Bicycle Commuter and Parking Expansion Amendment Act of 2010 (Bill 18-1002) - As was discussed in the last meeting, this simple bill would amend the 2007 law and assign an authority to enforce the parking regulations. There will be two hearings, with the first as early as this month. The goal is to pass it by the end of the year. BAC voted to support this law, as introduced, in the interest of getting it passed quickly. Further changes to bike parking minimums and standards will be addressed, hopefully, in new zoning regulations due in about 6 months.
South Capitol Street Trail update - DDOT has a draft version of the South Capitol Street Trail Project Concept Plan, but it isn't online yet. The plan is basically what you'd expect. Currently, there is no sidewalk or bike facilities on South Capitol Street in Ward 8. After spending most of its time studying who owned the ROW, especially at intersections, DDOT has a design that runs an 8'-10' wide (depending on where it is) MUP along the west side of South Capitol St/Overlook Dr from Firth Sterling Ave to Shepherd Pkwy (orange dotted line on the map to the right). At the north end they have a plan to cross the light rail tracks and at the south end to cross Overlook. Instead of creating one massive project, they're splitting it up into different projects so to it can be built piecemeal in conjunction with other projects such as the DHS project at St. E's, a WASA project, and the rebuilding of a gate at one of the military installations along the waterfront. DDOT is also working on an interim route from the Wilson Bridge to St. E's to make it easier for USCG employees (many of whom bike commute from Alexandria now) to bike to work.
Oxon run trail - More on this in a later post
Other trails - DDOT is working on a grant which would pay a ministry group to do maintenance work (grass cutting, trash, etc...) on the MBT and ART. And the DC Building Industries group did some landscaping along MBT on the hillside by the shopping center. Shane Farthing of WABA was concerned about cyclists who exit the trail through the shopping center parking lot. There are getting to be quite a few and he suggested DDOT sign a route through the parking lot.
CaBi - As of today, CaBi has 4370 annual members and 52 monthly members. As of Oct 22, they had had around 33,000 trips and 4700 "casual users" (people who paid for a one day membership). On Oct 22, there were ~2800 members in DC, ~290 members in Arlington, and ~500 from neither. DDOT is not sure what the maximum number of members the system can sustain is. They have ~3 more stations to install as well as 5 smartbike stations to replace. Since losing the TIGER grant, DDOT is looking at how to fund the next expansion. It won't be as large as 100 new stations, but they'd like to do some type of expansion in 2011. One idea is to have agencies and properties buy one. It costs ~$50,000 to buy one and DDOT is in talks with some interested parties.
There have been two reported crashes, 1 in DC and 1 in Crystal City, but they didn't cause serious damage to the bikes or riders. No one's been charged $1000 for a lost, stolen or broken bike yet. There have been no reports of vandalism or theft.
Bike Plan - BAC members brought up the idea of updating the 6-year old plan. Updating it is something DDOT knows would be helpful, but it would also take a lot of time and with so many projects underway, it becomes a question of resource allocation.
15th Street Bike lane - The lane is supposed to be closed right now and signage should say so. They don't really want anyone riding in it until it reopens. There won't be a detour created (sidewalk is legal there, FYI). The new lane is supposed to be a little bit wider, which will allow a street sweeper to drive down it.
Bike Parking - More in-street bike corrals are planned at 5 locations downtown. Each of these would have 8 parking spaces. One of them will be in front of the E Street Cinema (thank God).
ART bridges - DDOT is still working with CSX on issues that have held up the east side bridge, but they think they're close. On the west side bridge, I've heard they're either waiting for some new pieces to be delivered or dealing with some wetland protection issues (the construction trucks were driving over the "wetlands" between the RR tracks and the hill) before continuing. The DDOT personnel at the meeting aren't the ones who handle this project and weren't sure.
Comments