CCT paving and Meeting

The section of the Capital Crescent Trail that has been under repair since Nov 2007 will be paved soon starting around July 14th.

Additionally, there is more on the CCT safety meeting (including the speed limit) that will occur on the same day.

CCCT will host a meeting on Monday, July 14 from 7-9 p.m., at the Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road for a public discussion of the recent safety enhancements for the Trail laid out by the Montgomery County Parks Department. Mary Bradford, Director of the Parks Department, will attend and be prepared to respond to questions.

 

These enhancements include restriping, imposition of a 15 mph speed limit, rumble strips at the two at-grade roadway crossings, and an increased education/enforcement effort by Police aimed at all users of the Trail to enhance safe use of the trail. These safety efforts arose out of a series of meetings between Parks and the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail and include SOME of the recommendations by the Coalition. The Coalition hopes this is only the first step in improving safe use of the Trail and advocates some further improvements, including:

1.   WIDEN THE TRAIL – to at least a 16 foot width;
2.   Place stop signs for car traffic crossing the Trail corridor at Little Falls Parkway and Dorset Avenue; and
3. BUILD MORE TRAILS, including completion of the off road CCT into downtown Silver Spring, complete the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Silver Spring, Takoma Park and DC, and other off road trails.

These three improvements make a lot of sense, let's hope Montgomery County thinks so too.

Comments

[Tom]

While at the meeting could see if Montgomery County's Pooh-Bah’s could institute a lifetime ban for pedestrians using a portable listening device with earphones.
While you’re at it how about a one-month suspension of trail privileges for pedestrians walking three abreast with coffee cups in their hands.

These are greater safety problems than riding a bike at 17 mph.

[Alycia]

How about a fine for dogs not on a leash? I don't know how many times I've almost clipped a pooch who veered into the middle of the path only to be yelled at by the owner who really obviously doesn't give a crap about my (or the dog's) safety.

[Rick Blum]

I can't be at the meeting on the 14th, but my 2 cents is that portable listening devices -- on walkers and bikers -- leads to inattentiveness and more risky behavior than me going 18 mph.