DDOT's Rock Creek area livability studies

This year, DDOT has held two meetings - in February and May -  on their Rock Creek Far West Livability Study. Studies like these can form one of the first steps to changes on the ground and so their important stepping stones to protected bike lanes, road diets and other projects that make streets safer, greener and more conducive to walking and biking. Officially:

The Rock Creek Far West Livability Study will identify opportunities for safer travel for residents and visitors to the neighborhoods in the study area. The purpose of the study is to enhance the quality of life of the community through improvements to transportation safety and connections to destinations. This study will also align with Mayor Bowser’s Vision Zero Initiative, which has an objective to reach zero fatalities and serious injuries to travelers of the District’s transportation system by 2024.

The study area covers DC's Western corner, including the Palisades, from the C&O Canal to Massachusetts Avenue. 

After the first meeting, ANC 3D sent a letter supporting a bicycle trail along Nebraska Ave, bicycle lanes along Rockwood Parkway and Loughboro Road, and a PBL along Nebraska, Loughboro and Arizona all the way to Canal Road. 

At the 2nd meeting they presented draft recommendations. These included

• A road diet on Dalecarlia Parkway that then allows for more space for pedestrians and cyclists
• Make 48th between MacArthur and V into a "shared street"
• Provide new connections to the Capital Crescent Trail (CCT) at Arizona and Norton
• Improve Tunlaw Road for cyclists
• Add a PBL to Loughboro/Nebraska; bike boulevards to 49th, Glenbrook and and Rockwood Parkway, a bike facility on 37th and a sidepath on Massachusetts Avenue

I pretty much only bike through the area the way most people do - on the CCT, canal towpath or MacArthur. Occasionally I ride Massachusetts and I'd probably use a sidepath in the uphill direction. I'm surprised the Palisades trolley trail isn't one of the recommendations and that there isn't more in the southern part of the study area. 

It's a shame that trails aren't included in the Glover-Archibald corridor, Battery Kemble corridor or the green corridor south of Fulton that connects them. Or the Whitehaven Parkway for that matter. 

A third meeting should happen in August or September, but the best way to make comments before then would be to use the interactive map.

And more time critical, DDOT is doing a study on the east side of Rock Creek Park and holding a meeting on it this week (June 12). You can see the map of existing and proposed bike facilities for that area here. 

Comments

[Contrarian]

I think the reason the trolley trail isn't part of this study is that there is already a feasibility study of the trolley trail ongoing.

[Brett Young]

As Contrarian pointed out, Trolley Trail is part of its own Feasibility Study.
Both DDOT reps of each respective projects are communicating to each other.

[Brett Young]

Okay, also to add:
I have talked with head of this project about Whitehaven Parkway where GW Mt Vernon campus could have a connection to the Trolley trail via Hutchins Place.
I mentioned this to them and I think they have added it to their study going forward.

[Brett Young]

"It's a shame that trails aren't included in the Glover-Archibald corridor, Battery Kimble corridor or the green corridor south of Fulton that connects them."

Can you elaborate on this sentence?

NPS wont permit cycling on these trails. And I wouldn't support bike trails in those woods. Too much distribution to the woods.

[Contrarian]

Distribution?

[Brett Young]

Oops.
Wish I could go back and edit posts.

I meant to say
"too much disturbance to the woods"

[washcycle]

Is it not unfortunate that we can't build trails there even if the reasons are valid?

[Brett Young]

If you're ever interested come over to the Palisades and we'll take a walk together:
Through the woods, make a left to walk to Battery Kimble, then south to the trolley trail and back.
I think when we're done with that walk, I think you'll agree with me that the woods wouldn't be idea for adding a bike path.....and it would also be a great walk.
It's about 4 miles.
I recorded the walk for Alltrails.com
You can view it here:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/palisades-glover-archbold-loop?p=-1

[washcycle]

I've hiked battery Kemble before. I'm not disagreeing with you about the possibility. I'm only saying that it's unfortunate. Like I know Lincoln was murdered, but it was also unfortunate.

Glover Archbald is another story. That could add a bike path.

[Crickey]

Macaaaaarthur.

[Brett Young]

@Crickey
So not even this study proposes Macarthur.....nor does anyone who post public comments pushes Macarthur Blvd as a solution.
The only real solution for Macarthur Blvd is removing parking on either one or both sides of the street.
The uproar would big bigger than the trolley trail.

And for me, I still ask, where would they park their cars? I am not sure if the side streets would properly compensate.

[Adam]

"sidepath on the uphill"

Astute observation, and one that could only come from actual cyclists. Pennsylvania Ave has a short segment like this between Branch and Alabama and it's pretty decent. (The only problem is that the ramp onto the path is littered with street furniture, hard to negotiate at cycling speed.)

[washcycle]

Even MoveDC doesn't show a bike facility on MacArthur. Not that I would oppose removing parking from that road for a bike lane (or really, any other).

[Crickey]

I suspect very strongly that the feasibility study for the Trolley Trail will come back with a negative recommendation. And then there will be a big area unserved by bike/mixed use infra, with no plans for any. That is not a good situation. By all means, press from the infra you want. But also start thinking about Plan B.

[Brett Young]

@Crickey
Unless you work for DDOT I'm going to disagree with you.
The trolley trail was on the Wemove blueprint for the city a little before I got involved in pushing for it.
We both agree the area is under-served.
We both seem to agree that the CCT is not enough.
DDOT will finish its feasibility study by beginning of Sept. We'll know by then if they are going to do this project.