Jan, Feb and March 2012 Arlington BAC Meeting minutes

Highlighting items that haven't already been discussed here before:

January

Arlington Police Department: The discussion started with the discussion of Lynn St. and Lee Highway intersection in Rosslyn.  With respect to this issue bicyclists could help by slowing down when coming down the hill on the Custis Trail.  Sergeant Ellseo Pilco handled much of the discussion.  Much of the discussion centered on the reporting of bicycle (and pedestrian) accidents by the police.  Sgt. Pilco explained that auxiliary programs such as Park Rangers respond to accidents on the trails.  Reports are cataloged by type and mile markers on the trails.  Park Rangers work for Parks and Recreation and call Police for enforcement.  The Police recently issued 400 warnings and citations to cyclists as part to the Governor's citation program.  The BAC was concerned that trail accidents are not documented if an ambulance is sent to the scene, but no police officer is, since APD and EMS use different reporting systems. A major concern by the BAC was the enforcement at crosswalks especially where there is no intersection.  According to the Police this is a difficult situation since so many drivers tend to ignore these crosswalks. At present only Park Rangers and Auxiliary patrol are on bicycles and the Police Department has difficulty getting Police on bikes due to personnel shortages.

February

Safe Routes to Schools - Revolution Cycles is interested in helping to facilitate biking initiatives as part of other bicycling programs.  The Arlington County DES budget has had a safe routes to school line item since about 1998.

Tim Kelly reported that the Grocery Store Bike Parking Guide had been completed and is available in the General Discussion area of the forum.

Tree work along the Custis Trail has been completed.  This work hasn’t been done in about 10 years.  The scope of the work included clearing brush around lights and removal of trees. This work occurred only on the Custis Trail.

Two bollards have been removed on Vanderpool Street.  Arlington County reports good luck with the flexible bollards that have been installed.

There was discussion of the new W&OD trail bridge.  Some were concerned that the new bridge ends at the trail without a trail connection and with bad sight lines. The new bridge had several design limitations. For example the new bridge was moved closer to the trail to avoid the overhead utility lines.  Arlington County will widen the trail near the bridge.  

Bike rack installation continues.  Many locations have been identified and racks can be requested at www.bikearlington.com/pages/about/request-a-bike-rack/

Arlington County has a new streetlight engineer looking for ideas on where streetlights can be installed.  Requests can call the hotline at (703) 228-6570 or there is a form on the Arlington County site.  For maintenance issues, it is best to include the street address closest to the street light as well as the number on the pole.

Construction is expected to begin on Joyce Street under I 395 on 2 April. The project consists of widening, milling, resurfacing, and constructing 13 foot concrete sidewalks on both sides of South Joyce Street at I-395.

The Rosslyn Circle study is underway.  50% plans have been sent to VDOT.  Arlington County is considering doing some of the easy fixes as maintenance rather than consolidating the projects together as a capital project.  Some of the improvements could be done this spring.  The committee requested a plan set for the improvements proposed to be shared with ABAC.

Arlington County is currently reviewing 90% design drawings for the Columbia Pike/Washington Boulevard bridge.

The connection between the Four Mile Run trail and Potomac Avenue (leading to Potomac Yards) will be designed when the abandoned railroad bridge is demolished.  The connection will require the design integrate the significant elevation difference between the Four Mile Run trail and Potomac Avenue.

Portions of Crystal Drive (in Crystal City) will become two way on the northern portion of Crystal City with construction start anticipated for Spring 2012.

March

Debbie DeFranco discussed biking at Arlington Public Schools: Bicycle safety is being taught in some schools as part of physical education.  Some of these programs get funding from Safe Routes to Schools. May 9th is first annual Bike to School Day.  This is in addition to Bike and Walk to School Day in October.

Chris Eatough discussed the Transit Development Plan for Capital Bikeshare. Among other items previously mentioned, no stations are planned in the near term for Columbia Pike and Shirlington.  It was also noted that stations in residential areas are not used as much and therefore more expensive to operate. 

Comments

[Michael H.]

I haven't seen any progress on the Joyce St. improvement project (widening the sidewalks under 395). I hadn't realized that this was actually funded, but I'm glad to hear about it.

I can't find any details online, other than the award notice and a brief description. No project timeline or maps.

[contrarian]

" A major concern by the BAC was the enforcement at crosswalks especially where there is no intersection. According to the Police this is a difficult situation since so many drivers tend to ignore these crosswalks."

Ladies and gentlemen, traffic enforcement in a nutshell.

[Michael H.]

Some drivers will slow down when they see pedestrians in a mid-block crosswalk (or jaywalking). But a few drivers will actually speed up, for no apparent purpose other than to menace the pedestrians! I've seen this happen multiple times.

[charlie]

This may not be place to complain, but Arlington is continuing with some bizzare bikeshare placements.

Bravo for the Uhle and 20th/veitch locations. Nice and off the road. But why keep putting the others ON the road. It is a hazard to the bikers and cars. I've used the new station at quinn and key twice now and I've almost been hit by cars making right turns.

[washcycle]

Charlie, this post explains - in part - why they choose not to put them on sidewalks.

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2011/06/arlingtons-capital-bikeshare-expansion-moves-forward-this-year-and-next.html