On-going efforts to get MoCo to plow the Capital Crescent Trail

[sethpo]

I’m starting a new thread to document the on-going efforts to get the MoCo Parks Dept. to keep the CCT clear of snow and ice. As many folks know, Parks has been resistant to this citing all sorts of excuses that are frankly, lame.

Here’s a link to a previous post in a different thread with some background on things including a letter signed by five MoCo Councilmembers to the Parks Dept.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?6530-2014-February-Trail-Conditions&p=77934#post77934

And here’s the latest update:

Today, I reached out to Josh Faust in Councilmember Berliner’s office with a quick note about this week’s icy mess and included Ricky’s great photo album as documentation.

Josh replied immediately and thanked us for the evidence. He said that Berliner has a non-public meeting scheduled with Parks Dept. on March 26 and that, “[…]the Councilmember plans on being very aggressive in pursuing the plowing and removal of snow along this trail.”

Josh promised to provide an update on the outcome of that meeting and stated that Berliner is frustrated that more isn’t being done.

If you use the CCT to commute, I would urge you to drop a quick email to Councilmember Berliner to thank him for his leadership and attention to this matter.

councilmember.berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov

I think even a quick note from multiple riders will help.

I’ll share the results of the March 26 meeting when I get them and of course if anyone else has info on anything we can do to keep the CCT ridable, please chime in.

I hope you all don’t mind discussing this Maryland problem on Bike Arlington!

Thanks!

[consularrider]

Sethpo,

Thanks for the information, and remember, this is the Washington Area Bike Forum, BikeArlington gets the kudos for its launch.

[KLizotte]

Yeah, I’ll send Berliner a note. Even though I live in Arlington, the only route (and reason) I have to go to Bethesda is via the CCT. I like biking there for brunch or lunch and there is no way I’m going to deal with driving or metro for a meal I can get closer to home. Combined with a bike ride however, it makes for a great day out, especially with friends.

So if those folks want me to continue spending money on their side of the border…..

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ebubar]

Thank you SOOO much for this. I’ve sent a quick email offering my experience and my thanks. I’ve realized how much I miss the trails with all the riding through the city that i’ve had to do. Its just so dirty in the bike lanes and cars seem to have upped their game in the war to brutally maim cyclists. Its gotten bad enough on M street that I have bailed to the towpath! Stupid Priuses, BMW’s, Lexus’s, Mercedes’s, other luxury vehicles…:mad:

[cvcalhoun]

Thank you so much for this! Here’s today’s evidence that the problem is continuing:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4940[/ATTACH]

[sethpo]

Looks like we won. We beat city hall! (or at least the Parks Dept.)

From the press release:

Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner today applauded a
proposal by the County’s Department of Parks to create a pilot snow removal program for the
Capital Crescent Trail that will be ready for next winter. The trail is widely used by
bicyclists, hikers, and pedestrians throughout the region. Berliner, Chair of the Council’s
Transportation and Environment Committee, led the original request to the Parks Department
to consider creating such a program out of concern for the condition of the Capital Crescent
Trail and its lack of maintenance following the snow events of this recent winter

Documents:

Press Release from Berliner’s office:
http://imgur.com/N3kbHfc

Original letter to Parks Dept:
http://imgur.com/uZ1ujC5

Response from Parks (full of excuses from out-going Director Bradford)
http://imgur.com/T8MLfsp

Send your thanks to Councilmember Berliner at:
Councilmember.berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov

And obviously, huge thanks to WABA for their tireless and on-going lobbying efforts on this and so many other matters!

[sethpo]

Howdy CCT users. I’m fairly confident (hopeful I guess) that the MoCo Council will follow through on their plans for a pilot snow removal project on the CCT as described earlier in this thread. But, it looks like there are some councilmembers who are, shall we say, ill informed.

http://www.bethesdanow.com/2014/04/21/council-members-caution-against-plowing-capital-crescent-trail/

“I’m worried we are inviting a dangerous activity,” Leventhal said, in comments to Parks staff at the hearing. “No one ever thinks they’re going to get into an accident. I’m envisioning a lot of bicyclists losing control and having problems on black ice.”

That led Councilmember Marc Elrich to question how bicyclists would get to the Trail if certain roads or sidewalks aren’t plowed.
“The more we talk about it, the more impractical it seems,” Elrich said.

Please send a quick message of support for CCT plowing to these two Councilmembers at:

Councilmember.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov

Thanks!

[mstone]

Wait, are they establishing that they’re liable for black ice on County maintained facilities? Bring on the lawsuits!

[Author]

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