Suggestion to reposition the trail crossing at Washington Blvd. near Memorial Bridge

[PotomacCyclist]

Most of us know about the twin dangers of the grade crossings south of Memorial Bridge, where the bike trail crosses the GW Parkway and Washington Blvd. Some people are proposing an overpass or an underpass to separate the trail from the GW Parkway. I think that would be a good idea, but I don’t know if the NPS would spend the money. There could be an easier solution for the dangerous Washington Blvd. crossing — move the trail north, further away from the point where the car traffic lanes diverge.

http://g.co/maps/473ss

The problem with the grade crossing is that cyclists and pedestrians cannot tell if a car is staying in the left travel lanes and heading to the bridge or if the car is heading into the right lanes and toward the trail users. The crossing is too close to the road split. During the day, car traffic is relatively heavy so there aren’t many gaps in traffic. That means that cyclists and pedestrians have to make a guess at some point and decide to race across the crosswalk. There’s also a lot of confusion about whether cars should slow up, stop or continue on their way. Even if a car driver stops for a cyclist, the cyclist can’t see if cars in the other lane are still speeding on.

If the trail were shifted so that the grade crossing were moved north, then cyclists and pedestrians would be better able to tell if a car is moving to the bridge or changing to the right lanes. To illustrate this, I marked up a screenshot from Google Maps to show a possible realignment. The solid red line shows a suggested trail route. The dotted red lines show existing trail sections that could remain in place. The section of the trail marked with yellow “X” marks could be removed.

I would think that a trail realignment would be less expensive than building an overpass or underpass to resolve the Washington Blvd. problem. This solution also addresses possible aesthetic concerns that NPS may have. That area would still have just one bike trail, with no extra tunnels or overpasses.

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While this could help to improve the Washington Blvd. crossing, a different solution would be needed for the GW Parkway crossing. I don’t have any ideas there except for an overpass. (I think an overpass would be better than a tunnel. Fewer places for unsavory characters to lurk.)

Topic

[creadinger]

@PotomacCyclist 10017 wrote:

While this could help to improve the Washington Blvd. crossing, a different solution would be needed for the GW Parkway crossing. I don’t have any ideas there except for an overpass. (I think an overpass would be better than a tunnel. Fewer places for unsavory characters to lurk.)

I don’t use these crossings very often, so maybe I’m not informed enough on this. I like the idea of moving the crosswalk farther away from the split.

Tunnels can definitely be sketchy and do tend to attract unsavory characters, but my concern is that there isn’t enough room in that area to put a ramp up to an overpass without it being really steep. Or, if indeed there is enough room, whether the NPS would spend the money to make the approaches rideable or instead just put in steps. I can think of a couple of poorly thought out or constructed ped/bike overpasses in this area and they’re really annoying! It takes the flow out of a good ride when you have to dismount and haul your bike up stairs in the middle of it.

The tunnel under the train tracks on the Crystal City spur seems to be in good shape and I’ve never seen any shady characters using that segment of trail. Maybe it’s because of the high traffic and a strong police presence that I’m unaware of, but I think tunnels can be made safe if you try. But overall I think cost would be the major deciding factor whether it’s a tunnel or bridge.

As a stop-gap measure why doesn’t NPS put up some flashing yellow lights indicating a cross-walk and that drivers should prepare to slow down or maybe even stop?
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-crosswalk-image9600213

[Mark Blacknell]

I like the idea. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure that would involve a significant grade change (i.e., going through those trees takes you down a steep hill). Maybe so much of a change that it would exceed the maximum slope restrictions (something in the 8% area, if I recall correctly).

[5555624]

Well, to be contrary….

I know no one will agree, but if the slope restrictions is a problem, move it south, before the split.

I don’t hear people complain about crossing Washington Boulevard at the circle, if the are going up to Arlington National Cemetery, which would be where anyone crossing south of the split would have to recross to get to the Memorial Bridge.

Who uses this crossing and where are they going? As I see it, if you are riding north and use this crossing, you’re going one of two places — towards the cemetery or across the bridge. Moving it south would not make a difference to those riding to/from the cemetery — it just moves the crossing of Washington Boulevard from the circle to a spot further south.

