November 2009 Arlington BAC Meeting Notes

These are the draft minutes to a meeting I didn't attend, so there may be errors.

Trail Maintenance Issues: The county is working to keep leaves cleared from the trail with the switchbacks at Lyons Village on the Custis Trail treated as a major priority. 

Kevin Stalica (Arlington County) passed around examples of new trails signs for comments. 

There was more discussion or repairing the root bumps on the Custis Trail. The county is doing an analysis of the Trail with respect to the repair issues and Kevin mentioned that he would like to move asphalt maintenance to the transportation budget. There is no regular funding for repaving in the Parks budget. The BAC has long advocated that they be added to the County's pavement index used for streets. The budget issues with respect to trails were discussed.  Most thought they should be funded based on their amount of use.

Walter Reed Drive Bike Lane Striping: The BAC was dissatisfied with the recent striping on Walter Reed (pictured), deeming the bike lanes a safety hazard for bicyclists because the lanes are about two feet wide including the gutter.  The BAC also found the subsequent attempt to cover the stripes with black paint totally inadequate, since the paint was quickly wearing off.  The BAC decided to send a letter to the County in order to get this safety hazard removed.

Bike Culture Meeting: BAC member Mark Blacknell reported on the meeting of County employees involved in encouraging the use of bicycles, including the encouragement of businesses to be bicycle friendly, which took place during the previous week.  Encouraging businesses to be bicycle friendly involves working with business organizations in different neighborhoods including Rosslyn and Ballston.  The committee is considering activities and events to encourage bicycling.  One proposal is the closing of streets for a day at a time to show the effects of bicycling. The committee works to help the county achieve bicycle friendly recognition from the LAB. Arlington is up for reevaluation in 2011.

Trail Counts: Dave Patton of Arlington County discussed the results of the last general trail count.  He also reported that on October 15 a permanent counter was installed on the Custis Trail west of Scott Street.  The device counts both cyclists and pedestrians and differentiates between the two.  Normally about 1300 bicyclists and 300 pedestrians use the trail on a daily basis during the week.  Inclement weather reduces its usage.  An infrared detector has been installed on the Four Mile Run Trail near the new underpass.  This shows about 1100 bicyclists and pedestrians per day using the trail at that site.  Another detector will be installed in next few weeks to differentiate between bicyclists and pedestrians.

Bike Light Giveaway: According to Chris Eatough about 100 out of 200 cyclists on the Custis Trail stopped at the giveaway table and the County gave away 50 lights.  The plan is to give away more lights at the W&OD Trail at Columbia Pike in about a week.  Chris had examples of the lights being given away. They appear to be of good quality and cost the County about $25 per set, about half the going retail price.

Transportation Enhancements: Applications are due to VDOT by December 1.  Money is generally going to ongoing projects.  The Route 110 project needs funding.  However, there is an ongoing conflict between NPS and the National Highway Administration on trail width.  This could delay the project.

Columbia Pike Streetscape: 42 bike racks will be placed along the Columbia Pike in the project area. The project area is from Garfield Street to Oakland Street.  County staff should install the racks. The BAC expressed a desire that the racks be spread around more as some are too close together based on the existing plans.  Also, some of the holes for previously-installed racks were not drilled properly in concrete and the BAC would like to make sure these errors are not repeated. County staff assured the BAC that these holes will be drilled correctly for future racks. Installation will begin in the next few weeks. The County is renting a special drill which will result in a clean finished installation.There is also a housing study being done by the County along the Pike.

Tom Bruccoleri is the new leader for County Transportation replacing Mark Kellogg.  Tom has agreed to attend the December BAC meeting where he will speak on whatever subject he thinks is appropriate.

It was noted that a rack is needed at Lee Highway/Harrison St.  This is private property so the owners would have to agree to the installation.  The Harris Teeter on Lee Highway can't make up their mind on the color of the new racks at their location.

Bike Connection to Key Bridge from Wilson Blvd.: Way finding is need for Wilson Blvd. in this area. There may also be a need for other requirements to assure a safe route in this area.  County staff will study how to indicate a route from the end of Clarendon Blvd. to the Key Bridge.

Bike Arlington Update: In mid 2010 the County will publish a bike map update. The County would like to start a bike forum for way finding and routing.  A Google forum is under development.  Internet discussions on maps and editing of maps have historically involved the WASHcyle map site.

Photo by Michael Neubert

Comments

[Richard Layman]

Great stuff thanks. I have made mistakes trying to get to Key Bridge from Wilson Blvd. myself. Just last month in fact.

The road that they have a bike sign on doesn't really work.

It should be for the major preceding intersection.

[Allen Muchnick]

As usual, the uncorrected draft meeting notes were full of inaccuracies, but this is a good summary of the November BAC meeting.