TheWashCycle

Alexandria is updating its Environmental Action Plan

Last year, Alexandria started updating its Environmental Action Plan. 

The Environmental Action Plan is the City's blueprint for creating a thriving, sustainable community. In June 2009, the City adopted the comprehensive Environmental Action Plan 2030, aimed at achieving the vision and principles outlined in the City's Eco-City Charter and ensuring the City continues to move toward environmental sustainability. The update process involves City residents, businesses, staff and the Environmental Policy Commission.

The Environmental Action Plan (EAP) 2030 update is done in two phases. This first phase is for short-term actions recommended within five years to FY 2023.

Biking can play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other transportation-related pollution, so naturally the plan includes actions that will encourage people to switch from driving to biking. So far they point to Capital Bikeshare, Vision Zero, Complete Streets and bike paths as actions they've taken that fit in with the EAP along with education, planning and other policies. 

In the near term they're going to more aggressively reduce GHG emission (20% by 2020) which could lead to more biking. 

There are more work sessions coming up with the next one on April 30th. 

Alexandria Parking Standards Task Force recommends reduced parking requirements

Alexandria is in the process of changing its parking requirements (for cars) and the task force recently presented its recommendations to the planning board. The bicycle parking requirements aren't changing, so this intersects with biking in really three ways.

First, there's recognition that increased biking in Alexandria has reduced the need for off-street parking. In fact, their survey of parking considered the presence of a Capital Bikeshare station, the walkscore and bikescore as relevant metrics. The recommendations note that when the original minimums when in place in the 1950s and 60s:

transit options such as WMATA Metro, DASH, and Capital Bikeshare were not yet available, most people traveled by car, and the new parking requirements were intended to ensure there wouldbe plenty of parking available at any location accessible by car.

Second, in a "war on cars" sort of way, oodles of free, required parking subsidizes driving in a way that likely drives down biking numbers. 

Third, they presented to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Council before finishing up their final recommendations. 

Their recommendations include parking maximums, lower minimums and maximums in "enhanced transit areas", and more shared parking. It also allows for the conversion of excess spaces.

The special use permit process would allow for conditions to be added to require conversion of the spaces to other public uses (e.g.; public parking, bike parking, storage space, etc.) if they become underutilized and other contributions as appropriate to offset any negative impact of additional parking. 

TransAction Plan includes and defines bike and pedestrian projects for Northern Virginia

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority adopted a TransAction Plan Update in October and it includes more than two dozen projects meant to make bicycling easier and better. 

Adoption of the new TransAction plan marks the first time the NVTA has updated it since passage of HB (House Bill) 2313 in 2013, which “established a dedicated, sustainable funding stream for transportation in Northern Virginia and allows the Authority to begin fulfilling its mission to address regional transportation challenges.”

