TheWashCycle

"And we at AAA will continue to fight to keep it that way"

This quote from a story on Car Free Day sounds both desperate and as argument for more multi-modal transportation planning in the region.

"We've got to remember we are one of the leaders in the nation for long distance commutes," said Lon Anderson at AAA MidAtlantic. "When you are in around the core, then there are many options, but the further away you get, the fewer options you have."

As most advocates argue, supporting bike facilities are about giving people options, not forcing them to bike. Right now, they're forced to drive - at least according to Lon Anderson. 

Input Needed on Alexandria Bicycle Master Plan Update and Complete Streets Design Guidelines

Frank Buckley will not be pleased

The City of Alexandria is updating the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan and developing Complete Streets Design Guidelines.  The update of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan will include an evaluation of existing conditions, constraints and needs, as well as a review of existing policies, goals and objectives. The Plan will identify short and long-term projects to make walking and biking safer in Alexandria.  As part of this project, Complete Street Design Guidelines are being developed to ensure that Alexandria’s streets are serving the needs of all users.

Stakeholders are encouraged to give feedback using an interactive crowdsourcing map that allows users to identify where they would like to see pedestrian and bicycle improvements and locations for future Capital Bikeshare stations.  In addition, stakeholders can fill out an online survey.  The survey and the map are available in English and Spanish. 

The first public meeting for the project will be held on Tuesday, September 30, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Minnie Howard Campus of TC Williams High School located at 3801 West Braddock Road. 

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, e-mail [email protected] or call 703.746.4084, Virginia Relay 711.

For more information about this project, visit alexandriava.gov/PedBikePlan or contact Steve Sindiong, Principal Transportation Planner at[email protected] or 703.746.4047. 

Maryland 2015 Bikeways Grants Announced

The Maryland Bikeways Program provides technical assistance and grant support for a wide range of bicycle network development activities. The Program builds connections to work, school, shopping and transit using local roads and shared-use paths.

The full list of 2015 grant recipients is here. In the DC area, there are

• Capitol Heights Chamber Ave Green and Complete Street construction. ($225,000)

• Folly Branch Stream Valley Park Connector Trail. ($200,000) 

  This new trail will connect the existing Lakeview Trail (located south of MD 450) with the western terminus of the WB&A Trail on the north side of MD 450 via a new 8-foot wide paved trail, boardwalk and bridge over the Folly Branch. 
  
  This trail will cross under MD 450 through an existing box culvert. A 6-foot wide spur trail will lead from the culvert to the Vista Gardens Marketplace, providing a convenient way for residents to access the shopping center. 

  Construction is slated to begin late 2014 and the trail will be completed in 2015. 

• Installation of shared lane markings and bike route signs on 9 roads in College Park. ($71,524)

• On-road bike route signing and wayfinding connecting to Metro access routes in Montgomery County. ($31,767)

• Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail On-Road Bicycle Route signage in Prince George's County. ($30,000)

• Shared Lane Markings on Through-City Routes in Rockville. ($33,950)
• Laurel city will receive $200,000 in construction money to build a shared-use pathway along Van Dusen Road, which is between Route 1 and Interstate 95, where it connects with the Intercounty Connector. 

And though outside my WAMPA* coverage area, 

• B&A Trail to Broadneck connector design. ($44,000)

*Washington, Arlington, Montgomery, PG, Alexandria

Corrected: Bicycle Assistance Programs funded by TPB

The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) approved funding this week for nine technical assistance projects that will promote access to transit, support better pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and foster transit-oriented development throughout the region. Of these, 7 include bicycle relevant elements. Update: the list previously given was from 2013. I apologize. Full refund for everyone. The Central Avenue Connector Trail in PG County would make a nice complement to the Marvin Gaye Park Trail (nee Watts Branch). 

City of College Park – Complete and Green Streets Policy and Implementation Study ($30,000) The City of College Park requests assistance to draft an implementation study for complete and  green streets, with a prioritized list and cost estimates of improvements. The consultant will work with city staff to review existing citywide plans, conditions and recommendations, develop citywide strategies and priorities and prepare a map depicting the target areas for improvement. The plan will help College Park realize its goals in environmental sustainability, promote mixed-use, compact development along Route 1 and at the College Park Metro Station. The study will complement existing city projects with private partners on stormwater management and low impact development.

