The Atlantic Gateway Project, which includes replacement of Long Bridge over the Potomac recently received a $165 million FASTLANE grant.
Combined resources for the project, including the federal grant, private investment and other public funding, total $1.4 billion The FASTLANE grant will leverage $565 million in private investments and $710 million in other transportation funds to restore 14 miles of right-of-way to improve reliability and capacity for freight, regional/commuter and intercity passenger rail service. Phase 1 of the project will relieve congestion at Long Bridge and enable the state to acquire the S Line from CSX. The S Line is an abandoned rail corridor that runs from North Carolina to the Richmond, Va., area; public ownership is key for the proposed Southeast High Speed Rail corridor, as well as other transportation projects involving highways and bridges.
The Long Bridge project might include a new bicycle crossing connecting Long Bridge Park and/or the MVT on the Virginia side with Ohio Drive on both sides of East Potomac Park, the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail and/or 12th Street in SW DC. From the Phase I study report:
The Long Bridge study area features a number of pedestrian/bicycle facilities as shown in Figure 5.15. These facilities would connect with pedestrian/bicycle options for each of the Long Bridge alternatives. Key locations from the alternatives include ramp and staircase options to the Mount Vernon Trail in Virginia, two locations on East Potomac Park, and District options along Maine Avenue, SW. Either end of an alternative will also carry pedestrians and bicycles to Long Bridge Park in Virginia and 12th Street, SW, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
there is considerable opportunity for pedestrian/bicycle trips to use a new crossing if destinations are provided in Virginia. These trips only represent the activity of individuals that live or work within the study area. Pedestrian/ bicycle activity related to visitor and recreational activity would add additional demand to moving without a vehicle across a Potomac River alternative.
As with the previous two public meetings, the value of providing pedestrian/bicycle options was considered very important for any alternative that moves forward. Participants wanted the opportunity to travel between the District and Virginia and be provided additional options beyond the current 14th Street Bridge.
Phase I of that study is done and phase II is underway. Phase II should be complete by the end of the summer, which will be followed by...wait for it...phase III. The whole EIS process is to be completed by the end of 2018.
The S line also represents a bicycle project, though not in the DC area. As part of the study they're including a "Greenway Concept" which would build a parallel trail for most of the way between Richmond and Raleigh. It would likely become part of the East Coast Greenway.
A bike connection from Long Bridge Park/MVT to DC would be great. But which will happen first - the Long Bridge or a manned mission to Mars?
Posted by: Observer | July 12, 2016 at 01:46 PM