Here's a list of the included bike projects

• Construct protected bike lanes on both sides of Route 7 between Alexandria and Seven Corners. Connect with City of Falls Church's bicycle network. Construct trail along Route 7 from Leesburg to Alexandria.
• Introduce and expand bikesharing services in Herndon in coordination with County regional system
• Install up to 24 bikesharing stations along Route 29, Route 7, Sycamore Street, Roosevelt Street, and W&OD Trail in the City of Falls Church.
• Construct multimodal improvements, including new or restructured bus bays, at the current East Falls Church Metrorail Station. These include bicycle and pedestrian connections, improve access and signalization on North Sycamore Street and Washington Boulevard, and bikesharing stations.
• Provide dedicated bicycle facilities, bikesharing and key sidewalk improvements on north-south corridors in Arlington to connect major east-west corridors with each other. Example corridors includes Carlin Springs Road, Walter Reed Drive/Fillmore Street, Harrison Street, Washington Boulevard, Route 110, and others. Network also includes:
  a. Trail parallel to Washington Boulevard between Arlington Boulevard and Columbia Pike;
  b. Rehab of Custis Trail to current VDOT shared used path design and construction specifications in Rosslyn;
  c. Extension of Custis Trail north of I-66 between North Kennebec Street and North Quantico Street;
  d. Long Bridge Park Esplanade extension to Mount Vernon Trail;
  e. Arlington Boulevard trail;
  f. Theodore Roosevelt Bridge connection to Mount Vernon Trail and Marine Corps War Memorial;
  g. Dedicated cycling facility along the Route 50 service road (southside), between North Rhodes Street and North Meade Street;
  h. Expansion of Arlington bicycle commuter routes: Bluemont Junction Trail, Custis Trail, Four Mile Run Trail, Mount Vernon Trail, W&OD Trail;
  i. Improve connections between the County trail network and activity centers, as well as interjurisdictional connections.
• Alexandria Bike and Pedestrian Trails Construction and Reconstruction;
  a. Reconstruct Holmes Run Trail from North Ripley Street to I-395;
  b. Construct trails along local streets in the Beauregard Street and Van Dorn Street corridor. This facility will provide a north-south connection to the City's Holmes Run Trail, running eastwest, and connecting bicycle users to Mark Center corridor;
  c. Construct pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Holmes Run at Morgan Street;
  d. Implement and construct projects in the City's Pedestrian/Bicycle Plan; and
  e. Construct bicycle improvements along Royal Street between Jones Point and Bashford Street, including signage and traffic calming.
• Improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in and around the Columbia Pike corridor, including bikeways, bikesharing, and key sidewalk improvements, to convert SOV trips to, within, and between activity center areas from car to bicycle/pedestrian. Includes parallel bike routes along 9th Street, 11th Street, and 12th Street in the vicinity of Columbia Pike
• Develop a system of coordinated mobility hubs along major corridors to fully integrate transit, bikesharing, carsharing, ridesharing, pedestrians, bicycling, ride hailing, and other shared use services.
• Improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in and around the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor, including bikeways, bikesharing, and key sidewalk improvements, to convert SOV trips to, within, and between Metrorail station areas from car to bicycle/pedestrian, and to enable access to/from Metrorail stations to high-density housing and job centers. Includes a designated bicycle lane along North Lynn Street and along Fort Myer Drive between Lee Highway at Rosslyn Circle and Fairfax Drive south of Arlington Boulevard
• Improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in and around Arlington's Blue/Yellow Metrorail corridor, including bikeways, bikesharing, and key sidewalk improvements, to convert SOV trips to, within, and between Metrorail station areas from car to bicycle/pedestrian, and to enable access to/from Metrorail stations to high-density housing and job centers.
• Enhance regional bike routes (W&OD), including separate trails for walking and bicycling, updated crossings to increase safety, and lighting to keep trail open all year in the Falls Church area.
• Improve on- and off-road bicycle and pedestrian facilities, routes, and infrastructure along and adjacent to City of Fairfax corridors to provide better access to Metrorail and regional trails. Expand bikesharing, bike storage, and signage. Includes the extension of the George Snyder Trail.
• Implement bike rental stations in Town of Vienna in coordination with wider County and regional system. Extend Davis Drive (Route 868) from Glenn Drive (Route 864) to Fairfax County line at the future bridge over Dulles Toll Road (Route 267). Realign Rock Hill Road with Davis Drive. Construct a four-lane roadway over the Dulles Toll Road from Sunrise Valley Drive on the south side to Davis Drive extension in Loudoun County on the north side. The project would include pedestrian and bicycle facilities
• Construct a four-mile segment of the high-capacity transitway on Duke Street within City of Alexandria. Reconstruct Duke Street from Wheeler Avenue to Jordan Street with a center left-turn lane. Construct bicycle and pedestrian improvements along corridor
• Implement BRT service between the Pentagon and Kingstowne via Mark Center and Van Dorn Metrorail Station. Includes construction of a four-mile segment of dedicated bus lanes between Van Dorn Metrorail Station and King Street. The project also provides pedestrian and bicycle facilities within the corridor.
• Widen Arlington Boulevard (Route 50) to six lanes between the City of Fairfax and Arlington County. The project would include intersection improvements, including signalization improvements, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
• Multimodal improvements in Falls Church revitalization areas: West Broad Street, Washington Street Corridor, and East End. Improvements will include improved intersection geometry and signalization, improved pedestrian connectivity and accessibility, improved transit stops, and improved bicycle access
• Implement multimodal improvements and improve local connections along Fairfax Boulevard. Enhance transit, pedestrian/bicycle, and roadway facilities and infrastructure
• Implement multimodal improvements and improve local connections along Jermantown Road. Enhance transit, pedestrian/bicycle, and roadway facilities and infrastructure.
• Implement multimodal improvements along Old Lee Highway. Enhance transit, pedestrian/bicycle, and roadway facilities and infrastructure.
• Improved connections and circulation for all modes near the Northfax intersection. Improvements to and along Fairfax Boulevard in the vicinity of the Northfax intersection including pedestrian/bicycle safety,
• Intersection improvements at Fairfax Circle to improve vehicular and pedestrian/bicycle mobility and safety
• Traffic improvements for the intersection of Mount Vernon Avenue and Glebe Road, including signalization, accommodation for pedestrians, and turn lane channelization. Construct improvements at Mount Vernon Avenue and Four Mile Road intersection, including pedestrian/bicycle improvements. Construct pedestrian/bicycle bridge over Four Mile Run between Commonwealth Avenue and Eads Street. Construct Mount Vernon Avenue and Russell Road intersection safety improvements to accommodate pedestrian and bicyclists, which may entail intersection and parking configuration redesign. Construct a pedestrian/bicycle link from the Potomac Yard Trail to connect to the Four Mile Run Trail on the south side of Four Mile Run, and to the Mount Vernon Trail. Construct Oakville Triangle improvement projects
• Expand multimodal transportation capacity and safety in the Lee Highway corridor, providing viable options to move more people without increasing the volume of single-occupant vehicles. Includes addition of bicycle facilities along Route 29 corridor
• Transit and pedestrian/bicycle connections along Sycamore Street and Roosevelt Street with a bridge overpass connecting to planned redevelopment in Seven Corners.
• Construct a shared used path on both sides of Route 28 from Prince William County line to Dulles Toll Road.
• Construct a trail along Route 29 from Dixie Hill Road to East Falls Church Metrorail Station.
• Construct sidewalks, crosswalks, shared-use trails, and intersection improvements to improve pedestrian access to Silver Line Metrorail stations (Ashburn and Loudoun Gateway) in Loudoun County

