Latest version of the Arlington Bike Plan drops some facilities

It's not available on line just yet, but ArlNow is reporting that the soon-to-be released version of the Arlington County bicycle plan will drop a few facilities that were included in the draft. 

During this latest revision, the county dropped its proposal for an off-street, half-mile trail connecting 6th Street S. to S. Quincy Street in the Alcova neighborhood at S. Oakland Street. The trail became a point of controversy because it could mean 6th Street residents lose some backyard privacy, and the county would cut down some important trees.

That's the green dashed line from the map, below

Another nixed idea was to extend the Four Mile Run Trail a half mile to connect with Claremont Elementary and Wakefield High. The Audubon Society wrote a letter in January warning that the proposal could cause “potential harm” to the rare magnolia ecosystem in the area.

Which I guess is, again, the green dashed line, but seems more like a path beneath the power lines at Chesterfield Road

Another plan that became bogged down was a Glencarlyn/Hospital Trail connecting Glencarlyn and Forest Hills neighborhoods via the old site of the Northern Virginia Community Hospital. The half-mile project was envisioned by Viola’s team as a “low-stress route” between Arlington Boulevard and Columbia Pike because it could link up with other bikeways on S. Lexington Street, S. Carlin Springs Road, and 5th Road S.

The Audubon Society wrote that a trail passing through the old hospital site would “destroy valuable natural resources” in the conservation area that protects Long Branch Creek.

That sounds like the green dashed line in this part of the map

As a compromise, Viola’s team suggested instead widening the sidewalk on the east side of Carlyn Springs Road, so bikes and pedestrians can share.

None of these losses are to be celebrated, but the plan as a whole is still very good. 

Comments

[ACyclistInThePortCIty]

I agree with your last sentence. There is enough in the list of projects that if removing these from the list enables others to move up, that still probably does not get them to the end of the entire list. I am more concerned with seeing them actually advance the remaining projects on the list (I mean they have done a lot, but often it seems pretty slow compared to needs - for example the big projects on the Arlington Loop - grade seperation at the IOD and at Shirlington Road)

[that guy]

In general, I think lanes or trails that are out in the open instead of going through secluded areas are better for security (and the perception of security) and public awareness that they exist.

[Ren]

I'm happy to see more caution around protection of the natural resources of Glencarlyn. But speaking of cycling around Glencarlyn, what it really needs is a bikeshare station!