Alexandria 2014 Capital Improvement Program includes funds for Capital Bikeshare, area trails and more

Alexandria City Manager Rashad Young has proposed a FY 2014 budget that includes $600,000 for Capital Bikeshare expansion in 2014 and another $1,395,000 worth of expansion planned through 2022.

In 2013, work to identify station locations beyond the initial eight stations will be completed. The program will expand to Carlyle and Del Ray over the next several years through a combination of funding sources include CMAQ/RSTP funding, private (development) capital contributions, and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) funding.

In addition, there is

• $500,000 for an update to the 2008 Bicycle Master Plan
• $0 for the Wilkes Street Bikeway, because no more local funding is needed. The project should go out to bid this year
• $1,317,602 for the Holmes Run Bike Trail upgrade, with work to begin in mid to late 2014.
• $500,000 in 2015 for a study of the feasibility of building a tunnel connection under the freight rail tracks from the Braddock Road station itself as recommended in the Braddock Metro Neighborhood Plan. Completion of the tunnel would provide a new station entry from the west, minimizing the distance pedestrians must walk to access the station from the west. Currently, pedestrians must walk south to the Braddock Road underpass to reach the station. In addition, the plan recommends studying a potential future pedestrian-bike connection and a potential walking route connection to the northern gateway
• $3,500,000 over the next four years for the Old Cameron Run Trail. This project will construct a shared-use path between Eisenhower Avenue near Telegraph Road to on-oad bicycle facilities that link to the Mt. Vernon Trail, addressing a major gap in the city’s proposed “Green Crescent‟ trail system and ultimately providing a key link in the bicycle and pedestrian multimodal transportation system.
• $3,200,00 for FY 2017-18 for a shared-use path along Backlick Run from Boothe Park west to the Fairfax County line. Once complete, the trail will help better connect the far west side of the City with the Mount Vernon Trail, and the existing trail network in the Ben Brennan Park and Eisenhower Valley. 
• $1,000,000 for the construction of safety improvements at the Mt Vernon Avenue/Russell Road Intersection in 2015-16. 
• $500,000 in FY 2023 for design and engineering funding for the construction of a multimodal bridge from the Van Dorn Metro Station to Pickett Street.
• $275,000 in FY 2014 for Safe Routes to Schools. 
• $7,870,000 for complete streets over the next 10 years. 
• $180,000 a year for shared-use path improvements and $10,000 a year for trail maintenance.
• $350,000 spread over 3 out-years for bicycle parking at the city's Metrorail and transit stations.
• $450,000 this year to construct safety improvements on the Mount Vernon Trail where trail width and conflicts with vehicles make non-motorized travel unsafe. Preliminary engineering for this project began in 2011. A property survey has been completed, and the next step will be to move the project to the 30% design phase. Right-of-ways may be needed and the plans for the Gen-On property may affect the project. Construction is not expected to begin until at least FY 2015. 

Comments

[Jonathan Krall]

This is good news, though much of this is in the long range plan and things could change. The big news here is the support for an update to the Master Plan, the money for Complete Streets and the continued support Capital Bikeshare. These mark a change in Alexandria's previous trails-centric approach.

Much of the rest is follow-through on old plans from the trails-centric approach. The Transportation Commission deserves credit for recognizing that these are high return, low cost investments when compared to the transit-corridor development that is also in the works; many have been in the long-range plans for years and are being moved forward. The trail improvements are important to fill gaps and to upgrade Holmes Run to a level where you won't fear for your nice work clothing if you use it, but it is the on-street network that has the potential to get more people out of their cars.

[Purple Eagle]

Is the "Holmes Run upgrade" for the un-bridged gap (at the creek) in the trail? Does it change the "low water crossings" further north?

[JJ]

CaBi expansion to Del Ray could not come soon enough. There is a huge untapped demand for people getting off at Braddock Road and then biking to Del Ray, either for work commute or to just explore the neighborhood. A great location would be at St. Elmo's or Evening Star Cafe. If there is to be only one station in Del Ray initially, I hope it will be a very large station.

[Jonathan Krall]

@Purple Eagle, By the gap at the creek, do you mean near Chambliss St? If so, that bridge is being built right now with different funds (it should be done this spring, I think). And the low water crossings (aka fair weather crossings) further north are in Fairfax.

[Jonathan Krall]

@JJ Please stay tuned on the CaBi expansion. We are told there will be one of more public meetings to get input. And I completely agree--adding stations in Del Ray should build ridership and enthusiasm for more stations.

[rek]

According to the budget document, the HRT work (which is $6.5M total) is for the segment from North Ripley St to the 395 tunnel. Basically the concrete section, which is decaying.

That said, it doesn't say what this upgrade will entail. Much of the funding allocation was for FY13. I haven't seen much activity there yet, but I usually take the urban trail (Pegram to Richenbacher/Sanger) instead so I don't go through there often. Is a bigger tunnel with better drainage too much to hope for? A bridge to replace the concrete stream crossing? Or a smooth ramp up to the even-numbered side of HRP (in addition to the existing staircase)?

[Purple Eagle]

@Jonathan and rek, thanks for the updates. I don't get over that way often - glad to hear the bridge is already under construction (and yes, I was talking about the gap at Chambliss St).

[Jonathan Krall]

@Rek, I asked about the Holmes run plan ans was told "This project has not started detailed design yet, however, it generally includes trail upgrades on the Holmes Run Trail between North Ripley Street to under I-395, and the addition of a trail bridge at North Ripley Street across to Holmes Run Parkway, where currently there is a crossing that frequently is covered with water."

[rek]

Thanks for the info, Jonathan. This is good news. Between this and the Chambliss crossing project, Holmes Run may become a much more viable route for bicycle commuters soon.