New CaBi Station locations in Alexandria to get public hearing next week

Alexandria recently closed a public survey on 16 possible CaBi station expansion locations in the city and after 300+ responses they have narrowed the list down to 10 that will be considered by  the Traffic & Parking Board for approval at a public hearing scheduled for July 24, 2017.

Staff is recommending the Traffic & Parking Board approve the installation of bikeshare stations at the following locations:

• Braddock Road Metro Station - South
• Ben Brenman Park & Somervelle Street

• Duke Street & Holmes Run Trail

• Eisenhower Avenue & Holmes Trail Run

• Glebe Road & Main Line Boulevard

• Potomac Avenue & Reed Avenue

• Green Street & Washington Street

• Holmes Run Parkway & N Pickett Street

• Barrett Library

• Reed Avenue & Edison Street

To see more details on the final stations, please review the Alexandria Capital Bikeshare Expansion Results flyer and the Alexandria Capital Bikeshare Expansion Appendix with comments and an executive summary.

If you look at the survey results, there's not a lot of room between the top-rated (Braddock Rd Metro Station - South) and bottom-rated (Glebe Rd & Old Dominion) stations, meaning that they're all about equally desired and there will be some disappointed people. Hopefully, they'll find money to expand again soon.  You can see the exact locations for the planned stations here. 

Speaking of Alexandria, the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee will be meeting tonight at 7pm  at the Bradlee Safeway, 3526 King St. 

Virginia Six Year Plan provides funding for trails, bikeshare and multi-modal connections

The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) approved the latest Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) and it includes a few trail projects. 

In Fairfax County there's $656,000 for the Mount Vernon Trail Bridge 12 Replacement.  Bridge #12 is located approximately 1/4 mile north of the southbound Fort Hunt exit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway along the Mount Vernon Trail (which is here). The project will remove the existing bridge and construct a new bridge 50 ft west of the existing structure.

In Alexandria the plan includes $531,000 to build the Holmes Run Connector. This will build a trail connection on the south side of Holmes Run between North Ripley and North Pickett Streets. Facilities will include a permeable trail, ADA accessible curb ramps, and wayfinding signage.

And there's another $500,000 for studying the feasibility of a Braddock Road Metro Multimodal connection. Specifically:

Study the feasibility of building a tunnel connection under the freight rail tracks to connect the area west of the tracks to the Metro station and the Braddock neighborhood. Completion of the tunnel would provide a new station entry from the west, minimizing the distance pedestrians must walk to access the station from the west. Currently, pedestrians must walk south to the Braddock Road underpass to reach the station. In addition, the plan recommends studying a potential future pedestrian-bike connection and a potential walking route connection to the northern gateway. 

In addition, it funds repairs to the King Street Bridge over I-95 that promises "Minor pedestrian, bicycle and lighting improvements."

Replacement of bridge railings will increase outside shoulder widths to 4’-0” which allows future on road bike accommodation

There's $340,000 in 2019 for a pedestrian and bicycle improvement study in the Dangerfield Island to the Beauregard Small Area Plan and, in the out years, there's $1.6M for bikeshare expansion in Old Town and Del Ray and another $1M for citywide expansion in Alexandria. 

