Underpass of Eternal Darknesss

[Steve O]

@bobco85 82107 wrote:

Is the request still there? I just started using the app and was unable to find it near Bon Air Park or Westover Park.

Yes, but because it was so long ago, it doesn’t show up when you first load. If you choose the category “Park Lights Damaged/Out” then you should be able to find it. It’s ticket #296315, although I’m not sure that’s useful for helping find it. Thanks.

[bobco85]

@Steve O 82148 wrote:

Yes, but because it was so long ago, it doesn’t show up when you first load. If you choose the category “Park Lights Damaged/Out” then you should be able to find it. It’s ticket #296315, although I’m not sure that’s useful for helping find it. Thanks.

I took a picture and uploaded it to the request that you created. Here’s the pic I took:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5178[/ATTACH]

In the app, I had a hard time finding your request, though. For some reason when looking up requests, I have to go into Filters, select Dangerous Condition, hit done, load requests, and go back into Filters before it will show the option of “Light -> Park Lights Damaged/Out.” It makes no sense to me but somehow worked.

Here’s hoping this will at the very least help speed things along.

[n18]

I have written an example email below for you to send to VDOT as you know more about this issue than I am. I went to VDOT web site, and under Programs–>Bicycling and walking–>State Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, I found these 2 contacts:

State Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
District Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinators

When clicking on the District Coordinator, look for “Northern Virginia District”, and perhaps “Arlington County Trails”. I would contact the former at least.

Include all the information needed in the email, not just a link to this thread, so they don’t have to navigate through a lot of material to get the overall picture. I think it doesn’t matter if what’s under the bridge is a road or a trail. It’s their bridge and they already determined(after studying) that some lights should be there. The people telling you that a new study is needed perhaps think that it’s a brand new area with no lights at all.

I have written an example email below. Feel free to edit it and to include the pictures on page 2 of this thread if you want to. I have not sent them any emails since I don’t know about that area as much as you do. I don’t commute, and usually use my bike after 10 AM, so I don’t know what it’s like out there during rush hours, except for few times.

Example email:

Hi,

I am contacting you today to report non-working light fixtures under I-66 bridge that goes over Custis Trial at the following location:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=38.879337,-77.136153&hl=en&sll=38.879337,-77.136147&sspn=0.00322,0.004823&mra=mift&mrsp=0&sz=18&t=m&z=18&lci=bike

There are three lights there, all non-working since around October-Novemer 2011. I tried contacting Arlington county and park authority officials, and they took a long time to tell me which other official to contact, and finally they are telling me that the bridge belongs to VDOT, and they can’t touch it, so I am hoping that you are the proper contact.

The trial is used by hundreds if not thousands of commuters every day. Each person commuting by bike is a car off the road, or less congestion on public transportation, so we have less traffic and easier morning and evening commute. It gets dark during morning or evening commute depending on the time of the year. Bike lights are inadequate as the area in question includes 90 degrees turns, so it’s impossible to see hazards on the road until it’s too late.

One of trail users took pictures of the area under the bridge and lights in question. You can see these pictures at page 2 of this thread:

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?6765-Underpass-of-Eternal-Darknesss/page2

I hope that you can take an action to get these lights fixed soon, as I and many commuters are relying on them…

Thank you

[Steve O]

After learning from Dave Goodman that there has been resolution regarding who is going to take the lead within the county on this problem (DES, not Parks), I reached out to the head of that department, Larry Marcus, with this email:

Subject: Three years, no lights
Hello Larry,

We met briefly this summer at the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting. I appreciate your taking interest in improving bicycling in the county; thank you.

I have on numerous occasions reported that the lights under I-66 near BonAir park have been out since October of 2011. It has been also reported in the Arlington App since early this year. Previously, this issue seemed to be falling in the cracks between parks and streets. My two or three conversations with [name edited out] were fairly fruitless, as he either suggested it was someone else’s responsibility or made excuses for why there was nothing that could be done.
There is more history about this issue on the Forum at: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?6765-Underpass-of-Eternal-Darknesss
I recommend you read the entire thread to get an understanding of the complete history.

It is now the 3-year anniversary of what is dubbed “The Underpass of Eternal Darkness.” With the ending of Daylight Saving Time, that underpass is pitch black starting early in the evening (for the 4th straight winter). Given that it is used by scores of bicycle commuters and is also a popular running trail, the darkness and the curve make it an extremely uncomfortable place to be for all users when it is dark.

The Arlington App has listed this issue as “In Progress” for more than six months.

Any information you can provide would be very helpful.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

Kind regards

I received this reply:

Received. I know the underpass as I ride that way home. I’ll push…..

Larry Marcus
Bureau Chief, Transportation Engineering & Operations
Arlington County, VA
(571) 302-0835 (m)

I will keep the Forum informed as I learn more.

[consularrider]

Well, Steve O reported this morning that VDOT promised to have at least a temporary fix by this evening. On my ride home from FCCII, there was an electrical contractor truck parked just off the trail on the northside of the underpass. There were three workers doing something with what may be a junction box in that location.

[baiskeli]

Don’t let this thread cross streams with the “Lighting Etiquette” thread or the universe will explode.

[ShawnoftheDread]

So a five-year problem can be fixed in a day? Sounds about right.

[sjclaeys]

@baiskeli 99671 wrote:

Don’t let this thread cross streams with the “Lighting Etiquette” thread or the universe will explode.

The underpass lights better not be too bright, in my eyes or blinking, or there will be hell to pay!

[lordofthemark]

@Steve O 98960 wrote:

I know the underpass as I ride that way home. I’ll push…..

Larry Marcus
Bureau Chief, Transportation Engineering & Operations

Yet one MORE reason why crtiical mass matters

[rcannon100]

“How many VDOT employees does it take to screw in a light bulb ~ and how long does it take them”

[baiskeli]

Q: How many cyclists does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Shimano or Campy?

[cyclingfool]

baiskeli;99710 wrote:

q: How many cyclists does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: Shimano or campy?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7014[/ATTACH] 😎

[Steve O]

@consularrider 99647 wrote:

Well, Steve O reported this morning that VDOT promised to have at least a temporary fix by this evening. On my ride home from FCCII, there was an electrical contractor truck parked just off the trail on the northside of the underpass. There were three workers doing something with what may be a junction box in that location.

One out of three of the lights was on when I rode through this evening. Let’s see how it goes from here.

Also, the lights on the pedestrian overpass just east of the U of ED are working again as of Thursday night. Those had also been out for a long long time.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Steve O 99732 wrote:

One out of three of the lights was on when I rode through this evening. Let’s see how it goes from here.

Also, the lights on the pedestrian overpass just east of the U of ED are working again as of Thursday night. Those had also been out for a long long time.

1pm today:

[ATTACH]7038[/ATTACH]

[ShawnoftheDread]

No change this evening, but the one light fixed the other day makes a big difference.

[Author]

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