Montgomery County – Creating Placemaking Non-Auto Infrastructure in the Life Sciences Center ($60,000)
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission requests assistance in planning the design and coordination of the Life Sciences Center Loop trail system. The trail will serve as a place making feature for the Life Sciences Center and link to the proposed Corridor Cities Transitway in Montgomery County. The final product will be a policy guide to help the County coordinate the participation of public and private partners, and a unique trail system and design. The trail is an identified project in the larger Great Seneca Science Center master plan, which requires development to make contributions towards non-auto driver mode share goals.

Prince George’s County – Central Avenue Connector Trail Implementation Study ($30,000)
The Maryland-National Capitol Park and Planning Commission requests assistance to complete an implementation study on an east-west trail in the Central Ave/Blue Line Corridor. The Route would begin just east of the D.C. boundary and Capitol Heights Metro Station, continuing along residential streets and existing and planned WMATA right of way before ending at the Largo Metro Station, with connections to the Addison Road and Morgan Boulevard stations. The study will help identify preferred and alternative alignments, short- and long-term projects, and opportunities for redevelopment and CIP projects.

Prince George’s County – Town of Upper Marlboro Bicycle and Pedestrian Study ($30,000)
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission requests assistance to complete a transportation study addressing bicycle and pedestrian access and connectivity for residents and workers in the Town of Upper Marlboro, the seat of government for Prince George’s County. Although the town has a population of about 600 residents, 5,000-6,000 people commute to Upper Marlboro daily for work in government and related services. The final product will include the creation of a prioritized list of transportation improvements with cost estimates for the town, a review of best engineering practices for trails in flood prone areas, and next steps to seek funding and permitting for high priority projects.

Arlington County – Sycamore Street Metro Station Area Complete Streets Design ($80,000)
30% Design Project Arlington County requests design assistance to create a “complete streets” design addressing safety, accessibility, and multimodal connections along North Sycamore Street to the East Falls Church Metro Station, which will be the new transfer point for Orange and Silver Line trains. The project will focus on four intersections along North Sycamore. The redesigned street will have improved connections for cyclists and pedestrians, and provide a model for adapting suburban-style Metro stations to changes in the system.

Arlington County – Lee Highway Multimodal Needs Assessment ($30,000)
Arlington County seeks to create a transportation plan that identifies short-term improvements in the Lee Highway corridor between East Falls Church and Rosslyn. The County has identified Lee Highway as the last mixed-use corridor in Arlington County that has not undergone a comprehensive planning effort. The results of this project will allow the County to document existing conditions along the corridor and create an inventory of projects to be completed.

City of Fairfax – Old Lee Highway “Great Street Multimodal Planning ($60,000)
The City of Fairfax requests assistance to complete a planning process to turn the existing two-lane Old Lee Highway into a “Great Street.” Old Lee connects Old Town Fairfax with Fairfax Boulevard and the Vienna Metrorail station. The project will include a review of existing transportation studies of the Old Lee Corridor, gathering input from the public, creating a conceptual plan, and presenting the results to the City Council.

Alexandria Complete Streets Open House

The public is invited to a Complete Streets Open House on Tuesday, June 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. The open house will be held at City Hall, Sister Cities Room 1101, 301 King Street.  This meeting will be open to the public and formatted as an informational open house.  Participants may come and go during this time to learn about the City’s Complete Streets program, different types of Complete Streets projects and ongoing and upcoming projects in Old Town.

The City’s Complete Streets program designs streets for people of all ages and abilities, including pedestrians, bicyclists, riders and drivers of public transportation, as well as drivers of motor vehicles.  Complete Streets considers the changing environment and how streets can be designed to enhance quality of life by providing multimodal options to ensure safe and convenient travel.  Design features may include sidewalks, crosswalks and other pedestrian safety enhancements, as well as on-street bicycle facilities.

For more information, visit the Complete Streets website or contact Hillary Poole, Complete Streets Coordinator, at 703.746.4017 or[email protected]. 

Thursday Afternoon Commute - Infrastructure Project Management Administration

According to my neighborhood listserv, some bike thieves were caught after trying to steal a locked bike - they had bolt cutters. FYI. 