There's $1.4M for the Van Dorn Street-Beauregard Street Trail in Alexandria. This appears to be a trail along Beauregard Street from Seminary Road to King Street. 

There's $4+M for the Old Cameron Run Trail. 

This project will construct a two-way bicycle and pedestrian trail connection between Mill Road (near the intersection with Eisenhower Avenue) and the existing trail located to the east of Hooffs Run to create a more direct and conflict-free connection for bicyclists and pedestrians between the Eisenhower East and Southwest Quadrant neighborhoods.

Finally there's $6M for phase I of the Backlick Run Multiuse trail - to construct a shared-use path along Backlick Run from Boothe Park, west to the Fairfax County line.

In Arlington, there's $750,000 for Capital Bikeshare expansion as well as bridge rehabs that might include bicycle elements. 

City of Alexandria Seeks Community Input on Vision Zero Action Plan

Time to weigh in on a survey

The City of Alexandria is seeking public input on existing challenges to safely moving around city streets, in order to develop an action plan to achieve “Vision Zero.”  The goal of the plan is to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2028.

The public may provide input through June 5 via an online survey and interactive map, which can be accessed on the Vision Zero webpage. Vision Zero representatives will also have a presence at a variety of upcoming public events. This combination of feedback will allow the City to effectively address specific traffic safety challenges and inform strategies of the action plan. 

Discuss Capital Regional Trails and more tonight in Alexandria

The Alexandria Bicycle  and Pedestrian Advisory Committee invites you:

Please join us for a great program starting at 7 PM on Monday, May 15th. The program includes the following:

1. Discussions about the regional Trails with Katie Harris, Capital Trails Coalition Coordinator

2. An East Coast Greenway update from Tom Kaiden, Vice Chair, Board of Trustees East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Chief Operating Officer of the Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association

3. Discussion of City of Alexandria's Vision Zero with Ray Hayhurst, City Transportation Staff

4. Upcoming events and volunteers opportunities

a. Bicycle and Pedestrian counts 5 to 7 PM Thursday (5/18) and 12 to 2 PM Saturday (5/20), Contact Randy Dingwell [email protected]

b. Bike Rodeos Thursday, May 18th, Thursday June 1st and Friday June 9th, Contact Eldon Boes [email protected]

c. Bike to Work Day (May 19th). Register here:

Meeting details: Monday May 15, 2017, 7 to 9 PM at the Bradlee Safeway Community Room, 3526 King Street,
Alexandria

While I'm at it, they're also looking for suggestions for CaBi expansion in Alexandria

Alexandria is expanding its Capital Bikeshare network and invites and welcomes feedback regarding proposed future bikeshare station locations. Community input can be provided through an online form through June 1. The online form can be accessed at https://www.alexandriava.gov/95476

Are you interested in Bikeshare stations near where you live, work or play?

Of 16 potential new locations, which do you think are the "Top 10", e.g. locations near parks, such as Ben Brennan Park (#4), Armistead Booth Park (#5), or the Cameron Run Regional Park #8; or libraries, e.g. the Barrett Library (#3); destinations such as the Braddock Road Metro Station (#1) or the Foxchase Shopping Center (served by proposed location #7 at Duke Street and the Holmes Run Trail) and/or in communities such as Arlandria, with a station proposed at #14 Reed Avenue and Edison Street, or in the West End, near the Hallmark and other Condominiums with a station proposed at #11 Holmes Run Pkwy & N Pickett St? Please provide your inputs and share this note with friends. More information and the online form can be accessed here.

Improvements coming to lower Four Mile Run Trail

If you've ridden the lower Four Mile Run Trail in the last 6 months, you've surely noticed the work going on there as part of the demonstration project for the Four Mile Run Restoration, primarily because of the detour. The restoration is meant to improve the stream’s water quality and recreation potential as defined in the 2006 Four Mile Run Master Plan. 

The existing stone rip rap that currently covers the stream banks will be removed and replaced with native vegetation that will improve the habitat quality and aesthetics of the stream channel.  Some of the stone will also be reused to create the living shoreline features. Living shorelines are a more environmentally sensitive way to protect stream banks and coastal areas, with wetland plantings behind small stone breakwaters.

But trail users will get more than an improved view. The trail will also remove the existing asphalt trail adjacent and rebuild it to current standards including a new sub-base and asphalt surface. Workers will install new trail railings and a new observation platform. It will also add a new trail along the wetland on the Alexandria side.

