Fletcher's Cove makeover will create separate entrance/routes for pedestrians and cyclists.

Earlier this month, NPS held a meeting about a ideas to redesign the Fletcher's cove entrance, roads and parking lots. The project will have a small impact on the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT) and C&O Canal towpath and comments are due May 15th, so if you feel strongly, I suggest you get on it quickly. 

The purpose of the proposed project is to provide more direct and safer transportation connections between Canal Road and the Fletcher’s Boathouse, the C&O Canal towpath, and the Capital Crescent Trail. Some of the problems they've identified are that the single-lane entrance isn't safe; the culvert under the canal has a low clearance that doesn't allow for large work trucks, firetrucks, ambulances or river rescue vehicles to pass through, and it is hard for pedestrians or those with ADA needs to get through the area. 

They've come up with 4 Alternatives with some sub-options for 5 total different designs, with some similar designs and some differences. All five will build a new motor vehicle entrance and make the existing ramp into a bicycle/pedestrian only entrance. All five build a new bike/ped crossing from the ramp, over the road to the lower parking lot, to the bike/ped bridge over the canal to the towpath and the trail. They all update the culvert bridge over Maddox Branch to the latest standard. But then after that they have various differences.

Alternative 1A

Alternative 1 sends vehicles that can't use the culvert, across the existing bridge over the canal with a modified landing for the bridge. The CCT will then be modified to create ramps up and down to that landing. It uses the existing road culvert (tunnel) for vehicles, pedestrian, and bicycle access between the upper and lower parking lots. It removes the stairs on the river side of the CCT and replaces it with a new ramp for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency and maintenance vehicles.

Alternative 1B

Alternative 1B also sends vehicles that can't use the culvert, across the existing bridge over the canal with a modified landing for the bridge. But then those vehicles would drive down the CCT to a ramp to the lower lot that is further south. It uses the existing road culvert (tunnel) for vehicles, pedestrian, and bicycle access between the upper and lower parking lots. 

Alternative 2

Alternative 2 also sends vehicles that can't use the culvert, across the existing bridge over the canal with a modified landing for the bridge then down the CCT to a ramp to the lower lot. But then the existing road culvert (tunnel) would become a pedestrian and bicycle only facility. Drivers would get a new bridge over the canal, towpath and trail.  

Alternative 3

Alternative 3 would build the motor vehicle bridge over the canal, towpath trail but it would serve all motor vehicles (keeping the large ones off the trail and existing bridge). The existing road culvert (tunnel) would become a pedestrian and bicycle only facility as in Alternative 2.

Alternative 4 

Alternative 4 would build a bridge over the canal, towpath and trail, but do so farther south. That new bridge would not serve emergency or maintenance vehicles, and they would instead use the existing bridge and a new ramp down to the lower parking lot, as would cyclists and pedestrians. The stairs would be removed, and the existing road culvert (tunnel) would become a pedestrian and bicycle only facility as in Alternative 2. The CCT will, like in 1A, then be modified to create ramps up and down to the new landing. 

There are some good things and bad things here. The improved entrance off of Canal Road is a big improvement for vulnerable users, and the possibility of getting exclusive use of the culvert is nice. It will be inconvenient to have vehicles on the trail, but it will be a worthy sacrifice to make sure people get the emergency help they need. The bridge over the trails, and the ramps will be disliked, for good reason, but have small impact. 

One opportunity here has to do with the culvert bridge over Maddox Branch. There has often been talk of continuing the Battery Kemble hiking trail under Canal Road through the tunnel Maddox Branch uses, and some have even wanted to use it to connect the Palisades Trolley Trail to the CCT and C&O. If there is any real interest in doing that, then THIS is the opportunity to make it possible. Building the bridge with a plan to accommodate a trail connection will make the whole thing more doable. 

Comments

[Crickey]

Alternative 3 seems the best to me. I dislike the notion of vehicles going along the CCT a lot; even crossing at grade is problematic.

[Purple Eagle]

Would be great to provide a better connection under the bridge along Maddox Branch. Not sure it can be made into a bikeable trail easily. Steep singletrack/hiking trail up through Battery Kemble past the bridge. Right now it's possible to follow the creek under the bridge on foot but it's dicey.

[washcycle]

My thoughts too. A narrow path with a handrail could be added, but people would need to walk their bikes. I doubt it could be made ADA compliant either.

[washcycle]

Alternative 3 is the one I supported in my comment.

[contrarian]

None of these proposals address the problems with the site from a pedestrian or cyclist access viewpoint, which is that the current access sucks.

Non-motorized access would remain the same as it is today, via the ramp. I guess it's not shared with motorized vehicles any more, but I've never found that to be an issue. The issue is that your choices are to come down Reservoir road or under Canal Road through the Maddux Run tunnel. Reservoir road is steep and narrow and has heavy traffic. The sidewalk is narrow, poorly maintained and has utility poles in the middle. The intersection with Canal is scary. Adding a signal a few years ago was a dramatic improvement, but it improved it from terrifying to merely frightening.

The tunnel is scary and only for the fit and strong in the best conditions, if it's wet or icy it's downright dangerous.

I've never had any issues getting around on foot or bicycle once across Canal Road, it's getting across road that is the issue.

In general C&O has a very car-centric layout, it's hard to get in on foot or by bike. It's a shame that this effort seems entirely dedicated to making it easier for drivers to access it and doesn't address the real issues for pedestrians and cyclists.

[washcycle]

I think the primary purpose is to make the lower lot accessible by emergency and maintenance vehicles. Everything else flows from that. DDOT is a partner and I thought I read something about things they would do to canal Road, but now I can't recall what that was.

[Contrarian]

DDOT had been working on a major restructuring of Canal Road for at least five years, which would have included pedestrian improvements at Fletcher's and Arizona Avenue. But last fall the entire project was abruptly cancelled.

[Brett Young]

I've been thinking about this over the weekend and while I will probably be pushing for a bridge from the Trolley trail to Fletcher's, I was asking myself in the car this morning:
Why not get rid of the parking there completely. Its a huge parking lot....the 2nd biggest on the canal after Great Falls.
Access is poor by car. And except for holidays, its largely empty.
Why not just remove auto access completely?

[Contrarian]

They need parking for the customers for the boat house. Probably not as much as they have now though.