• Shane Farthing, executive directory of WABA explains how DDOT is organized and how that organization stiffles bike/ped projects. "DDOT needs to bring individuals with the necessary expertise to IPMA and, once that expertise is in-house, leave prioritization of project timing to PPSA planners."
• Aaron Weiner expands his earlier blog post on Metropolitan Branch Trail security into a longer story.
• More on the CaBi employee protest. “We know you have the power to do the right thing,” John Farmer, a current employee, said to Gilliland.“We’ll make it work,” Gilliland replied.
• Bring your bikes (or tricycles) to American Way between Fleet Street and St. George Boulevard at National Harbor for the fourth annual National Children’s Museum CycleFest 2013. The free block party-esque event, culminating in a ride to the National Harbor via the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail will be on Saturday, June 22
• In short, one should not take training rides at high speed on multi-use trails. But I don't know why we need to differentiate those who do so as another species. 
• "Montgomery County’s original plan for park trails called for trails the parks department could not deliver, so planners are crafting a new, more usable framework for building out the network and are asking for resident input.... the new plan will view trails as a strategic park investment, and will focus on shorter “loops and links” that are consistent with population density, community demand and feasibility....Montgomery County Department of Parks is scheduled to hold two public meetings; the first scheduled for Monday at the agency’s Shady Grove Training Room, 16641 Crabbs Branch Way, Gaithersburg and the second Tuesday at the agency’s Montgomery Regional Office at 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Both meetings will run from 7 to 9 p.m."
• "Christoph Strasser, a 30-year-old former bike messenger broke the long-standing record in the Race Across America. He'd finished the race in 7 days, 22 hours and 11 minutes. The course has varied from year to year, but since 2006 it has begun in Oceanside, Calif., and ended at Annapolis Harbor.Earlier in the afternoon, RAAM managers, members of Strasser's crew and a handful of die-hard fans waited at the Mount Airy Bike Shop in Carroll County, the 52nd of 54 timing stations riders must pass through."
• "Democrat Doris Matsui and Republican David Joyce will introduce complete streets legislation today to coincide with an EESI briefing on the issue." And "The bill encourages safer streets through Complete Streets policy adoption at the state and regional-levels—mirroring an approach already being used in more than 490 regional and local jurisdictions, 28 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. A federal provision will ensure consistency in policies and funding needed to support these local efforts and ensure safe streets in every community."
• On online bicycle maps. 

Wednesday Morning Commute - Vone-erf

Good morning

• ANC6B asks questions about the Barney Circle redesign which includes a bike path along "Southeast Blvd".
• The Post has a story on CaBi coming to Montgomery County, but there isn't really much new in it.
  • About 20 bike stations with 200 bikes total will be installed in the Rockville and Shady Grove areas. Those locations will include the Rockville and Shady Grove Metrorail stations, Rockville Town Center, King Farm, Montgomery College’s Rockville campus and the universities area of Shady Grove.
  • Another 30 stations with 250 bikes total will be located at Red Line Metrorail stations inside the Capital Beltway, including Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Friendship Heights, Bethesda and Medical Center.
  • The equipment costs are expected to average about $60,000 per station, county officials said. Those station installation costs will be covered primarily by federal and state grants, officials said. The bikes will be paid for by the county, the city of Rockville and private companies.
  • The annual costs to operate all 50 stations is expected to be $675,000 after revenues have been deducted. The county will cover those costs, officials said.
• Speaking of bikeshare expansion - a new station at watch installation of a station at Wisconsin Avenue and O Street 
• "In other words, as the mayor told me afterward, the future of city travel is about sharing routes safely. Look for more bus routes, streetcars, bike lanes and devices like HAWK signals that make walking safer and more popular without infringing on people’s ability to drive autos."
• I missed this before, but last year,  the D.C. Council approved the “Pre-Litigation Discovery of Insurance Coverage Amendment Act of 2012″ and this past January the Mayor signed it. "The legislation provides for pre-litigation disclosure of insurance coverage in vehicle accident cases, including but not limited to vehicle accident cases involving bicyclists. Specifically, the legislation would require insurers to disclose the coverage limits applicable to an insured’s policy within 30 days after a claimant (1) makes a written claim to the insurer for compensation concerning a vehicle accident for which the insured may be liable, and (2) provides certain documentation in support of the claim."  
• "In the United States, more than 400 cities either currently have, or soon will develop, “complete streets,” which are much more broadly defined than woonerfs, even allowing for the likes of sidewalks and the authoritarian stop sign. Yet, according to the Chicago-based National Complete Streets Coalition, the spirit of the woonerf inspired even the American movement."
• DOT has it's second bike safety summit, this time in Minnesota. They're calling 2013 the year of the Bike Share.  While I like the post and the idea, I disagree with this statement "And--bucking a worrisome national trend--the number of bicyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes in Minneapolis has actually declined." That would be a worrisome trend, but it isn't the trend really. My thoughts and then some math.