 

The Master Plan also calls for a new bridge (seen at top) just upstream of the Commonwealth Ave/S. Eads line.

But wait, there's more.

On the north side of Four Mile Run between Route 1 and Potomac Avenue is Land Bay K, a small rectangle of land that is part Alexandria and part Arlington (because the line didn't move when Four Mile Run was straightened out). That is being turned into a park, despite the objection of some neighbors, and the park will include an improved trail and connections. There was a public meeting on this last month, and 3 more planned. 

The current switchback between Potomac Avenue and the trail is in Alexandria and Alexandria is a little behind Arlington in this case so not much will be done there, but in the first phase - to start early in 2018 - Arlington will build a new trail connection that links Route 1 to the Four Mile Run trail, and it appears rebuild the existing trail to current standards.

In the second phase, scheduled for 2022, the park will be constructed. The major impacts on the trail will be lighting and improvement of the area under the old railyard bridge. 

Finally, on the Alexandria side of Four Mile Run, there are still two other parks planned, which will also have trails. Along the stream is "Crescent Park" and then along the west side of Potomac Avenue is Potomac Yard Park. This will include the top of the old railyard bridge (Urban Deck). These parks are being built with help of the developers nearby.

Crescent Park shall be 2.3 acres and include a stormwater pond, a promenade, a civic park pavilion, and both active and passive uses. The developer will design and construct, or the City will receive a $8.7m (in 2010 dollars) contribution, for Four Mile Run Park Improvements, including the Urban Deck, bank improvements, and trail connections

The draft plan for the North Potomac Yard area was completed this year and can be seen here. They're accepting comments for 9 more days. Hurry! 

The highlights are an expansion of the Potomac Yard Trail from Braddock Road and the planned Metro Station to Four Mile Run, and the Four Mile Run Trail will be extended along the south side from Route 1 to the Mt. Vernon Trail. Many of the new roads will be considered "bike routes", some of which may have sharrows. The plan also requires bike parking and bikeshare stations.

So yeah, the trails along the lower Four Mile Run are about to go through a few changes.

Alexandria Adopts “Vision Zero” Policy: Zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2028

On Tuesday, January 24th the  Alexandria City Council unanimously adopted the “Vision Zero” international traffic safety concept with the goal of eliminating all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2028. Alexandria has had 7 pedestrian deaths over the last four years. They haven't had a cyclist death since 2002.

[The] action by City Council to adopt the Vision Zero philosophy follows over a year of research and planning by City staff.  The next step is for staff to develop an action plan for consideration by Council this fall. The action plan, which will be developed and implemented through community participation, will use a data-driven approach to identify the tasks and funding needed to achieve Vision Zero in Alexandria.

According to Jim Durham, Chair, Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, "Staff plans extensive community outreach in developing the action plan, including three community meetings in April, 2017 and on-line comments."

Alexandria's Cameron and Prince to become "enhanced bicycle corridors" in 2017

As part of a repaving program, bike lanes and sharrows will be added to Cameron and Prince Streets (and Duke and Royal) in Old Town Alexandria. The corridors, which are about 75% bike lanes and 25% sharrowed lanes, will connect the King Street Metro and the Mt. Vernon Trail. The King Street Metro itself is becoming a bicycle hub, with lanes on Commonwealth and King Street west of the Metro and trails along Buchanan and through Hoffs Run converging on it. 

The lanes, which come straight out of the city's recently updated Bicycle Master Plan, will be built without removing parking or traffic lanes, but sharrows will be used where the road is too narrow. The project will be about 75% bike lanes and 25% sharrows.  The lanes are not expected to result in any new traffic delays, but should have a calming effect bringing speeds closer to the 25 mph limit.

In addition the project will add pedestrian countdown timers and curb ramps.

Yvonne Weight Callahan, president of the Old Town Civic Association said "I don't regard Complete Streets, specifically on Cameron and on Prince, as particularly necessary projects." She then goes on to list several incidents where pedestrians or dogs were injured or killed by motorists. If only there were some program meant to prevent those crashes. That program might even be viewed as particularly necessary, but I can't think of one.

[Aside: Callahan mentions that a pedestrian was recently hit by a cyclist in the Wilkes Street Tunnel (bad) and that the cyclist then rode away (worse)]

Interestingly, she notes that the city can't fine drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians unless it is in a "specially-marked crosswalk" meaning that there are signs there stating that fines can be imposed. The city attorney and Police Department are working to fix the ordinance.