Improving bicycle access to underutilized rail stations in DC

The Transportation Planning Board recently did a study on underutilized Metro/MARC/VRE stations in the DC area to see if they could be modified to make them more accessible by cyclists and pedestrians. By underutilized they mean stations that are serving fewer passengers then they were designed to handle. 

The study began by examining ridership at all 91 Metro stations and several MARC and VRE commuter rail stations throughout the region. Ultimately it identified 25 stations capable of accommodating additional riders that also have the greatest potential to see increased ridership demand in the next decade,

Having identified the 25 stations, the study then looked at potential infrastructure improvements that would make it easier to get to each of the stations on foot or by bicycle.

In all, the study identified more than 3,000 improvements, including new or improved sidewalks, crosswalks, shared-use paths, bike parking, bike lanes, and wayfinding signage. Most of the improvements had already been included in existing local plans and Metro station area plans, though some were identified by a field team organized by the TPB as part of the study.

You can see an interactive map of all 25 stations, with their improvements here. It runs a little slow for me, but it's still filled with a lot of interesting ideas and suggestions. And this list will be used to select projects for federal Transportation Alternatives funding. Here's a link to a spreadsheet with all the projects listed. 

Looking at just one for an example, the Silver Spring Metro station made the list of 25. Near it are severla projects including improved markings at Wayne and Ramsey,improved intersections along East-West highway, a trail along 16th Street, sharrows and a bike trail along Colesville Road, the Metropolitan Branch Trail, sharrows along 2nd, Wayne, Georgia Avenue, etc...

Comments

[Greenbelt]

Greenbelt didn't make the list, despite the lack of bike lanes at all on WMATA property.

[T]

I recently rode by the Silver Spring Metro and used to live back that way. Not very pleasant at all. I still haven't figured out why MoCo is painting lines on GA Ave there. I wouldn't take it and I ride on plenty of streets in the area.

The problem there is they need stuff connecting over East West Highway to the various apartment buildings that direction and up 16th St (well technically called something different in MD) to the Georgia Ave line.

[SJE]

Last I looked, the SS MARC station was not well integrated with the other facilities out there. Another problem with SS is that there is an alternative: Metro.