TheWashCycle

Draft 2010-2015 Transportation Improvement Program

Earlier this week, I published a letter from WABA  expressing disappointment with the funding for bicycle projects in the Transportation Improvement Program. The TIP was covered last November here, but there are some changes since then. It's quite a long list

Maryland to establish a network of paths for cyclists

This summer, Maryland started a plan that would establish a safe, accessible and fully interconnected network of "dual-use" trails across Maryland.

There's no timetable for the project, which will unfold, piece by piece, over as many as 20 years. It will cross scores of jurisdictional boundaries, draw on the ideas of citizens and partner agencies, and mix and match funding sources. But by making its plan public, the state Department of Transportation aims to guide a comprehensive effort to make a seamless system of trails.

"This trail network will literally weave communities together," said Maryland Secretary of Transportation John D. Porcari, a driving force behind the state's long-term Trails Strategic Implementation Plan.

There is certainly room, as the article points out, for improvement

Many [trails], though, have gaps or need upgrading, problems the state's plan aims to address. Nearly all - from the 11-mile BWI Trail that circles the airport, to the popular Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, which connects Glen Burnie to the state capital over a 12-mile route - are isolated from one another and lack connectivity to mass-transit stations.

"We need to have the gaps in the existing network filled in so that more Marylanders can use trails for recreation, getting to work, or just to do weekend shopping," says Richard Chambers, executive director of One Less Car

But the state's top priority, Porcari said, is to link extant trails to each other, easing bike and pedestrian travel between discrete parts of the state. To that end, the transportation department has identified eight key "missing links" around Maryland, trail segments that, when they're filled in, will offer exponentially greater connectivity from region to region.

The TSIP (As a Texas grad, I hate the name) isn't scheduled to be completed until the end of the year, so I'm not sure how official this list is. But of those eight trails, four are in Prince George's county. Which makes one wonder why neither the Post nor the Gazette covered this and left it to the Sun?

Anyway, the four local trail connections mentioned are:

1. Little Paint Branch Trail Connector - It's listed as partially complete. I suspect this is what they're talking about.

The greenways corridor along Little Paint Branch begins north of Calverton at Fairland Regional Park and flows south to connect with Paint Branch. Portions of the stream valley are owned by M-NCPPC. The greenways protects riparian resources and provides recreational opportunities. A segment of multi-use trail exists along the stream valley between Sellman Road and Rt. 212.

But I'm not sure what the connector connects to.

2. Anacostia River Trail - Construction Scheduled. This must be the Anacostia Trail on the east side of the river from Bladensburg Waterfront Park to the District line (some of which was recently built but is uselessly incomplete)

3. Henson Creek Trail - Planning Underway. Not sure what their planning, but it should definitely stretch to the Metro Station.

4. BW&A trail - the alignment planning for the much needed Patuxent River crossing is underway. This would connect the two existing sections.

That they're working on a TSIP  is a pretty good sign. The website is a little sparse though. I hope there is adequate local involvement  - the site doesn't list the stakeholders invloved (MoBike? College Park? Oxon Hill? WABA? Don't know.)

Henson Creek Trail planned expansion may be delayed

There are plans in the works to expand the Henson Creek Trail from it's eastern terminus at Temple Hills road, NW along Henson Creek to the Branch Avenue Metro station.

Holt said bikers were extremely disappointed when county officials missed the March 2006 and March 2007 deadlines for applying for a federal grant, delaying the project by at least another year. ‘‘This project perfectly meets the criteria for the federal matching funds,” Holt said.

The problem is getting past the Beltway and dealing with steep, environmentally sensitive lands after that.

‘‘There are several existing culverts where the Henson Creek goes under the beltway and we are going to utilize one of those,” said Fred Shaffer, a planner with Prince George’s County Planing Department. He said this would provide a crucial pedestrian and bicycle crossing of the Beltway, using existing box culverts as has already been done in Virginia. Though the right of way has already been acquired for the northern extension, close details such as slopes and wetlands along the bikeway has to be accounted for.

If they can build that extension, it will increase pressure for PG County to build there section of the Suitland Parkway Trail at least to the Henson Creek (if not all the way to Andrews AFB).

Advocacy Opportunities

Looking for an opportunity to get out an advocate for better bike facilities? Well over the next week you'll have three.

June 15th, 1pm at Union Station - DDOT and the East Coast Greenway are having a Gap Closing Celebration press event (I suspect if you go, you'll still be sober enough to go back to work). The event is to celebrate the release of the contract for the design/construction of the next segment of the trail as well as the bike station that will be constructed near Union Station. While technically not an advocacy event, high turnout creates pressure. Other local events related to closing the gap:

• Annapolis City Hall: Thursday, June 14, 9:30 AM. Mayor Ellen Moyer speaks, followed by a guided bike tour of Annapolis city trails.
• REI, College Park: Thursday, June 14, 7:00-8:30 PM. The riders will give a presentation on the ECG and discuss strategies for closing local gaps. Refreshments will be provided.

June 20th, 6pm at Source Theater (1835 14th Street NW) - the city's first meeting on the 14th Street Transportation and Streetscape study. As a major bike lane street, any changes to 14th Street's transportation goals should include bikes. Public imput will be accepted at the meeting.

