At the annual CCCT meeting on June 11 in Elm Street Park, the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail listed it's goals for the next year.
Federal Realty Development at Thyme Square: CCCT met twice with representatives of Federal Realty to discuss concepts for development of the parcel including Thyme Square Restaurant and Reed Street (at the west end of the Bethesda Tunnel). CCCT succeeded in getting some improvements in the plan that will better accommodate the trail. Sadly, we were not able to change the worst aspect of the plan - closure of the Bethesda Tunnel to trail traffic for up to three years during project construction. CCCT will be pursuing this issue before the Planning Board when the project comes to them for approval this fall. Lot 31 Development: CCCT met twice with representatives of the developer for Lot 31 (the surface parking lot at the Bethesda Trailhead). We were able to impact several aspects of the proposed design to better fit with the adjacent Trail. We are pleased that the Trail will remain open here throughout construction of the project.
River Road Trail Plaza: CCCT has succeeded in its efforts to have parking removed from the west side of the Trail at the north end of the River Road Bridge. We are now in discussions with the Mont. Co. Parks Dept. to establish a Private-Public Partnership to build a trail plaza there, to include a water fountain, map kiosk, benches and bike parking. Councilmember Roger Berliner's office has been helping us find our way through agency jurisdiction issues.
Palisades Stabilization: The steep slope above Canal Road at Chain Bridge is slipping and threatens to take the Trail down with it. CCCT has had several discussions with the National Park Service (NPS) on this. Repairs were set to begin, but Arlington County has very recently entered the scene with its concerns that 1/2 of the drinking water of the County is carried by a pipe on this slope. Repairs are now on hold until Arlington decides what it wants to do. CCCT will keep pushing for repairs to begin soon.
Georgetown Boathouse: CCCT has attended several meetings and briefings over the last year with various agencies regarding the proposed boathouse. The project appears to be in "limbo" for now while NPS continues to evaluate whether to address major deficiencies in the Environmental Assessment presented last June, or instead to perform a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). CCCT will continue to advocate for a full EIS, including consideration of an alternate boathouse location immediately east of Key Bridge.
Trail Safety Initiative: CCCT is meeting with County Council, the County Executive, Mont. Co. Parks, and NPS to advocate for a range of actions to improve Trail safety. These include widening the Trail, increasing Park Police patrols, developing more trained safety patrol volunteers, increasing safety related signage along the trail, and having stronger safety education. CCCT has continued its "Bells and Whistles" program, holding several events on the Trail during the past year where free whistles and bells are given to trail users.
Invasives Campaign: CCCT is continuing to seek volunteers to take training from the Mont. Co. Parks Dept. and to help us develop a program to remove some of the invasive weeds that threaten trees along the Trail.
Wow, the Bethesda Tunnel will be closed for three years?!? That's unbelievable. Could you imagine the Planning Board allowing a road (any road) to be closed that long?
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