The intersection of Lynn, Lee Highway and the Custis Trail long ago earned the nickname of "the Intersection of Doom" and, according to the recently released Draft Rosslyn Sector Plan, it could be a long time before it loses that title.
The Draft Plan, updated earlier this month, does include a fix for the intersection, primarily in the form of a Custis Trail underpass beneath Lynn Street, but the implementation of it is labeled as "LONG TERM" which the plan defines as "10 years or longer" before substantial work is anticipated to commence.
After releasing the Draft earlier this year and receiving comments from those who found the long timeline on this fix to be unacceptable, County Staff replied:
A potential underpass is a significant undertaking and will require study before implementation. In the near-term, the plan recommends at-grade improvements, such as curb and signal modifications, as feasible to enhance overall user safety.
The utility of those fixes has been debated, but is unknown as they have not been completed yet.
At a recent County Transportation Commission meeting Staff expressed the opinion that it is appropriate to wait until after the Lynn Street Esplanade and Custis Trail Projects are completed in 2018 before beginning planning for an underpass or other long-term solution at the intersection.
At alternative solution is to reconfigure the exit ramp for the Key Bridge.
If you think this is ridiculous, please direct your comments to [email protected]
Posted by: Chris Slatt | July 13, 2015 at 03:11 PM
Ah the signal modifications. The little nonstandard no-right-turn arrow that lights up right when the light changes to green? Many drivers either don't see it (at that point they're either already going or they're looking toward oncoming traffic), don't understand it, or ignore it. Close calls still occur through here all the time. It's just not a good fix. The intersection needs to be no-turn-on-red all the time.
Mostly what they've done through here is reduce the time cyclists and pedestrians have to get through the intersection. Many drivers pay attention, but you absolutely cannot count on it.
Yes, I'll be writing the board.
Posted by: DE | July 13, 2015 at 03:36 PM
The danger of this intersection became evident 27 years ago in 1988, when the NPS extended the Mt Vernon Trail north of Memorial Drive to Rosslyn Circle. Arlington bicyclists have complained about this intersection for decades, and a "comprehensive" Rosslyn Circle Crossing Study was funded ca. 2000 with a $1 federal (TCSP) grant. This Crossing Study recommended both "short-term" at-grade crossing improvements as well as a trail underpass of Lynn St. The fact that many of the "short-term" recommendations, which were supposedly fully funded ca. 2000, have still not been built indicates that even "short-term" bikeway improvements in Arlington often take more than a decade to implement.
Posted by: Allen Muchnick | July 14, 2015 at 02:53 PM
WABA has sent out one of those "Take Action" emails to its members. Not sure, but maybe it can be found on their website.
Posted by: DE | July 16, 2015 at 08:06 AM