TheWashCycle

DDOT unveils new Douglass Bridge Renderings

In what appears to be a bit of coordination, DDOT released new renderings of the proposed replacement Frederick Douglass Bridge in conjunction with this Washington Post story on decaying bridges. Similar to the 11th Street Bridge that is in the final stages, the new bridge promises to have more space for cyclists and pedestrians.

The new bridge will carry six lanes rather than four and will include space for pedestrians and cyclists. A traffic oval is planned on the downtown side and a traffic circle will help connect the network of streets and highways on the Anacostia side. Interchanges will link Interstate 295 and the Suitland Parkway. Other improvements, including an urban boulevard along South Capitol Street and developing the Anacostia waterfront and linking it to the Riverwalk Trail east of the river, swell the overall cost of the project to $906 million.

The renderings show a bridge with wide bike/ped lanes on both sides. These lanes have overlook areas at the center abutments where people can stop and enjoy the view. Like the 11th Street Bridge, it appears to have long, indirect connections to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail.

On the northeast side, cyclists will have to ride across to a new traffic circle at Howard Road and then turn around and head back to the river. On the southeast side, they will again head to the traffic circle and then  the sidewalk/path will lead to the future South Capitol Street Trail. A combination of other sidewalks/crosswalks appear to follow the Suitland Parkway as far as Firth Sterling Road. On the west side, the sidepaths connect first to the traffic oval before connecting to R Street, South Capitol Street and Potomac Avenue.

The rendering doesn't show the Florida Rock development on the northwest side of the bridge, but there is nothing to indicate a quicker connection to the trail across that site.

DCist reports that the $660 to $905 million could enter design and build work this year. And, of course, a design/build contract means that these renderings don't represent exactly what will be built.

As an aside, I'm glad to see that they asked about building it without the drawbridge capability. I've asked DDOT about this and I got a response about federal law requiring that waterways not be closed, just in case they're ever needed in time of war. But that seems like an expensive luxury. It might be cheaper to move the Navy Yard port to Bolling than to build the drawbridge. 

Finally, for anyone who thinks there is a "war on cars" all they have to do is look at this and the 11th Street Bridge project. Together they represent more than $1B in spending in less than a decade, primarily for motorists. That's as poorly executed a war as history has ever known.

Update: GGW isn't even sure we should build this, though the bulk of their concerns appears to be with the traffic circle and the oval. I'll agree that it appears to be wasting space, but maybe they could put a velodrome inside the traffic oval.

14th Street Bridge DEIS considers better connections, new Potomac crossing

Last month, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 14th Street Bridge Corridor was released and it keeps several 14th Street Bridge area improvements to the bicycling network in play. Possible improvements include improvements to the existing bicycle/pedestrian facility on the George Mason Memorial Bridge, construction of a new separate crossing over the Potomac River connecting the Mount Vernon Trail south of the George Mason Memorial Bridge with the waterfront area in Southwest Washington, DC., integrated and coordinated wayfinding signing and construction of trails and sidewalks in areas where there are gaps

Though the option of keeping a new bike/ped Potomac River crossing was retained, some of the specific locations for that bridge were eliminated. A bridge downstream of Long Bridge was eliminated even though it scored quite high; higher, in fact, than all of the retained options. Also eliminated was the proposal to widen the Mason Bridge, or build the crossing between the Rochambeau Bridge and the Williams Bridge. Instead the study focuses on building it between the Williams Bridge and the Fenwick (Metro) Bridge. 

Mason Bridge improvement option.

This is more of an idea than a detailed plan at this point. The drawings show only the current trail and note that it should be improved. One can assume this would mean widening the trail connections and removing some obstacles on the DC side, but at this point they haven't done the detailed study. The cost of this is only ~$350,000.

New Potomac River Crossing

The original proposal placed the bridge just upstream of the Fenwick Bridge. But after discussions with the steering committee the option was revised to place it between the Fenwick Bridge and the Long Bridge so that it could tie into the proposed bridge to Long Bridge Park - creating one continuous bridge from DC to Long Bridge Park with access to the MVT. 

The typical section of the bridge would consist of a 16-foot wide shared use bicycle/pedestrian path.  The bridge length would be approximately 2,500 feet, with tie backs on a slope of 12 percent, for safe landings.  The bridge elevation would be at a height of 30 feet above the mean low water elevation.  

Virginia side of new Potomac Avenue Bike/Ped crossing action alternative

DC side of new Potomac Avenue Bike/Ped crossing action alternative

A new 16-foot wide crossing, especially one that ties into Long Bridge Park directly, would be a real benefit to those biking between DC and Arlington, and, at $26.8M (the most expensive action alternative carried forward) it is certainly a bold proposal, but I wonder if this bridge couldn't be a bit bolder. On the DC side it drops one off at the island of East Potomac Park, which is fine if one is going upstream via the Inlet Bridge. But if going northeast via the Outlet Bridge or east via the Case Bridge, it makes for a roundabout trip. Better would be to continue the new Potomac River bridge along the north side of the railroad tracks over 395 to Ohio Drive on the other side of the Island. If one wanted to get really ambitious it could be continued along the RR all the way to Maine Avenue or even to 12th Street. That would be very ambitious and would probably require buying land and tunnel space from CSX,.

