14th Street Bridge DEIS considers better connections, new Potomac crossing

Last month, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 14th Street Bridge Corridor was released and it keeps several 14th Street Bridge area improvements to the bicycling network in play. Possible improvements include improvements to the existing bicycle/pedestrian facility on the George Mason Memorial Bridge, construction of a new separate crossing over the Potomac River connecting the Mount Vernon Trail south of the George Mason Memorial Bridge with the waterfront area in Southwest Washington, DC., integrated and coordinated wayfinding signing and construction of trails and sidewalks in areas where there are gaps

Though the option of keeping a new bike/ped Potomac River crossing was retained, some of the specific locations for that bridge were eliminated. A bridge downstream of Long Bridge was eliminated even though it scored quite high; higher, in fact, than all of the retained options. Also eliminated was the proposal to widen the Mason Bridge, or build the crossing between the Rochambeau Bridge and the Williams Bridge. Instead the study focuses on building it between the Williams Bridge and the Fenwick (Metro) Bridge. 

Mason Bridge improvement option.

This is more of an idea than a detailed plan at this point. The drawings show only the current trail and note that it should be improved. One can assume this would mean widening the trail connections and removing some obstacles on the DC side, but at this point they haven't done the detailed study. The cost of this is only ~$350,000.

New Potomac River Crossing

The original proposal placed the bridge just upstream of the Fenwick Bridge. But after discussions with the steering committee the option was revised to place it between the Fenwick Bridge and the Long Bridge so that it could tie into the proposed bridge to Long Bridge Park - creating one continuous bridge from DC to Long Bridge Park with access to the MVT. 

The typical section of the bridge would consist of a 16-foot wide shared use bicycle/pedestrian path.  The bridge length would be approximately 2,500 feet, with tie backs on a slope of 12 percent, for safe landings.  The bridge elevation would be at a height of 30 feet above the mean low water elevation.  

Virginia side of new Potomac Avenue Bike/Ped crossing action alternative

DC side of new Potomac Avenue Bike/Ped crossing action alternative

A new 16-foot wide crossing, especially one that ties into Long Bridge Park directly, would be a real benefit to those biking between DC and Arlington, and, at $26.8M (the most expensive action alternative carried forward) it is certainly a bold proposal, but I wonder if this bridge couldn't be a bit bolder. On the DC side it drops one off at the island of East Potomac Park, which is fine if one is going upstream via the Inlet Bridge. But if going northeast via the Outlet Bridge or east via the Case Bridge, it makes for a roundabout trip. Better would be to continue the new Potomac River bridge along the north side of the railroad tracks over 395 to Ohio Drive on the other side of the Island. If one wanted to get really ambitious it could be continued along the RR all the way to Maine Avenue or even to 12th Street. That would be very ambitious and would probably require buying land and tunnel space from CSX,.

As for a less ambitious proposal, the DEIS includes an appendix on just the trail bridge to Long Bridge Park. I didn't see a cost estimate for this, perhaps because it would be paid for by Arlington County?

Integrated and Connected Bike System

This option would cost $214,000 and would

create a single, regional master plan that connects the bicycle and pedestrian master plans of Washington, DC and Northern Virginia.  The primary goal of this option is to unify the signing system used for bicycle routes and pedestrian facilities in jurisdictions within the study area.  In addition, pedestrian and bicycle routes would be added in areas where there are large gaps.  South Fern Street, from the south parking lot of the Pentagon to the Army Navy Road across I-395, the Army Navy Road, and a small section of 12th Street would be upgraded to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians. This upgrade would improve the bicycle/pedestrian connection between the trail along west Washington Boulevard and the Pentagon City bicycle network.

Comments

[Will]

I was at COG TPB the other day, and DDOT is adding the bike ped bridge idea and a 3rd RR track parallel to Long Bridge to the 2011-2016 TIP. It's great that it's under consideration, but I think the DC connection needs more work. It would be amazing if instead of terminating at Jefferson area, it could continue as grade separated facility to the future Maryland Ave SW complete street.

[Robert Cannon]

+1 for Will's comment.

A key problem to this area is completing the trip. On the VA side, a bridge across the GW parkway would be most helpful.

On the DC, you cannot safely cross Maine AVe. Maine Ave and Ohio Dr is Russian Roulette. We have had one member of our group hit crossing, and I have had several near misses. There are not pedestrian triggers for the lights, cars dont stop at the red light, and not all lanes have traffic lights - meaning there is one lane where the traffic is always continuous. It's crazy.

Will's idea of having the bike bridge continue all the way and terminate on the far side of Maine Ave is an excellent idea.

And we would point out - cherry blossom season is a form of pedestrian insanity. There are so many more pedestrians than the infrastructure can safely handle. Getting across that intersection during Cherry Blossom season, is exceptionally dangerous. A bridge across, leveraging the existing infrastructure - would be excellent.

And I would note, there is currently an abandoned train bridge going across main ave - that is not in use. The Mandarin refinished it as a pedestrian bridge, but there is no access to it from the east side and the west side has steep steps. Here is a bridge, in place, that could be retrofitted to tremendous good.

[Michael H.]

A Long Bridge bike trail would be very nice. I believe Arlington is currently in the design stage for the next phase of Long Bridge Park. Along with the planned aquatic/fitness center, the existing esplanade would be extended close to the GW Parkway. Construction on the next phase of the park could begin by early 2013. (Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, or not.)

The plans for Long Bridge Park include a reference to a future connector across the parkway to the MVT, but they don't provide any details, not like the DEIS does. Hopefully the bridge to MVT can be included in the Long Bridge Park project. And then maybe a future Long Bridge bike trail could be incorporated into plans to upgrade the train bridge for high-speed trains.

I would think that the Long Bridge Park-MVT bridge could be designed and completed in a couple years. I hope there is progress on the Long Bridge bike trail too.

[Purple Eagle]

The bridge by the Mandarin hotel is accessable from both sides - I ran across it a couple of weeks ago. Discovered it somewhat by chance, just out exploring. I accessed it from the east from the circlular drive in front of the hotel.

[Michael H.]

By the way, Washington D.C. is no longer considered a major North American city. At least not according to a Calgary Sun article about a bikeshare proposal in Calgary:

Five major cities in North America — Toronto, Vancouver, Boston, New York and Denver — are doing similar pilot projects, said Ald. Peter Demong, who suggested waiting to gauge their results.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/02/05/calgary-aldermen-set-to-deflate-25m-bike-share-scheme

[Michael H.]

Another news item: Possible prices for NYC bikeshare, but no official prices have been announced yet.

Daily membership could be $8-10, weekly $20-25, annual "less than" $90-95.

http://gas2.org/2012/02/06/nyc-bike-share-to-be-largest-in-the-country/