The transportation planning officially approved Visualize 2045, the federally mandated, long-range transportation plan for the National Capital Region, on Oct 17th.
For the first time, in addition to projects that the region’s transportation agencies expect to be able to afford between now and 2045, the plan includes aspirational projects, programs, and policies that go beyond financial constraints. Though the focus of the financially constrained element (those items they expect to be able to afford) is on regionally significant road and transit projects, Visualize 2045 also highlights bicycle and pedestrian projects, freight planning, and other transportation programs aimed at reducing congestion and improving air quality.
The aspirational initiatives are:
1. Bring jobs and housing closer together
2. Expand bus rapid transit regionwide
3. Move more people on Metrorail
4. Increase telecommuting and other options for commuting
5. Expand the express highway network
6. Improve walk and bike access to transit
7. Complete the National Capital Trail - a circumferential route around the core of the region
With the glaring exception of 5, this is the framework of a partial Vision Zero plan. Because as I've mentioned getting people to drive less is the best way to reduce road deaths.
Here are some highlights from the report.
They talk about CaBi.
Capital Bikeshare has grown from 1,100 bikes at 114 stations in the District of Columbia and Arlington County, to over 4,300 bikes at 500 stations in five jurisdictions today. Over this time, the number of annual trips taken on the system has more than doubled
from 1.5 million per year to over 3.7 million.
Listed under the CLRP for highway projects in DC
Lane Reductions/Reconfigurations for Bicycle Lanes, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024
And under transit projects is this:
DC Dedicated Bicycle Lane Network, 2019, 2024 ($800k)
DDOT is proposing adding six new segments to its existing bicycle path network. The following projects will remove one or more traffic lanes to allow for separated bicycle lanes.
• Pennsylvania Ave. SE from 2nd St./Independence Ave. to Barney Circle (1.3 miles) - This project will connect the Anacostia River Trail with bicycle lanes through Capitol Hill to the downtown core. In addition, it will provide cyclist access to bike lanes on Pennsylvania Ave west of the Capitol, and to the Metropolitan Branch Trail. It will reduce off-peak lane capacity from 6 to 4 lanes between 2nd and 14th Streets. During peak hours the existing 6 lanes will be utilized. Between 14th Street and Barney Circle, rush hour lane capacity will be reduced from 8 lanes to 6 lanes; the 6 lane off-peak capacity would be unchanged.
• 17th St. NW from New Hampshire Ave. to K St. (<1 mile) - Install two-way protected bike lane on 17th Street NW. This would replace the existing southbound-only conventional bike lane currently in place between New Hampshire Avenue NW and Massachusetts Avenue NW, and continue south to K Street NW. This project is intended to increase bicycle accessibility on a busy corridor for bicycling, and to provide an alternative facility to the congested 15th Street NW protected bike lane.
• K St. from 7th St. NW to 1st St. NE (<1 mile) - Install bike lanes (protected in places) along K Street NW/NE. This bikeway would connect Downtown, NoMa, and the Mt Vernon Triangle.
• K St. from 1st St. NE to Florida Ave. NE (<1 mile) - Road diet to remove peak hour parking restrictions and provide full time parking along project limits. Peak hour restrictions are directional, 3 to 2 lane. Bicycle lanes will be provided between 1st St NE and 6th St NE. Reduction of one eastbound portal under rail (between 1st and 2nd Sts) to a provide two-way cycle track is currently under consideration with some opposition.
• Irving St. from Warder St. NW to Michigan Ave. NE (1 mile) - Install protected bike lanes on Irving Street NE/NW. This bikeway would connect through McMillan-Old Soldier’s Home to Brookland.
• New York Ave. NE from Florida Ave. to Bladensburg Rd. (2.3 miles) -The New York Avenue Streetscape and Trail Project is a 30% design plan to install streetscape improvements including lighting, new sidewalk connections, landscaping, traffic signals and signage and a raised cycletrack along New York Avenue NE from Florida Avenue NE to Bladensburg Road NE.
Elsewhere
Walking and biking are forecast to increase at much higher rates than any other mode of travel
Also mentioned:
Backlick Run Multi-use trail Phase 1, From Booth Park Base Ball field to Van Dorn St.
Addendum: This has been covered in both the Washington Post and the Times.
Another idea: creating a “beltway” for bicycles by adding more than 20 miles to a network of trails dubbed the National Capital Trail. As a bonus, the trail would connect bike commuters to dozens of rail stations.
The plan has seven main goals, five of which aim to reduce car trips and increase people’s access to buses, bike trails and pedestrian paths. A key provision calls for completing the so-called “bicycle beltway” — the National Capital Trail — 60 miles of interconnected biking and walking pathways that will encircle the central portion of the greater Washington area.
“Currently, 21 miles of the trail have not yet been constructed and three miles need to be upgraded,” the Visualize 2045 plan states.
Didn't they also approve substantial funding for the Foundry Trestle Bridge and the CC trail head under the Key Bridge?
Posted by: Brendan | October 23, 2018 at 04:28 PM
They did, at the same meeting, but not as part of Visualize 2045.
Posted by: washcycle | October 23, 2018 at 04:49 PM
Palisades (Glen Echo) Trolley Trail Preliminary Design
District Department of Transportation, $600,000
This project will complete preliminary designs for the first phase of a multi-use trail along a
former streetcar line that originally connected Georgetown to Glen Echo Park. Much of this
project will focus on the rehabilitation of the Historic Foundry Trestle Bridge, originally built in
1886, and currently in a state of deterioration. In addition, the project will develop designs for
the first phase of the proposed Palisades (Glen Echo) Trolley Trail, providing access between
Foxhall Road, Canal Road, and Georgetown. which was included in DDOT’s 2005 bicycle Master
Plan and in DDOT’s 2015 moveDC long-range plan. The segment covered by this first phase,
which is 3.5 miles in length, is between Foxhall Road and Prospect Street, NW. The project is
within the Georgetown Activity Center and across the river from the Rosslyn Activity Center. It is
less than ½ mile from the National Capital Trail.
Posted by: washcycle | October 23, 2018 at 04:51 PM