As for a less ambitious proposal, the DEIS includes an appendix on just the trail bridge to Long Bridge Park. I didn't see a cost estimate for this, perhaps because it would be paid for by Arlington County?

Integrated and Connected Bike System

This option would cost $214,000 and would

create a single, regional master plan that connects the bicycle and pedestrian master plans of Washington, DC and Northern Virginia.  The primary goal of this option is to unify the signing system used for bicycle routes and pedestrian facilities in jurisdictions within the study area.  In addition, pedestrian and bicycle routes would be added in areas where there are large gaps.  South Fern Street, from the south parking lot of the Pentagon to the Army Navy Road across I-395, the Army Navy Road, and a small section of 12th Street would be upgraded to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians. This upgrade would improve the bicycle/pedestrian connection between the trail along west Washington Boulevard and the Pentagon City bicycle network.

Three Notch Trail - The thing about the earth is it doesn’t change until man changes it.

The St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks Director Phil Rollins went to the Board of County Commissioners seeking approval of $50,000 toward the $1.9 million cost of building the Mechanicsville section of the Three Notch Trail. This section will connect the two existing sections to create an 11 mile trail, much of which follows the old railroad of the same name.

But several new members of the commission asked if, instead of closing that gap, the trail could be contiinued south from the existing southern section to Hollywood, California or Lexington Park. The reason given by Commissioner Dan Morris was that “Where this section of trail is, I have some problems." “Sometimes we make decisions that reverse momentum from previous boards.” Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe added. Morris then adds, without explanation, "“Make [the Mechanicsville section] the last one. It doesn’t have to be rushed. I think the general population would be much happier” if the trail were built in California and Lexington Park.

The thing is that the county is already well into the design and engineering phase. That contract for the Mechanicsville section of the trail has already been awarded for $164,778 and so far $61,796 has been spent on the work. Furthermore, the sections that the Commissioners want to see moved up in the order are not ready for trail construction.

In the California and Lexington Park area, the old railroad right of way is intended to be used to build FDR Boulevard. The continuance of Three Notch Trail relies on plans for that road, .... Plans for the development in the trail in Hollywood are several years out and the old railroad right of way is gone; it was used to dualize Route 235. There is an electrical utility easement through Hollywood, but the entire corridor is not publicly owned.

Morris isn't worried about that because “Wouldn’t that design be good for years? The thing about the earth is, it doesn’t change until man changes it.” Which is true if you ignore earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers, rain, wind and all of the other forms of weather and geological events.

But even if we ignore nature, man still changes things. Today's plans might not be relevant 10 years from now because of land transactions, and such a reordering could delay this section by much more than that. DC, for example, had originally planned to turn the area along the Met Branch Trail north of NY Avenue into a park, but in the years between the plan and the design, PEPCO and others bought the land that DC needed for that park. So waiting has consequences. 

Another report stresses some opposition in Mechanicsville.

The minutes and video from the December 13th meeting are not yet available.

Friday Morning Ride - Wish List

Good morning

• GGW recommends creating a 2nd bridge to the RI Avenue Metro from W Street just west of the Met Branch Trail. While not a bad idea, it is highly unlikely to happen any time soon. We're still more than a year away from the first bridge connection being completed.  And, there isn't the same space available as for the bridge to the north of the station.
• Shane Farthing of WABA recommends, in response to the bike lane shortfall, an update to the DC Bicycle Master Plan "it is also time for cyclists, advocates, and officials to think about the next five to ten years and the projects and deliverables we want to see.  Much has changed since 2005, and it is likely time for an update to the Bicycle Master Plan to reflect the growth and development of bicycling."
• Emergency pedicab regulations were allowed to expire late last month due to an oversight, but they are reinstated today, and now they're "permanent." Despite concern from operators, the rules were unchanged, so the cost of pedicab rides will likely go up. 
• There's another new Capital Bikeshare station. This one is in Congress Heights and it appears to have been installed Batman-style.
• Coming this March, the Crystal City Diamond Derby. "The derby will allow “competitive, casual and chic cyclists” alike to ride around an obstacle course in a massive parking garage under the Bureau of National Affairs building (1801 S. Bell Street) in Crystal City."
• Mark Blacknell puts out a cyclist wish list for Arlington. As my new job has me too busy to do one myself this year, what do Washcycle readers want to see in the coming year(s)?

Saturday Morning Ride - All may park, All must pay

As Glenn Frey put it, "The Heat is On." It was so hot yesterday that the store portion of the Bike Station closed early (it has no AC).

• Additional cameras have been installed by DDOT in the vicinity of the New York Ave bridge to watch the MBT.
• WABA reminds members to support bike facilities on Oregon Ave NW.
• GSA will make employees pay for parking. That could lead to increased bike commuting.
• A history of the Bikes May Use Full Lane sign.
• A young woman was hit while crossing the road to get to a Bikeshare station. She was on foot, but had her helmet on anyway. Reportedly, she was lept at the hospital overnight for observation, but appears to be doing well. A witness reports that the driver was running a red light.

