If you got really excited about yesterday's list of things to expect next year, let this temper it: off of last year's list only five out of fourteen items listed happened as expected, and one of those (the Union Station Bike Station) was about 4 months late.You could call that 5.9 as most of the Met Branch Trail's NY Ave to Franklin section is open, but that too is several months late. The Bicycle Commuter Benefit went into effect, but no one is getting it due to rules issues.
So 2009 wasn't as big a year as we'd hoped, but there were still several big stories. Everyone else is doing top 10 transportation stories, most of which have nothing to do with biking and those that do (Wilson Bridge, ICC and Fairfax Parkway) don't mention it really, so I'll put together my list of the top 10 Biking Stories of 2009.
10. The Tweed Ride - A couple of hundred people show up in costume and ride for a few miles. Then they drink for a few hours. Press loves it.
9. Work begins on the Metropolitan Branch Trail's key section - The long-delayed project finally got some traction this year as work began on the NY Avenue to Franklin section, some of which is now open and most of which is built.
8. Matthew Henson Trail's west section opens - With the opening of this section, the whole trail is now complete.
7. Shirlington Underpass opens - this long-desired connection makes for a much simpler route across I-395.
6. The Inaugural Bike Valet - The largest one-day bike valet ever in America parks 1127 bikes.
5. The Alice Swanson Ghost Bike saga - DPW coldly removes Alice Swanson's ghost bike. Local artist replaces it with 22 otehrs. DPW removes those too. (FYI, the ghost bike was shown in a B-roll shot during the premiere of The Real World DC. Not that I watch that show).
4. Ridegate - Mayor Fenty and his bike team ride with a police escort and kind of break laws, including one that was only recently, and some what secretly, changed. People freak out.
3. 15th Street Contraflow Bike Lane - The Shirlington Underpass opened with hardly a single story in the local MSM, but this new bike lane was covered by everyone. Go figure.
2. Bike Station opens - DC's bicycle parking facility opens to praise for it's iconic design and criticism of the costs.
1. Wilson Bridge opens for cyclists and pedestrians - The first new bicycle and pedestrian crossing of the Potomac since 1964 opens and hundreds of people show up to ride it the first day.
I could add the story that wasn't - for the first time since 2006 there were no bike fatalities in DC. Of course, DC only averages about 1.2 a year so that isn't a huge diversion from the norm, but zero is the goal and with cycling on the rise, it's a good sign. There was unfortunately one fatality in each of Arlington, Prince William, Montgomery and Prince George's County in 2009. Three out of four of those were at night, btw.
Another story that didn't make the cut was Capitol Hill Bikes Closing. Now it's not much of a story because it won't stay closed for long, but at the time it meant the loss of the only bike shop in DC outside of NW.
Other stories include the start of the Casey Trees water By-Cycle, construction of phase I of the Washington Boulevard Trail, work started on the Rock Creek Trail's Viers Mill Overpass, Design starting on the Klingle Valley Trail and Secretary Chu making an appearance at Bike to Work Day. The number of bikes reported stolen in DC in 2009, btw, was 550.
Photo by Eric Gilliland
With the exception of the crossing at Veir's Mill and the entrance on the west side of Georgia Avenue this trail has been complete for months. The George Avenue entrance should be done by tomorrow, just in time for the trail's Grand Opening Celebration.
The Department of Parks received funding for the 4.2 mile, 8-foot-wide hard surface Matthew Henson Trail in 2003 and began construction November 2006. To address concern among trail opponents over environmental impacts on the surrounding parkland, forested area and trees, the new Matthew Henson Trail features 0.6 miles of wooden boardwalk.
The Department of Parks also planted close to 1,000 trees and shrubs along the Matthew Henson Trail—which begins at the intersection with the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail at Winding Creek Local Park on Dewey Road, runs northeast through Matthew Henson State Park near Hewitt Avenue and Bel Pre Elementary School and continues east across Layhill Road to Alderton Road.
The Department of Parks will officially mark the opening of the Matthew Henson Trail with a celebration on Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. The celebration will take place at the park field behind the Global Mission Church located at 13421 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring. The grand opening event—FREE and open to the public—will include park naturalist-led children’s activities, a Matthew Henson-themed scavenger hunt with prizes, trail hikes, giveaways, refreshments and a special dedication of the new trail pavilion in honor of Idamae Garrott—the late Montgomery County legislator whose support helped make the state owned Mathew Henson park a possibility.
Who knew Montgomery County Parks had a blog? Good for them. There's more in the Gazette
The only section not expected to open this month is a pedestrian crossing that will connect Dewey Road to Turkey Branch Parkway at Veirs Mill Road in Aspen Hill, Elsasser said. The parks department is waiting for the State Highway Administration to finish the project. In the meantime, trail users will be directed to a detour one block up at Parkland Drive, which already has a crosswalk.
And the trail was the focus of a recent TrailVoice.
So what should you expect from the "new guy" in the Montgomery County trail system? How's 4.5 miles of smooth-rolling, stream-flowing, neighborhood-connecting greenway sound? Starting in Winding Creek Park, the Matthew Henson Trail branches east from DC/Maryland's popular Rock Creek Trail. The trail follows Turkey Branch Stream as it winds its way east across Viers Mill Rd. (a detour is in place to cross at Parkland Dr.) and under Connecticut Ave. Tall oaks line the path which is, in most places, no more than thirty yards from the suburban backyards of Wheaton and Silver Spring. After crossing busy Georgia Ave, the trail returns to the greenway where two unique aspects may catch your eye:
Meanwhile, the trail continues across Layhill Rd and about a mile beyond it - ending in a "T" at Alderton Rd in Silver Spring.
