ICC Trail Problems

NBC recently reported, as news, that Montgomery County was planning a bike trail in conjunction with the Intercounty Connector.

The Montgomery County Planning Board is starting a planning study to build a cross-county bike route that runs along the Intercounty Connector. The board will be looking to the community and key stakeholders about the location and other details of the route.

Of course, frequent readers know that the ICC trail has long been a part (though an ever-diminishing one) of the controversial highway project. The ICC trail was part of the initial visualization, then it was cut completely and then partly reinstated. Now it appears to be in trouble again.

the study may present a conflict between protecting the environment and meeting the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians.

The plan is for a continuous east-west bike route that would detour around environmentally sensitive areas. The detours could take the route away from the ICC along sidewalks or roads that are not “well-traveled,” according to Planning Board spokeswoman Valerie Berton.

Jack Cochrane, chairman of Montgomery Bicycle Advocates, said one of the roads being proposed as a detour route is New Hampshire Avenue, a heavily traveled road.

You have to have a lot of gumption to cut a bike path from a Highway project for environmental reasons. So the bike path is the problem, not the multiple lanes of roads? How about setting aside the space for the bike trail first, and then build the highway in the space that remains? [or some will argue , not build the highway at all. This project is not like the CCT extension - which is impossible without the Purple Line. The ICC trail could be built, and would be nicer, without the highway].

Comments

[Purple Eagle]

The broader ICC project is still contentious - several groups have filed lawsuits that are still pending, although plans were to break ground in October. Most PG County elected officials are on record as opposing the highway (those in Laurel being the exception).

[silverspringtrails]

Some Purple Line opponents assert that we can expect the State DOT to cut the CCT to reduce cost just as they did for the ICC bike path. I agree we shouldn't trust DOT to have a clue about trails. But the CCT is different from the ICC bike path in several ways.

The CCT has built up a very strong constituency of users. It will be much harder for the State to go against this promise for the CCT than it is for the ICC. The Purple Line project can be put at risk politically if the State tries to remove the CCT. Unfortunately the ICC bike path is only a concept on paper now, and it is hard to build a constituency beyond we "true believers" for a concept.

For the ICC, the bike path does not much help the highway. Purple Line transit will benefit directly from an adjacent CCT. Light-rail transit works best when residents from nearby neighborhoods can easily bike or walk to stations. The CCT will be an important part of the access to stations.

The Georgetown Branch Corridor only crosses one significant stream valley at Rock Creek, and there the transit and trail can be held on the existing old railroad berm without any of its footprint falling in the flood plain. The major environmental issue that might draw Sierra Club concern is the loss of trees, but even the Sierra Club supports the Purple Line as helping the environment overall.

I don't necessarily expect State DOT to be smarter about the CCT than it has been about the ICC bike path. I just expect we can be more successful at beating DOT back to keep the trail in the project.

[Jack Cochrane]

Most disturbing is M-NCPPC's characterization that the authorized study will examine how to "complete" the ICC trail, when the study seeks to remove two major sections of the trail from the county master plan, forever. At best the study will recommend sub-optimal solutions to close two trail gaps while making two larger gaps permanent. The solution will be LITTLE BETTER THAN THE CURRENT STATE PLAN for the trail. Basically, park staff argued with trail supporters at M-NCPPC and park staff won. Don't worry, we're going to fight this.

[unknown caller]

this is an sweet site... but as a walker (well actully i hike) i feel as though bike should not be allowed on trails made for walkers (or hikers)

[unknown caller]

this site rocks please rember has you read it and that people are being harmed by bikes and people are being harmed by walkers/hikers

[unknown caller]

people plz stop saying that i am crazy for posting!!!