Metropolitan Branch Fail

Despite the good news out of Montgomery County there is still much about the future of the Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT) to worry about. Not that it won't be built, I believe it will; but that it will be less than what it could be, should be or was promised to be. I'm talking specifically about the New York Avenue to Franklin Street section - arguable the signature section of the trail.

As originally designed this section - built on old railroad right of way that consisted of sidelings and the Eckington rail yard - was to be a park-like facility with a trail running down the middle. A picture of what it would look like even graced the cover of the concept plan (at right). It shows a trail passing directly through a green space with waysides and an open air cafe opening up to the trail and park. This is not what will be built.

Despite the stated objective of "providing a visually attractive setting for the trail in the open space between CSX tracks and current development," what is instead planned is a trail shoehorned in between office buildings and sprawling parking lots. Due to a Z-shaped turn, it won't even provide a direct route as originally designed.

Let's move south to north starting from the NY Ave metro station trail. A building is to be built on the triangle between NY Ave, Florida Ave and the trail. When I talked with DDOT they had no idea what this building would look like. Will it open up to the trail? Will there be a green buffer? Will it just be a big brick wall? They didn't know. Why isn't building a structure that integrates the trail a requirement?

Next the trail will pass between the PEPCO facility and the tracks, through the "Capital Commerce Center." As originally planned there would be a connection here between Harry Thomas Way and the trail (see below, right hand side), but not any more. Then the trail was to bend to the west with a connection to R St. But now the trail instead follows the connection to R St and then turns more than 90 degrees to continue north on the west side of the property (see this for a map of what it will look like). This requires a user to make two greater than 90 degree turns (the Z-turn I mentioned). Besides being dangerous it's slow. This was to be a "bicycle beltway." I've never seen a 95 degree turn on the beltway. And what will go where the trail was supposed to? A parking lot (not sure how cars will get to it, but I suspect they would cross the trail).

The plan calls for waysides, green space, art gardens and performance space. It talks about place making. But I fear this project will become a 12 foot wide strip of asphalt surrounded by whatever developers decide will make the most money. I'm not anti-growth, but it's too bad that an opportunity to create a green space in the center of the city is being squandered for the growth machine.

Comments

[Kevin]

I think the District has realized what is a reality for most cyclists. Most who ride already will ignore the MBT, since it's not likely to go where they want, unless they work on Capitol Hill, even then, in almost any configuration, there are faster, lightly trafficked alternatives between Rhode Island Ave and Union Station. The loss from this particular lack of planning will be folks who are thinking about it, but don't already ride to work. This has the potential to have a significant effect on traffic in the area: with two office buildings and one mixed-use building being built between Florida and R St., along with at least two others being planned (I think), the smaller roads (4th st NE, mostly) are likely to pick up enough traffic to get the cyclists off the roads there. Will they drive or ride the poorly routed MBT? The MBT is some other mayor's project that no candidate feels particularly strongly about, and the current mayor/council isn't interested either. In any other state/county/city, this would be a Parks and Recreation project. For example, the bike path repairs from last week's rains are nearly complete on the Anacostia Tributaries. PG County has a department (with money) dedicated to park management that can do its job. Imagine that.

[jeff]

I have to disagree Kevin. The MBT will affect far more cyclists than you are accounting for. I recieve 10-20 emails a week for commuter route assistance, and a decent percentage of those come from people who the MBT would affect positively. If you sit out in front of Mocha Hut on 14th St any given morning(if its still open) you'll see quite a few commuters headed in to downtown from silver spring/takoma- many of which would benefit from the MBT. Recreationally, there are not a lot of option the NE area for cyclicst, joggers, skaters, etc while NW has Rock Creek,CCT, C&O and easy access to MT. Vernon. A new trail could not only serve the communities they are in, but help relieve the overcrowded trails of NW. Keeping the area around the trail green will aid tremendously in that.

[Kevin]

I meant to make the point that the MBT isn't as great a boon for commuters as recreational cyclists. It will be good for some commuters, but not all, mostly those going to Capitol Hill from Silver Spring, Takoma and upper Northeast. The MBT will be a great addition to the Anacostia tributaries and to the DC Parks and Recreation facilities. Since neither DC nor the parks are run particularly well, the MBT will suffer and be a good thing for very few people. Sad, but this is the direction it's going unless there is a strong push from residents beyond badgering mayoral candidates who will say anything for a vote.