Another connection to the Mt. Vernon Trail proposed

A developer, Vornado, has requested a Phased Development Site Plan (PDSP) to allow for redevelopment of the Rosslyn Plaza site- a 6.49-acre (282,801square feet) site located in the Rosslyn Station Area bounded on the north by 19th Street North, on the east by Arlington Ridge Road, on the south by Wilson Boulevard and on the west by N. Kent Street. There would be quite a dramatic change in that area with it being rezoned and part of Arlington Ridge Road being vacated. But of key interest here is the plan to build an area known as "The Promenade" along the route of 18th Street that would provide a pedestrian connection from the Mount Vernon trail to the east and the Metro station to the west.

The applicant is proposing a pedestrian passage through the site, conforming approximately to the alignment of 18th Street North. This passageway would connect to an envisioned bridge over I-66 to the Mount Vernon Trail

The project envisions a pedestrian and bicycle connection to the Mount Vernon Trail, via a bridge over Route 110, Interstate 66, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Its feasibility has not been determined, and will be discussed during the review of the PDSP.

Surely, this would require coordination with NPS and others.

This would certainly make for a more direct connection to Wilson Blvd and it's bike lanes as well as Rosslyn. And it could help to people to avoid the dreaded N,Lynn intersection. But then again, it's probably as pie in the sky as the tunnel under N. Lynn Street.

Comments

[Kolohe]

Eh, I really don't see this a being much of an improvement, because the flyovers, one-ways, and heavy traffic make it hard (right now at least) to take a good line all the way across Rosslyn in either the north-south or east-west axis. (and in that respect, MVT paralleling Lee Hwy is actually the best of a bad situation). And both the Key and TR bridge crossings would remain problematic, and are perhaps the main obstacle remaining to increasing 'casual' commuting (e.g. Cabi) in and out of the area right now.

I also gotta imagine the MVT right there (assuming a connection just south of the TR parking lot) has more of a 'protected wetland' status, than say, where the overpass is now. (and connecting around the parking lot would probably have different issues too).

If they really wanted to be bold and do a whole heck of lot of good, connect the southeast corner of the site area directly with the south side of the TR bridge, for more rapid and direct connection into Downtown without having to go through Georgetown (or even Foggy Bottom). And to finally transform the south side of the TR bridge from a trail to nowhere to a better connection into central Arlington. (which also bypasses a lot of what is currently sub-optimal in Rosslyn)

(and connect the North side to the MVT via a two way cycletrack or something right on Lynn so that it all comes together, and you have a north south and east west path through and around Rosslyn, like you do in most(?) of the rest of the Va Orange line neighborhoods)

[earl p.]

fantasy

[charlie]

The low hanging fruit in Rosslyn:

Cycletrack on Lynn. It is wide enough, although the food truck issue is getting to be a problem.

Widening Roosevelt Bridge. However, I think the real problem is most people aren't trying to get to Kennedy Center/West End/GWU from Rosslyn.

Putting bikeshare on either side of the Key Bridge and near Roosevelt Island.

Signs on the Key Bridge for pedestrians to walk on the right and for bikes to ring a bell while passing.

[RCANNON100]

Anything that would help solve the quagmire that is Lee Hwy and Lynn st is a good thing. If the solution cant be at Lee and Lynn, provide a different safe route. Use those old elevated sidewalks and provide a straight route from Custis to an alternative MVT access. That would be SWEET.