June 22nd - the DC Council will be holding a public hearing on the "Bicycle Commuter and Parking Expansion Act of 2007" which was introduced by Councilmember Tommy Wells. The bill has the immediate goal of increasing the number of bike parking locations available for visitors and employees at the Wilson Building in downtown DC, but would also require Mayor Adrian Fenty and DDOT to study the availability of bike parking at ALL DC government buildings. The bill would also require that new residential building provide bike parking spaces for residents. This is similar to the current requirement that all commercial buildings that provide car parking also provide bike parking.

This bill has been referred to the Public Works and Environment Committee chaired by Councilmember Jim Graham. WABA strongly encourages DC cyclists to write to Councilmember Graham at [email protected] to express support for the bill. Please send a copy of your letter to Councilmember Tommy Wells at [email protected].

To sign up to testify, please contact Mrs. LaDorsa Willis at 202-724-8195 before 5 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2007.

Prince George's County Park and Planning Budget

WABA has its testimony on the PG County Park and Planning Budget up, and there are a lot of things they're working on.

Prince George’s County Connector Trail

The Connector trail will link the West Hyattsville Metro to the future Metropolitan Branch Trail in Washington DC and provide non-motorized access from the Anacostia Tributaries trail network to the District of Columbia. Initially, the land necessary for trail construction was to be obtained through an easement with the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority. However, it is now our understanding that Shoppers Food Warehouse seeks to acquire the land to expand its operations. If this easement does go through, then Shoppers Food Warehouse should be required to construct the Connector Trail as well as a new soccer field as proposed by the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation.

Anacostia River Trail

By extending the Anacostia River Trail south, it will connect directly to the future Anacostia Riverwalk and Trail planned for the District of Columbia. Design work on the trail extension is on hold as the Maryland State Highway Administration decides on remediation measures in the area. We encourage Park and Planning to watch this project closely so that any remediation includes the Anacostia River Trail.

Henson Creek Trail Extension

$450,000 in funding for the design and construction of the Henson Creek Trail has already been allocated and trail design is set to begin soon. This design work must be completed quickly so that an application for federal matching funds can be submitted by March 1, 2007.  We encourage MNCPPC-PG to set funds aside for additional construction of this important trail project and to ensure that design of the trail moves forward quickly so that federal funding sources can be captured.

Lighting on the Northwest Branch Trail

A proposal by the City of Mount Rainer to designate the Northwest Branch trail (pictured) as a transportation corridor will allow the county to install lighting that would greatly extend the usable hours of the facility as well as contribute to safety of trail users.

Improve NW Branch Trail Crossing of Queens Chapel Road

The Northwest Branch Trail crosses Queens Chapel Road near the West Hyattsville Metro station. This is a very busy crossing for both cyclists and pedestrians. WABA recommends that a bike/pedestrian activated signalized crossing be added to this intersection. If the pedestrian crossing light was synchronized to existing traffic lights at the intersections of Queens Chapel with Ager Road and Chillum Road, the impact on traffic flow would be minimal. It should be noted that Queens Chapel is a state highway (Rt. 500) and there would need to be cooperation between the State and Park & Planning for the changes to be made.

Build the Piscataway Creek Trail

To date over $500,000 in funding has been allocated for the design and construction of the Piscataway Creek Trail in the County. We strongly feel that the County should focus its efforts on the southern segments of the trail south of Fort Washington Park. With a $40,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Foundation, community volunteers have already begun installing permeable trail surfaces on the Piscataway Creek trail to demonstrate environmentally friendly trail designs. But more funding will be needed to build a low-impact bridge and boardwalk across a creek and wetland area and to link the trail to other nearby park areas. The hard work carried out by the volunteers is a good sign of the strong community support for this trail. Because the initial segment of the Piscataway Creek Trail is entirely on National Park Service property, a memorandum of agreement has been drafted that would guarantee perpetual public access to any trail facilities built on National Park property using local funds. This is a good agreement for the citizens of Prince George’s County, and we urge the Park and Planning to finalize the agreement and begin design and construction of the trail.

Improved Trail and Bikeway Maintenance and Signage

Park and Planning is responsible for an extensive network of trails that offer recreation and non-motorized transportation opportunities to thousands of County residents and visitors each year. However, maintenance and repair of these facilities has lagged due to inadequate funding and a lack of priority. We strongly encourage Park and Planning to increase the funding available for trail maintenance and to also ensure that the County’s trails are adequately signed and all gaps are eliminated.

Increase Planning Staff

Finally, due to the sheer number of bike and pedestrian projects either planned or underway, Park and Planning staff is over taxed resulting in project delays. It is our understanding that funding for additional positions within the department have been approved and we encourage Park and Planning to increase the number of positions dedicated to bike and pedestrian planning at the agency. Additional staff can review master plans and site plans to ensure that bicycle and pedestrian-friendly developments become the norm in the county. Additional staff will also be freed to purse the many sources of federal funds available for bicycle and pedestrian projects.

Find out how to support the effort here.