If you’re heading to the bridge, it could mean making a second crossing of Washington Boulevard, to cross the bridge. If you’re coming north on the MVT, then use the George Mason Memorial Bridge and then take Ohio Drive SW up to the Lincoln Memorial. If you’re crossing Memorial Bridge to go south on the MVT, go down Ohio Drive SW and cross the George Mason Memorial Bridge and then head south on the MVT.

If you’re heading north past the Pentagon and along Washington Boulevard to the Memorial Bridge, turn off at the exit to the Pentagon parking lot and head across Columbia Island and towards the George Mason Memorial Bridge.

Yes, yes, I know. It would add a few minutes to cross Washington Boulevard twice. Also, as I am frequently reminded, elsewhere, most people are not willing to ride more than 5-7 miles on their commute, so crossing at 14th street and taking Ohio Drive adds far too much of a detour. On the other hand, it’s probably a cheaper solution and I wouldn’t mind a few extra minutes or a little extra riding it if it was to be safer.

Disclaimer: I’m not a fan of change and I make this crossing virtually every morning — I’ve never had any problems, but few drivers are out at that hour — so I’d probably end up crossing and recrossing Washington Boulevard.

[dasgeh]

I had really hoped that the overpass/underpass solution was going to involve a direction connect from the MVT to the bridge (i.e. eliminating all the grade crossings). Are there developed plans for what it would look like?

As far as 5555624 not hearing those of us who cross Washington Blvd right by the bridge — that crossing is annoying, it’s just that we feel lucky we don’t have to cross the GW Pkwy.

I do think the best short term solution is better signage to tell cars to beware of crossings (flashing yellows, signs more than 10 feet before the crossing).

[JimF22003]

I do think the best short term solution is better signage to tell cars to beware of crossings (flashing yellows, signs more than 10 feet before the crossing).

Yeah, but that wouldn’t be aesthetic, or park-like, or historically appropriate or something. Don’t you know the GWP is supposed to be like driving on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah NP? Watch out for the bears!

[5555624]

@dasgeh 10043 wrote:

As far as 5555624 not hearing those of us who cross Washington Blvd right by the bridge — that crossing is annoying, it’s just that we feel lucky we don’t have to cross the GW Pkwy.

I’m not sure what you mean by “not hearing those of us.” I cross right there virtually every morning. I did yesterday and I will tomorrow. (Today I took an alternative route to check the lights at the Columbia Island marina parking lot.) If the crossing were moved south, I’d have to cross Washington Boulevard twice. If it takes a couple of minutes longer, but is safer, then I don’t really have a problem with it. (Personally, I’ve never found it to be a problem — even though I cross there in the mornings, I can’t recall stopping for cars in the last ten years.) If I have to ride an extra half mile in the name of safety, I don’t really mind that either. (I know, I’m alone with that position.)

My point was that more than one bridge crosses the Potomac and most people pass or ride close to another one to get to Memorial Bridge. I don’t see the NPS ever building an overpass directly to the bridge. If this crossing needs to be “fixed,” it probably needs to be a low-cost solution.

[pfunkallstar]

@JimF22003 10044 wrote:

Yeah, but that wouldn’t be aesthetic, or park-like, or historically appropriate or something. Don’t you know the GWP is supposed to be like driving on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah NP? Watch out for the bears!

That 25mph, widely-accepted speed limit really lets you take in your morning coffee and Blackberry.

[Mark Blacknell]

I think a signalized crossing on the parkway itself is more likely. Wouldn’t be hard to time it so it doesn’t create backups, and people crossing don’t need to wait forever (I’ve been at that crossing 10+ minutes, before).

[DismalScientist]

@pfunkallstar 10065 wrote:

That 25mph, widely-accepted speed limit really lets you take in your morning coffee and Blackberry.

It is signed at 40 mph.

[mstone]

@Mark Blacknell 10068 wrote:

I think a signalized crossing on the parkway itself is more likely. Wouldn’t be hard to time it so it doesn’t create backups, and people crossing don’t need to wait forever (I’ve been at that crossing 10+ minutes, before).

The problem is that NPS would rather pave the parkway with nice, natural bodies than put in a light and spoil the natural beauty and scenic views of traffic. A signal was a simple and obvious solution a long time ago.

[baiskeli]

Good idea, and it’s an easier way to accomplish my idea of narrowing that section to one lane, since part of it already is one lane.

[Author]

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