Crossing the Marina Drive

This is the pedestrian crossing for the Columbia Island Marina Drive at the end of the connection to the MVT. The Marina looks like a nice place to eat lunch (if it's open to the public).

Trail to Humpback underpass paved

The trail to the underpass on the DC side of the Humpback Bridge is now paved all the way to the Marina. Techincally it isn't open yet (you can see the cones ahead) but that wasn't stopping people from using it.

Will E Street south of the White House be open for cyclists?

The United States Secret Service and NPS are going to decide if they should formally close the streets and sidewalks around the White House that were "temporarily" closed after 9/11 (via Lydia DePillis). They'll also study installing permanent security features and making

landscape and infrastructure changes to the area that respond to the street closures and re-design of security elements to ensure the iconic historic nature of the landscape that is the White House and its environs and an important destination for visitors.

While closing E Street is not something I support (it's as far away from the White House as H, which is not closed), if they insist on doing so, I hope they leave it open for bicycle traffic as they've done with Pennsylvania Avenue. It makes sense, since Penn is way closer to the White House than E.

Closing the streets isn't a done deal, and what things will look like afterward isn't either. Comments are due in 45 days. Supposedly you can comment here, but I'm not sure how.

Comments may be submitted electronically through the NPS' Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/PRPA (The NPS preferred method of receiving comments), or by mail to: Office of the National Park Service Liaison to the White House, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW., Room 344, Washington, DC 20242.

WABA, BAC and cyclists who might use an open E street should submit comments to this process. There is also a meeting this month.

During scoping, a public meeting will be held on Thursday, March 31, 2011, to present information and obtain input from attendees. The meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the White House Visitor Center located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue South, NW., Washington, DC. At the meeting, the NPS and USSS will describe the proposed actions and how the planning will be conducted, and NCPC will describe the design concepts competition it is conducting.

The EA will assess a range of alternatives establishing a permanent closure of E Street and associated roadways and the installation of re-designed security elements resulting in changes to the area, along with a no-action alternative for continuing the current closure using the existing, temporary security elements

Route 110 Trail gets funding, work could begin next year

After 16 years of waiting, it appears the Route 110 trail might finally break ground.

Arlington County Board approved almost $250,000 in grant funding Feb. 12 to construct the half mile stretch along the highway that will connect the Pentagon and the Columbia Pike corridor to Memorial Bridge.

Then there's this familiar refrain

The entire project is expected to cost more than $600,000, although when it will be up and running largely depends on the National Park Service. The land for the trail, which runs next to Route 110 from the Pentagon north parking lot to the Memorial Bridge, is almost all part of George Washington Memorial Parkway property maintained by the federal agency.

The county is about to start an environmental assessment for the project, and still has to secure permits from the Park Service for installation of the paved trail.

It should be no problem getting the permits from NPS. NPS loves cycling

Cycling is friendly to the environment in the parks and to the health of the rider.  These qualities bring cycling in line with the goals of the National Park Service and help make bicycling a great way to visit the parks.

No one is sure yet, but work could begin as early as spring 2012.

In the meantime, Arlington has applied for another grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation to finance the rest of the project.

This path will follow the route of the old Rosslyn Spur, so it could be considered a rail trail of sorts, were one so inclined. You can see the old rail line on this map.

Tuesday Morning Commute - rushed

No time for chit chat

• This year's Congressional Bike Ride will be in honor of Gabby Giffords. Maybe more than two congress members will show up.
• The Montgomery County Planning Department is backing bike sharing for traffic mitigation as part of the White Flint Redevelopment Program. "We recommend that development of a bike sharing system in the White Flint area be incorporated in this project. This system would be similar to, or an expansion of, the Capital Bikeshare system in Washington DC and Arlington. The County has explored development of such a system both independently and through participation in the unsuccessful MWCOG TIGER II grant application during Fall 2010. We believe that such a system would also be appropriate in Bethesda and Silver Spring, where we already have higher levels of bike usage. Bike sharing stations could become a logical component in transportation mitigation programs for developers in these areas, although the County must first establish a basic and successful system upon which the private sector could expand. While the project budget would likely not be sufficient to actually implement a successful bikesharing project (estimated at about $300K for any one of the three candidate areas), it can provide the functional, legal and administrative groundwork for the project."
• Comparing year-to-year count data on the Custis trail shows either a 1.8%, 8% or 11.2% increase, depending on how you do it. "the highest ridership day of all was actually Saturday, Oct 30, 2010 with over 1,600 cyclists. This number was clearly an anomaly; ridership was skewed by the Stewart/Colbert rally on the mall."
• The ICC will open on Feb 22. If there is a schedule for when the ICC trail will be built and opened, it is a well kept secret. There is almost no mention of the trail on the ICC project site. 
• The three feet passing bill was unanimously approved in the Virginia Senate. One of the House members who voted against it in the 5-4 vote that killed it on that side has said he will vote FOR the Senate version. Things are looking good.