More bike improvements in Pentagon City

[PotomacCyclist]

The County Board approved the proposed expansion of the Pentagon City mall (Fashion Centre). This will add retail and dining options facing Hayes Street. More like Pentagon Row than Fashion Centre. (I know no one uses the name Fashion Centre, but it is the official title.)

The ARLnow article includes the following:

“The expansion will be built on the east façade of the mall, adjacent to the entrance to the Pentagon City Metro Station. As part of the construction, the mall is expected to make pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements along S. Hayes Street, Army Navy Drive and 15th Street.”

S. Hayes Street is already undergoing reconstruction and improvements. The bike lanes have been rebuilt and painted. But the mall owners could improve the situation for cyclists on the service road between Macy’s and S. Hayes, and extending along Army-Navy Drive. The proposed Army-Navy Drive cycletrack won’t be built for many years, if ever.

http://www.arlnow.com/2013/11/18/county-board-approves-pentagon-city-mall-expansion/

Topic

[chris_s]

This expansion will CLOSE the service road between Hayes and Macy’s. Nice wide sidewalk there, but there will be no road connection.

Biggest improvement in my mind is how much it narrows that intersection. It goes from what was wide enough to be about six lanes down to three.

BEFORE

AFTER

[dasgeh]

As Kidical Mass-ers know, that service road is actually a great connection from the Pentagon Parking lot up to 15th. Can we negotiate for a cycle track on those super wide sidewalks? Or at least one along Army-Navy until the real Army-Navy one is done?

[PotomacCyclist]

I think the service road (“ring road”) will remain except for a small section at the new expansion. The project drawings (which I just looked up from the meeting report) show a new curb cut on Hayes just to the north of the expansion. It seems that the rest of the road, from the new curb cut to the end of Macy’s and turning along Army-Navy Drive, will remain. The drawings are filled with various markings and lines, so it’s difficult to read. But I think I’m reading it correctly.

I think Drawings – Part 3 has the relevant map: http://arlington.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=631

[chris_s]

I think we’re saying the same thing Dismal. No more service road for the short section between the Macy’s and the Hayes St entrance.

Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

[DismalScientist]

I am completely innocent of everything regarding this thread. I’ve admitted nothing. Denied everything. The next step is to make counter-allegations.

[chris_s]

Getting my threads mixed up methinks.

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[dasgeh]

@PotomacCyclist 69584 wrote:

I think the service road (“ring road”) will remain except for a small section at the new expansion. The project drawings (which I just looked up from the meeting report) show a new curb cut on Hayes just to the north of the expansion. It seems that the rest of the road, from the new curb cut to the end of Macy’s and turning along Army-Navy Drive, will remain. The drawings are filled with various markings and lines, so it’s difficult to read. But I think I’m reading it correctly.

I think Drawings – Part 3 has the relevant map: http://arlington.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=631

So it sounds like you only need a short cycletrack — basically recognize that the road around Macy’s is great for bikes, and think about how they continue to 15th. On street doesn’t seem like the best option with all of those bus stops…

[PotomacCyclist]

The planned cycletrack would extend from 12th St. (near Rte. 1) to Joyce St. (at the 395 underpass). I don’t know which side of the road they would add the cycletrack, but the south side would make more sense to me. (Better connections to Pentagon City retail, residences and offices than with a north-side cycletrack.)

[chris_s]

@PotomacCyclist 69620 wrote:

The planned cycletrack would extend from 12th St. (near Rte. 1) to Joyce St. (at the 395 underpass). I don’t know which side of the road they would add the cycletrack, but the south side would make more sense to me. (Better connections to Pentagon City retail, residences and offices than with a north-side cycletrack.)

It is planned for the south side.

[chris_s]

@dasgeh 69615 wrote:

So it sounds like you only need a short cycletrack — basically recognize that the road around Macy’s is great for bikes, and think about how they continue to 15th. On street doesn’t seem like the best option with all of those bus stops…

Don’t get me started on the missed opportunities on Hayes St with the current multimodal project. *sigh*

[ShawnoftheDread]

@DismalScientist 69594 wrote:

I am completely innocent of everything regarding this thread. I’ve admitted nothing. Denied everything. The next step is to make counter-allegations.

So people have just started assuming you’ve stated an opinion. It’s really not surprising, considering.

[CaseyKane50]

In reading through the board report, it does not appear that there will be much improvement to the biking infrastructure as a result of this new development. The only reference to bicycles in the document are on page 29, where the developer (Simon) is required to provide bicycle storage facilities.

65.
Bicycle Storage Facilities
The Developer agrees to provide twelve (12) bicycle spaces near the front entrance of the portion of the site to be improved with an approximately 51,000 square foot addition as depicted in the plans dated October 21, 2013.
The Developer agrees to obtain approval from the County Manager of the spaces as meeting the standards in this condition, as part of the final landscape plan, prior to issuance of the Final Building Permit for the portion of the site to be improved with an approximately 51,000 square foot addition as depicted in the plans dated October 21, 2013. The Developer agrees that the location, design and details of facilities for visitor bicycle parking spaces must meet the following standards.
a.
The facilities shall be installed at exterior locations that are highly visible to and within 50 feet of the primary building entrances, unless there are
physical obstructions that cannot be changed or moved to accommodate the bicycle parking within the 50 foot distance, in which case they shall be sited as close to the 50 foot distance as physically possible.
b.
The facilities shall not encroach on any area in the public right-of-way intended for use by pedestrians or any required fire egress.
c.
Any bicycle parking racks used on the site must conform to the Arlington County Bicycle Parking Standards, or be approved by the County
Manager as substantially equal to a rack shown in the standards.

Currently, where Simon is planning to build the new addition, there are two sets of bike racks that provide semi-covered bike parking for around 20 bikes. Additionally, the current bike parking is in view of the security guard posted in the office lobby.

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[ATTACH=CONFIG]4106[/ATTACH]

Simon could make a big statement for biking to their mall by adding secured bike parking in their parking garage. They could probably turn a profit, as there are likely store and office employees willing to pay for secured parking, as well as cyclists who would come to the mall to shop.

[PotomacCyclist]

I bike to Pentagon City frequently, but I usually do so on CaBi. There’s a bike station at the Metro entrance, just a couple hundred feet from the planned mall expansion. There is also a new covered bike parking area next to the Metro escalators, for people using their own bikes.

[Author]

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