capacity. Adding capacity is smart.

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