Montgomery County studies more protected bike lanes

Having installed it's first ever protected bike lane on Woodglen Avenue late last year, Montgomery County has continued to propose other locations for such facilities, including those that replace or connect to the Capital Crescent Trail. 

In October of 2014, MCDOT proposed a protected bike lane (or cycle track) on Woodmont Avenue.

The cycle track would stretch from the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Avenue south toward Bethesda Row. Wolanin said engineers have determined they can take out the existing lane of curbside meter parking and put in the cycle track without much effect on vehicle congestion levels.

Cycletracks could also make up a large part off the surface route for the Capital Crescent Trail should the Purple Line be built, moving the trail out of the tunnel in Bethesda. 

the “gold standard” concept would allow for a buffered, two-way cycle track along Willow Lane (just east of Wisconsin Avenue). The curbside meter parking spots would remain, but inside of the cycle track

One of the concepts includes a separate crosswalk for bicyclists across Wisconsin Avenue, a few feet north of the existing pedestrian crosswalk. One of the concepts includes a two-way cycle track along the north side of Bethesda Avenue, between Wisconsin Avenue and Woodmont Avenue.

Yet another concept would provide for buffered bike lanes on both sides of Woodmont Avenue south of Bethesda Avenue, meaning bicyclists using the trail would cross Wisconsin Avenue at Leland Street instead of Bethesda Avenue/Willow Lane.

Finally, in December Toole Design finished work on two conceptual designs for the Connecticut Avenue Cycletrack between Manor Road and Chevy Chase Lake Drive. This would go a block north and south from the Capitol Crescent Trail, which would pass over Connecticut if/when the Purple Line is completed. 

The preferred alternative would bring a 12-foot, two-way cycle track separated from Connecticut Avenue by a six-foot tree buffer and separated from the sidewalk by another six-foot tree buffer.

The constrained alternative would involve an 11-foot, two-way cycle track separated from Connecticut Avenue by a three-foot vegetation buffer and separated from the sidewalk by a six-foot tree buffer.

But those are only possible if the proposed Purple Line station there is redesigned. 

The plans also include a “Purple Line Very Constrained” scenario for both alternatives. Allowing for the space the Planning Department prefers would mean adjusting the design of the Purple Line station because of the bridge carrying the light rail set to go over Connecticut Avenue.

If that design remains as proposed, the cycle track under the bridge would have “minimal buffers,” only three feet from vehicle traffic on Connecticut Avenue and three-feet from the pedestrian sidewalk, divided by a fence.

Comments

[Jack Cochrane]

For more on Woodmont Ave, you can check out my posts on CycleMoco:
http://cyclemoco.com/2015/01/woodmont-ave-cycle-track-options/
and
http://cyclemoco.com/2015/01/woodmont-ave-bikeway-options-north-of-old-georgetown-road/

[Brett Y]

I bike there all the time up from DC.
A two way bike lane and leave it a one way street is idea.
I agree with MCDOT that a bike lane on Arlington RD is not idea.

[Jack]

@Brett Y, I'm interested in hearing why you think bike lanes on Arlington Road aren't a good idea.