Meeting was a bit disappointing. The firm that prepared the Environmental Assessment (EA) seemed to have stumbled across some traffic count data but was not able to talk to it. It wasn’t clear who would actually design the new version of Columbia Pike from the top of the hill down to Joyce. By my calculations, it appears that the hill will be long and steep. I’m not eager to share a MUP while I’m heading down the hill at 25-30 mph.
At the core, I think the “conceptual drawing” showing four lanes presupposes the outcome. The traffic counts I’ve found seem closer to Eads Street, which is a busy road with only one lane in each direction. Columbia Pike from the top of the hill to Joyce won’t have parking, driveways, stores, or other distractions for drivers, so traffic will flow more effectively than on Eads. Four lanes do not appear to be necessary.
The comments on other sites seem to suggest that this should be viewed as a bikes vs. veterans, with cycling infrastructure taking away from burial space. I think a open conversation could accommodate cyclists, motorists, and peds in the right of way anticipated. We should be able to make it better for everyone without any impact on the cemetery’s capacity.
The project site is at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Missions/Military-Construction/ANCSouthernExpansion/
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/08/16/2018-17573/availability-of-the-arlington-national-cemetery-southern-expansion-project-and-associated-roadway
and comments are due by 22 Sep.
As I develop my comments, I will post them here in case somebody wants to crib my notes.
