The National Park Service is involved in two initiatives to improve safety in the GW Parkway Corridor, both of which could make the Mt Vernon Trail (MVT) safer. One project, the Southern GW Parkway Safety Study, is having an Open House tonight that will include Rep. Don Beyer. It will be from 6 to 8 at Walt Whitman Middle School in Alexandria - 2500 Parkers Lane.
Starting today, NPS is collecting comments online from drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and neighbors who use or live near the parkway between the City of Alexandria and Mount Vernon.
I haven't biked that far south on the trail in years, but many of these crossings also serve - or could serve as connections between the communities on the other side of the Parkway and the trail. For example, perhaps a better connection to Belle View Blvd. could be useful. Or at Vernon View Drive. How are the crossings at Wellington Road, Collingwood or Waynewood? Should those be on raised crosswalks (you're leading the witness!)?
Meanwhile on the DC portion of the trail, NPS is moving forward on the Memorial Circle Safety Improvements. That project aims to make Memorial Circle safer and the finalized study recommends moving a few of the trail crosswalks, adding signs and implementing some spot road diets at trail crossings.
Not much has changed since December, but they did respond to some comments about it.
Crosswalk Suggestions. Some commenters expressed concerns over the improvements proposed at crosswalks and made suggestions for additional or alternate improvements for these areas, including implementing safety improvements at crosswalks outside of hotspots, removing stop signs along the Mount Vernon Trail (MVT) at crosswalks, using different types of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), and closing informal social trails.
Response
The NPS reviewed these concerns and suggestions. Some suggestions, such as the type of RRFBs, will be considered as the NPS moves forward with implementation of improvements. One commenter suggested adding improvements for the crosswalk along Washington Boulevard near the channel; however, this crosswalk is outside the scope of this project. A few commenters suggested the NPS address the safety issue of pedestrians and cyclists using an informal social trail to cross the George Washington Memorial Parkway (the Parkway) north of Arlington Memorial Bridge; however, closing of social trails is part of regular NPS operations and is outside of the scope of this project.
The Park Service said it will begin the work once funding is available.
I had to google "raised crosswalks." Between Alexandria Ave and Ft. Hunt Park, the Mt Vernon Trail is on the west side of the GWMP, i.e., Collingwood, Waynewood, and Wellington are all on the west side. So you don't have to cross the GWMP to get on the MVT from those streets. A raised crosswalk could be useful on those streets to slow down cars before they cross the MVT.
More concerning is getting from the westside of the GWMP to the MVT where the MVT runs along the river, e.g., Belleview, Tulane, Vernon View. Belleview is particularly problematic because it has eastbound bike lanes that lead bicyclists to a dangerous GWMP intersection where there are regular car collisions.
Presently, there is only one safe crossing south of Old Town, and that's the stone bridge (Alexandria Ave). Cross the GWMP anywhere else and it's risky. The cars are traveling over the speed limit and there are no lights.
Posted by: freewheel | July 23, 2019 at 02:23 PM