VDOT releases recommended changes to U.S. Bike Route 1 in NoVa

VDOT has released its recommendations for realigning U.S. Bike Route 1 in the Northern Virginia District.

The alignment of United States Bicycle Route 1 is being updated. US Bike Route 1 was established in 1982. Due to new development in Northern Virginia, the current routing of USBR 1 needs to be re-evaluated along with any possible alternates. The project study area extends from the 14th Street Bridge in Arlington County to the southern boundary of Prince William County. This study will include a detailed signing plan and cost estimate for future implementation. 

Among the recommendations are that

• In Alexandria, the Main Route would follow the Mt. Vernon Trail, while a bypass (or business) route would use divert from the trail onto Royal and then to Wilkes and back to the trail via the railroad tunnel at Windmill Hill Park. 

• At Fort Belvoir they recommend moving the Main Route off of Route 1, where it currently is, and onto the soon-to-open Mulligan Road and then Telegraph Road. It is less direct, but Mulligan will have a sidepath, and Telegraph has bike lanes. It will also be outside of the base's security perimeter.

• They also make recommendations in the town of Occoquan, where they recommend Union Street/Tanyard Hill Road and in Prince William County, where they recommend Minnieville Road to Prince William Parkway to Hoadly Road. But that gets a little out of my area. 

There is a survey on the recommendations that will be open until May 5th.

Comments

[T]

I generally agree with their plans although I think it's kind of funny that it's the Rt 1 bike way in FFX County or Alexandria City that spends nearly 0 time on Rt 1 (Union, MVT, Mulligan-to-Telegraph).

As for the move around the base, unless you go through the base (almost always permitted save POTUS' golf days), it makes sense. That's really not a fun stretch of Rt 1 on bike. One harrowing adventure was enough for me there because I decided luck helped me avoid getting hit more than the blinkies, neon green, etc etc. Plus the base is very pleasant.

[Mike]

when you sit down and look through the options it really highlights what a lousy job VDOT has done in developing shared infrastructure in NoVA. Especially the PWC segments.

[Jonathan Krall]

@T, FWIW, the US Bike Route system is only superficially similar to the US Highway system. I don't think they are meant to be tied together.