Vibrant Streets

Via the Coalition for Smart Growth:

Vibrant Streets™, a project of StreetSense, is launching its inaugural Learning Lab Conference April 29-30th on Bethesda Row. The Learning Lab will be a practical, real world, how-to-do-it-better event featuring walking tours, receptions, and presentations on Bethesda Row – a model for a modern and vibrant retail street.

• Hear about best practices in creating street-level, retail vibrancy in communities across the country from the Learning Lab speakers
• Compare notes with neighborhoods just like yours on what's worked and what hasn't
• Bring issues regarding your Vibrant Street to “Problem-Solving and Trouble-Shooting” experts in retail markets, architecture, leasing, coordination, and financing.
• Earn six CM credits as an AICP member.

You can’t learn about what makes a Vibrant Street work just in a conference room.  From speakers sessions in the Row’s Arts Theater to walking tours to dining in Bethesda’s restaurants and wine bar, this Learning Lab will send you home with an authentic Vibrant Street experience. 
 
Learn more: vibrantstreets.com/learninglab/
Register: vibrantstreetslearninglab.eventbrite.com/

Saturday Afternoon Ride - Priority

Good afternoon

• Alexandria City Transportation Commission Chairman Kevin Posey says the Complete Streets initiative must be treated as a top priority and never as an afterthought.
• Street Smart Fall Campaign starts. And the focus is on lights ""If you are a cyclist, here are some tips for riding in traffic.  Michael Farrell, from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) says that the biggest danger for cyclists and pedestrians this fall season is the same: they are not visible in the dark, “there are too many bicycles out there without lights or even reflectors.”  It is important that all bicycles are equipped with reflectors and that all cyclists have lights if they are planning to ride at night."
• NYC's bikesharing may be delayed again. This time by Sandy related flooding. "The city’s Transportation Department would not describe or detail the extent of the damage; officials released a brief statement on Tuesday saying the agency was “making an assessment” and would provide updates if the program’s rollout might be affected.
• Streestblog has a poll on who the new Sec DOT should be. At this point JSK is winning. 

Friday Morning Commute - unless you pedal like the mayor. Then it’s more like 15 minutes.

Good morning

• New signs on H Street warn cyclists about streetcar tracks. I wonder if that is enough. 
• "Federal Highway Administration is studying the widening of Route 1 from Telegraph Road to Mt. Vernon Memorial Highway. Current plans include wide outside lanes for use by bicyclists. There is opposition to the project that will impact Woodlawn National Historic Site."
• Alexandria City Council voted to use unspent transportation improvement funds to cover the first-year operation costs of CaBi after the Federal Highway Administration announced in April that certain federal funds could not be used for operating expenses associated with bike-share programs. This led to a discussion about station placement - cluster them or spread them out? Some wondered if a station in Del Ray made sense.
• Central Avenue in Capitol Heights could become bike friendly. "Long-term solutions with no projected start date include turning Central Avenue into a “complete street” that would reduce the three lanes on both sides to two, add bicycle lanes and landscaping, said Carol Kachadoorian of Silver Spring-based Toole Design Group."
• Bike lanes might complement Bethesda Trolley Trail along Woodglen Drive. 
• It's a great story, but I suspect it isn't really her bike. Not that she's lying, just that she is misidentifying it [I know, where's my sense of wonder.]
• Michigan senior prank brings attention that safely biking to that high school is basically impossible. Complete streets and Safe Routes to Schools could help.