The second community meeting on the Capital Crescent - Little Falls Trail Connector is tonight. Here's a link to my post on the first meeting.
The objective is to improve safety, efficiency and reduce conflicts on current route used by bikers near the Bethesda Pool and adjacent parking lot. The connector plan includes the crossing of Hillandale Road.
The meeting is from 7-9pm at:
Bethesda Chevy Chase Regional Services Center
Room A/B
4805 Edgemoor Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
The presentation from the last meeting has more detailed views of the options.
Option A is $345,000, 525 foot long trail with an 18' vertical gain that goes just north of the pool. Other than Hillendale Road it will require no other grade crossings. It would require ~350 feet of decking in the center section, as well as the removal of 3 large trees and pass through a stream buffer. It was the favorite option of the public at the first meeting and scored the best in the assessment.
Option B is a $325,000, 880 foot long trail with a 12 foot gain built between the pool grounds and the roadway. In addition to crossing Hillendale, it has three grade crossings of pool parking lot entrances. It is not a particularly scenic or direct route, but it is cheapest and has the lowest environmental impact.
Option C goes north along Willett Parkway to cross Hillendale at a point farther north than A and B do, then passes just south of the Kenwood Forrest II Condo Building connecting to the trail with a staircase and switchback.It's a $525,000, 700 feet long trail with a 21 foot gain. It cuts down on environmental impact by using Willett Parkway, but requires the construction of a new bridge (requiring Army Corps of Engineers involvement), crosses Hillendale on a curve and passing through a parking lot. It was the least desirable option for those at Meeting #1.
To compensate for the added pavement, a micro-bioretention facility or a pair of rain gardens will be built in the pool's parking lot.
Here's an artist rendering of Option A.
And an elevation...
Personally, I agree that Option A is the best and I'm glad to see that it is likely what will be built.
They hope to finish design in the spring and sent it out for bid at that time.
[I have to pull this out of the meeting notes for obvious reasons: "Light pollution from a traffic control device for the trail connector crossing at Hillandale could negatively affect firefly breeding habitats in the vicinity"]
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