As part of the Virginia Avenue Tunnel Project, Virginia Avenue was rebuilt with a trail from 9th to 2nd SE that has separate spaces for pedestrians and cyclists - similar to what's at the Wharf. This was finished in early January. Technically this is a part of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, but DDOT has been referring to it as a separate trail.
The trail won't be all finished until the section from 9th to 11th - the part that goes through Virginia Avenue Park - is complete; and that won't happen until additional road work on the I-395 off ramp is completed later this year. This will leave the end about a block away from the ART's 11th Street Trailhead.
On the west end, though the trail goes away, there's a new block of H Street SE between 2nd and New Jersey and it has wide sidewalks on both sides that should be suitable for trail users.
JDLand reports that the developers of the land on the other side of New Jersey Avenue are getting their paperwork in to begin work there. This work will extend H Street west and 1st street north, but more importantly it will also develop the land beneath and on the other side of 695. It would be great to extend the Virginia Ave Trail to South Capital Street. Unfortunately, she reports that the zoning orders reserves this space for hotel guests and residents.
"The Applicant shall fully embrace and utilize the area underneath the freeway for amenity spaces that will be reserved for use by hotel guests and residents of the project."
I can't imagine that there is some use for the 15 feet closest to the RR tracks that would be better than a MUT or why reserving the property for the use of guests and residents is a good idea. But what do I know.
On the upside, the zoning order makes other demands for cycling.
The Applicant shall start a dialogue with DDOT regarding the creation of a protected bike lane on the south-bound side of New Jersey Avenue, S.E
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