Arlington's Public Spaces Master Plan and the "Zachary Taylor Trail"

Since I last wrote about the Arlington County Public Spaces Master Plan, the Preliminary Draft was made public and received public comments (It may have been out before my post, but it was close). Not much changed in the way of trails, and most of the comments on the trails were positive and there hasn't been much discussion of the trails section at the committee meetings since then. 

Unsurprisingly, the Public Spaces plan has sections dedicated to trails and their expansion as all three of the fastest growing fitness activities in the US are related to biking and running; and Hiking trails and paved, multi-use trails are the highest and third highest
priorities for investment in outdoor facilities, respectively, based on responses from the statistically valid survey. The heart of the trails section is still the creation of a pair of loops through the County, an outer loop and an inner loop which will overlap in places with each other and the existing "Arlington Loop" (made up of the MVT, Custis and FMR trails). Surveys show that people want more trails, with better connectivity and better signage. 

One thing that I was surprised to find out is that there is a whole trail I've never heard of in Arlington, and it's not new. It's been there for years. I'm talking about the Zachary Taylor Trail in the north part of the County and I've never heard of it or seen it before. I don't even know who I am right now. How have I never heard of a trail named for one of our lessor presidents (though it does appear to have only been paved sometime between 2009 and 2012)? This is very disturbing. 

Anyway that trail would help make up the northern part of the Outer Loop. 

Other goals are to

1. evaluate opportunities to create better connections across boundaries like the GW Parkway, I-395 and Arlington Cemetery 
2. Connect Long Bridge Park to the MV Trail
3. Creating safe routes to parks by filling in gaps in sidewalks and trails
4. Create better connections with trails outside the County
5. Expand trail use monitoring
6. Complete and clarify trail design standards
7. Use striping on trails to keep traffic moving in opposite directions
8. Ensure paved trails are wide enough for passing
9. Explore new ways to inform trail users about etiquette
10. Separate modes where space allows
11. Develop learn to ride areas
12. Provide public wi-fi at trailheads
13. Name all trail segments with descriptive names
14. Develop common trail signage
15. Add location identifiers at regular intervals
16. Improve wayfinding signage at trailheads
17. Advocate for National Park Service trails to be connected to County trails and maintained to the agreed upon maintenance standards
18. Revise and review trail maintenance standards
19. Consider leasing, on a temporary or permanent basis, land adjacent to trails at trailheads for concessions (e.g., cafes, bike rentals) to increase revenue.
20. Include park access planning in transportation planning efforts in order to ensure sufficient transit service to major parks and trails

The current state of trails can be seen on the map below.

The plan also mentions other bike relevant projects like Long Bridge Park, seating, water fountains, 

We can expect the Final Draft Plan sometime this spring coinciding with another round of public meetings. 

Comments

[Doda]

One of the reasons that you have not heard of the Taylor trail is because it is a LOUSY trail for cyclist traffic. It is right next to an elementary school, it is heavily used by children and by people walking dogs. Just like cyclists thing it is not wonderful to take small children and dogs on the WOD and Custis - it is not wonderful to take cyclist traffic on a trail that is local and filled with conflicting traffic. Taylor and Donaldson are wonderful trails. But they are wonderful for non bike traffic. Bike traffic already wonderfully flows through that area on the military road lanes and the hills. Cyclists going through Taylor would be a recipe for some serious accidents.

[huskerdont]

As Doda says, the ZT trail is not suitable for any sort of cycling traffic except maybe the occasional, careful rider cutting through, and the streets would still be the better option. It's rutted in places toward the bottom because it's not paved, and it's steep, bumpy, and curvy at the top where it is paved. We walk the dog here all the time and rarely see cyclists, and even though I've lived near it for 20+ years I think I've only ever biked on it once, on a mountain bike in the snow. In my opinion, it's a mistake by the county to even have bike route signs up and call it a multi-use/bike trail, and I think it must only have been done to pad the numbers.

[washcycle]

Well ZTT lovers, it looks like the County plans to make it into a major trail on par with Custis, MVT and FMR. Hold onto your dogs.

[Crickey]

I can see the apocalypse.