[chris_s]

“End of Summer” was the last estimate given to the Alexandria BPAC for completion.

[chris_s]

I’ll be there with my 3yr old.

Trying to decide if I have time to re-mount the bubble machine to the bike before Sunday.

[chris_s]

I sent an email to my contact at OpenPlans and got a auto-reply that he was at a new company but that somebody from OpenPlans would reply to me. So far *crickets*.

[chris_s]

Lee Highway: The project proposes improved sidewalk features: a 10-foot shared-use (bicycle and pedestrian) sidewalk, separated from Lee Highway by a varied width (minimum 5’-6”) planting strip, which would include street trees, ground cover and perennial plantings as proposed.

Quinn: The project proposes improving the sidewalk width on the project side (west side). The proposed sidewalks would be widened to 6 feet, with 5’ x12’ tree pits placed adjacent to the curb. The project is also proposing to narrow the North Quinn Street and Lee Highway intersection and remove the acceleration lane on Lee Highway just east of the intersection with North Quinn Street.

Also the project proposes contributing $70,000 to the County to go toward widening the sidewalk on Quinn north of the actual project (for the rest of the block).

[chris_s]

I’m doing a certain amount of reading between the lines here, but I get the strong impression that the Pike Multimodal project’s plans for a sidepath are very much a “best we feel we can do with the existing narrow right of way” and “last resort” not a “preferred solution” and is therefore way on the back burner in the hopes that this land deal can result in a wider, realigned Columbia Pike that has space for both generous sidewalks and dedicated bike facilities.

Unfortunately things are moving at the typical glacial pace of the federal government. The good news is that all sides have something to gain so I continue to hold out hope that a agreement will be reached that is beneficial to Arlington, the Cemetery and potentially also the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.

The County and DoD have a memorandum of understanding on how a land swap deal will be structured but are still hammering out details.

[chris_s]

It so happens Alexandria is updating their Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan this year. I’ll see if I can dig up the appropriate place to send suggestions for it. If anybody else knows, please chime in.

[chris_s]

@baiskeli 53813 wrote:

The smart parents know about the underground garage in the back and the back entrances to “kid city.” Don’t tell anyone though.

Sorry, the county actually requires us to tell all of our customers about the garage and back entrance to the lower level; part of our Use Permit.

[chris_s]

Huge improvement for bikes & pedestrians! The drivers already seem to be adapting and more are exiting from the northern parking lot exit rather than the southern exit so as to avoid the somewhat longer backup at the light.

Thucydides, let’s definitely get some photos of the full rack together and lobby the plaza owner (AJ Dwoskin) for more bike parking. That parking lot is such a zoo that the only way to increase traffic to that shopping center is to encourage walking & biking. My wife owns a business in that shopping center – I think it’ll have a good impact to have business owners & customers together making the request.

[chris_s]

For heading to Drew, 6th & Glebe doesn’t have a stoplight. Suggest Irving down to 7th for crossing Glebe instead.

Both the >> Drew routes really highlight how obnoxious it is to cross Walter Reed Dr down there with this kind of group. Monroe & Walter Reed would be a good candidate for a Hawk signal methinks.

Lyon Village >> Drew I really don’t like that stint on 10th St, or the brief salmoning on Fillmore required to do it. Maybe detour over to Danville to Pershing?

Hopefully Virginia Highlands will be open, the Drew >> VA Highlands ride looks nice.

[chris_s]

@dasgeh 53503 wrote:

Others, like Oakland St in Cherrydale, are broken by a little landscaping, keeping cars from coming through.

What’s the County Policy are building these barriers that cut off streets (like Oakland St, Fillmore St near 10th St (or is that gone now?))? When they build new ones, do they include a strip for bikes to go straight through v. going up on the sidewalk?

How can we get the ones where bikes have to go up on the sidewalk retrofitted to have a safer bike option?

Man, what is it about Oakland Street and these things? Oakland & Pike

If nothing else, these things should go on our hit list next time the Bike Element of the MTP gets updated.

Additionally, if these are on public land they are excellent candidates for Neighborhood Conservation projects through your Civic Association.

[chris_s]

Now that I’ve covered that, as far as widening:
– VDOT will be widening the portion of the “trail” that is on the bridge that goes over 100.
– Arlington’s Master Transportation Plan calls for widening the whole thing, but I don’t believe any progress has been made. The project description in the MTP is as follows:

Washington Boulevard Sidewalk Upgrade
Widen the existing Washington Boulevard sidewalk between Memorial Circle and the Pentagon to meet trail standards. The trail would link with other Pentagon area trails. (Arlington, DC, NPS, VDOT) (1.2 miles)

I believe the bollards are under DoD (Pentagon) control.

[chris_s]

This gets confusing fast because there is an existing “trail”, that you’re speaking of that runs along South Washington Blvd from Columbia Pike, past the Pentagon, over Route 110 to the MVT.

But when Arlington County talks about the Washington Blvd Trail, they’re generally talking about the new trail that they are building of which Phase I has been built and Phase II is wrapping up design. This Washington Blvd Trail will run along Washington Blvd from the Route 50 bridge, behind the Navy Support Facility on Courthouse Road and up into Towers Park just a block or two from Columbia Pike.

It’s especially confusing because Washington Blvd crosses Columbia Pike TWICE.

So to be clear, this discussion is about the OLD, EXISTING, substandard Washington Blvd Trail that runs past the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon and connects to the MVT. (as seen in this Youtube vide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wQ_mOSEhaQ)

[chris_s]

Body Found Monday at Gravelly Point Park

[chris_s]

Showers, lockers, secure and covered bike parking.

[chris_s]

@KLizotte 50027 wrote:

Unfortunately biking through the Army Navy country club is not allowed.

Fortunately, I’ve never seen that prohibition enforced.

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