October 2007 Arlington BAC meeting notes

Highlights from the minutes:

1. Charlie Denney (Arlington's  bicycle and pedestrian coordinator) announced that he is leaving the County staff around the end of this year. He will be consulting, perhaps even for the County at times.

2. The Four Mike Run Trail/I-395 Underpass did come in overbudget, but the county moved funds from other projects to cover the entire contract cost of about $4 million. Construction will take 15 to 18 months, so the trail should open in the spring of 2009.

3, ­The Six Year Plan for Transportation to be funded by the new Northern Virginia Transportation Authority has bicycle money. The County has decided - without asking the BAC - that bicycle projects will get $1 million per year. It will use the BAC's top 10 list as a proxy.

4. The new revision of the Master Transportation Plan is available here. See below.

5. The replacement for the bike pit at Ballston Metro will probably be a two-level parking area with space for 150 bikes. The architect is concerned about the impact of the structure and wants to lower it. Members were concerned that vagrants would use it for shelter, and that changes to lower the structure could produce something too spooky to be used by women at night. There was also concern about riders’ physical ability to place a bike on the second level. Construction will be early summer 2008.

6. There are four TE projects in the works:

1) Shelters. Metro bike parking projects at Crystal City, Pentagon City, Clarendon metro stations.
2) Safety Education Program. Teacher training and providing equipment for schools to teach on-road cycling competency classes. The County has located a volunteer organization to replace the contractor previously envisaged. There will also be a bike lane safety brochure for both cyclists and motorists.
3) Meade Street Bridge enhancements in Rosslyn
4) Arlington Blvd trail improvements

7. As part of the I-66 widening the BAC will seek Custis trail improvements.

8. The county is instituting improved standards for required bike parking facilities for site-planned buildings.

9. Many area trails need pavement work and brush clearing.

10. The Crystal City plan is close to completion. There will be some new lanes, and Charlie is talking to the Airport Authority about improving connections to the airport and some reasonable bike parking facilities for workers and travelers.

The Rosslyn Transportation Plan was presented on Tuesday, October 9th.

The East Falls Church Task Force (CPHD and Transportation) is working on land use and transportation issues around the EFC Metro station.

11. Arl Blvd ­ Washington Blvd bridge work has been completed. The previously too-narrow sidewalk on the north side was widened to a too-narrow 8 feet with no protection for the ped/rider from traffic.

The North Tract architects are recommending stone dust as a surface for the trails. The BAC feels stone dust has many drawbacks.

The Humpback Bridge improvements at Columbia Island (upstream from the 14th St Bridge) have been fully funded and the Park Service will move ahead on construction.

Excerpt from the
Master Transportation Plan draft of September, 2007

Bicycle Policies:

1. Complete the Bikeway Network with a focus on overcoming barriers, such as Shirley Highway (I-395) and the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and improving connectivity between trails and other major bikeway corridors. Enhance bikeway information and way-finding signage.

2. Provide high-quality bicycling facilities as a part of all street improvement projects. Use marked bicycle lanes or shared-use lane symbols (“sharrows”) on arterial streets that provide access to commercial centers, schools and government facilities.

3. Provide convenient and secure bicycle parking at transit stations, schools, County facilities and in commercial centers. Promote such parking at existing private facilities.

4. Manage the trails for safety with increased use. Undertake selected widening and improvement projects to address overcrowding on the Four Mile Run, W&OD and Custis trails and develop instructional materials and signs to encourage safe user practices.

5. Require the provision of appropriate facilities to support bicycling, such as showers, lockers and bicycle parking by new development.

6. Create a community culture that embraces bicycle use as a mainstream travel mode. Raise the visibility and participation of bicycling in Arlington through regularly organized bicycling events, prominent facilities and other encouragement activities. Annually collect bicycling data on County streets and trails.

7. Conduct an ongoing safe bicycle route to schools program including semi annual bicycle safety educational programs for children and adults.

Comments

[gwadzilla]

Mount Pleasant Traffic Study

http://www.dci-projects.com/Pleasant/

meeting?

I heard it is tonight
but I need more information

or

I need more coffee

[MB]

Thank you *very* much for this summary. I regret missing the meeting.