Some big announcements coming out of PG County. First of all Capital Bikeshare is expected to come to the northern and southern parts of the county as early as next spring. And it will expand into College Park in 2019 as the MBike contract expires.
Karyn McAlister, the bicycle and pedestrian program manager with the county, gave a presentation to the Hyattsville City Council on April 3 about the upcoming addition of bike sharing to the county. The county has selected Capital Bikeshare for the county program and stations are anticipated as early as spring of 2018.
Over the past two years, Prince George’s County initiated and held a feasibility study to launch a bike share program. Since the completion of the study, the county has been working on developing a phased plan for an area of 36 square miles that includes the county’s hubs, such as National Harbor, cities bordering the District of Columbia like Mount Rainier, and transit areas such as Hyattsville.
[Hyattsville] will likely engage in talks about specific locations this fall, according to council documents. City staff will brief the council in Fall 2017 on specific recommended locations prior to the locations being finalized for Spring 2018 installation
Overall, the county plans to install 67 stations and 670 bikes over the next several years in five phases. The first phase will include 25 stations with 250 bikes throughout parts of Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, Brentwood, Riverdale Park, Cottage City, Colmar Manor, Bladensburg and National Harbor.
“The county’s plan is to roll out Phase 1 and 1a next spring, 2018. Phase 2 is anticipated in 2019 and would coincide with M Bike’s contract expiring,” McAlister said, explaining that the expansion into College Park would be at the same time the current bike share program in the city is set to expire.
Hyattsville is in Phase 1 of the rollout of the Capital Bikeshare program in Prince George’s County, and McAlister came before the council to discuss the partnership and what role the city will play in the process.
Perhaps by then the gap in the Trolley Trail at Riverdale Station will be filled. In a hopeful sign, the Whole Foods at the development opens today.
The first Whole Foods Market in Prince George’s County will open April 12 on Baltimore Avenue in Riverdale Park. The 40,000-square-foot store will be the primary anchor for Riverdale Park Station, the mixed-use development by Calvin Cafritz Enterprises that includes 160,000 feet of retail space and 37,000 square feet of office space.
I keep neglecting to read the PG County budget for next Fiscal Year. Did they include this in there, that's crucial?
Posted by: hlinak | April 12, 2017 at 09:16 AM
Latest I've heard is that the trolley trail gap at the Whole Foods development will remain blocked all spring and summer. There's supposed to be some sort of workaround available "late summer" but the regular trail won't open until 2018.
It's particularly infuriating that the new development will be closed to non-motorized traffic for "safety reasons". Because driving or riding or walking next to Route 1 has proven to be so "safe" over the years.
I don't have a problem with fencing off the construction areas, but through bike and walk access needs to be restored. While the old dirt trail was not for everyone, at least you could get through the area without having to divert to Route 1 or over the train tracks. This closure has gone on long enough.
Posted by: Greenbelt | April 12, 2017 at 12:41 PM
The Trolley trail appears to be finished on the north end now too. For several months there was a complete trail through the development/construction area except for a rough ~30m section connecting to the residential area in College Park. I went by there last week and noticed that section has been graded and paved. But a substantial fence and "no trespassing" signs mark the border of the construction site.
It's also frustrating that although a new sidewalk (and maybe there's a bike lane too? I don't remember) runs along route 1 in front of the development, a short section (on the north end, between the development and the College Park border), no more than 50m, has no such accommodation. Uneven/sloped ground adjacent to the curb would make it difficult for peds and impossible for cyclists to traverse this gap.
Posted by: Purple Eagle | April 13, 2017 at 09:25 AM
So there's a trail there, and you can't use it? That's frustrating. Is there anyone with the pull to make them change that. 2018 is a long time to wait.
Posted by: washcycle | April 13, 2017 at 12:14 PM
can you get me photos?
Posted by: washcycle | April 13, 2017 at 12:14 PM
David I will send photos tonight if I get through that area before sundown
Posted by: Greenbelt | April 13, 2017 at 05:03 PM