But is that really the end of the Matthew Henson Trail? Proponents envision it eventually to be the elusive Rock Creek/Sligo Creek trail connection, but that's a discussion for another day. For now, let's lay out the welcome mat for Mr. Matthew Henson - Arctic explorer and trailblazer.
Photo by TrailVoice
Steve writes about the Matthew Henson Trail:
I walked from the Layhill Rd starting point to the Georgia Ave/Hewitt Ave intersection. All of the construction is complete along this section and I even spotted a cyclist trying it out this morning. The boardwalk is bare and doesn't seem to have any reasonable traction for inclement weather, but that doesn't mean they won't get around to adding something (let's hope).
And notes that nothing is open west of Georgia Avenue.
It looks like the Matthew Henson trail has jumped its final hurdle. Construction was to begin Nov 6th of 2005, but area residents filed suit in December 2006 arguing that "a trail through the Matthew Henson State Park and Greenway would damage the park and make neighborhoods unsafe."
Judge William J. Rowan III in a March 13 opinion ruled that state and county agencies conducted sufficient studies, underwent proper permitting processes and planned for an environmentally sensitive trail that was in the public interest. Workers began clearing land last week for the trail.
Local residents had several complaints.
Strathmore-Bel Pre Civic Association residents and environmentalists argued that the trail would harm rich wooded areas and streams
That is, at least, somewhat fair. There will surely be some environmental impact. Which is why an EIA is done and the response is that...
county agencies and the proponents say the trail would encourage environmentally friendly recreation and travel, establish east⁄west connectivity for the Rachel Carson and Sligo Creek Park trails, and enhance nearby neighborhoods.
I was sad to see the Sierra Club oppose this, parks that are used are protected by the users. They clean them and look out for them. And the most used parks are linear parks with trails (I was told recently). Residents are also worried that the trail will
depreciate values of nearby homes
That's simply not founded. Studies have shown that trails increase value as pointed out in the article.
In fact, real estate ads often boast of features like the Capital Crescent Trail, a popular cycling route, as selling points because such trails offer recreation, a scenic view and opportunities for alternative commuting
Finally, they cracked out the old "bring crime" chestnut.
But Layhill Village resident Ken Giordon said the trail would bring strangers, crime and spur home depreciation. His house sits about 100 feet from the trail’s path. Also, he said the trail’s proximity to Bel Pre Elementary School poses a danger to students.
Oh, won't someone think about the Children! So many crimes utilize bikes and bike trails. You know what provides even better access than a trail - roads. We ought to shut down all roads near schools, y'know, for the children.
Hopefully this is the last bump in the road for a trail almost ten years in the making
It is part of the Countywide Parks Trail Plan, a master plan that the Planning Board approved in 1998 after assessing environmental impacts and five different approaches to the proposal, including not creating the trail, said Lyn Coleman, Department of Parks trail supervisor. Park and Planning and the Montgomery County Council approved the $3.9 million, three-phase project in April 2003, with plans to complete the 4.4-mile trail within two years.
As Groundskeeper Willie might say, "An old fashioned hole diggin', aye, it's been awhile." And it has been awhile since we've seen a groundbreaking for a new trail. According to the Gazette,
Construction of the Matthew Henson Hiker-Biker Trail from Aspen Hill to Layhill will begin Nov. 6, despite continued objections from residents who are worried the trail might bring crime to their neighborhoods.
I'm surprised the crime thing still comes up. Trails bring people, people bring eyes and eyes deter crime. A crowded dark street is way safer than an empty well lit one I've been told. And the police agree that the trail is not a conduit for criminals
Kane said Maryland-National Capital Park Police would patrol the trail daily. ‘‘The fact is that it is easier to patrol trails,” he said. ‘‘According to studies we have seen, the crime on trails is negligible compared to crime as a whole.”
More on the trail
the Matthew Henson Hiker-Biker Trail will begin at Rock Creek Trail at Winding Creek Local Park near Aspen Hill and Veirs Mill roads. It will go northeast through Matthew Henson State Park and along a stand of trees near Hewitt Avenue and Bel Pre Elementary School. From there, it will continue east across Layhill Road to Alderton Road, near Indian Spring Country Club, measuring about 4.4 miles.
Construction will start in the section from Georgia Avenue to Alderton Road, Elsasser said, because the Maryland Department of Environmental Protection will be completing stream restoration of Turkey Branch from Veirs Mill Road to Georgia Avenue.
The asphalt trail will feature wooden boardwalks over wetlands to minimize environmental damage
Let's hope they learned the lessons of the Mt. Vernon and those boardwalks have anti skid surfaces. Scars are cool and all, but injured shoulders and knees just suck.
It's been a long time to get to this point. The trail was originally approved in April of 2003. But since then there have been efforts to inflate the cost, drop it from the budget (funding was restored in May), and create a huge detour on Veirs Mill Road. The intersection is still an issue
Thorne also expressed concern over how pedestrians would cross Veirs Mill Road to get from Winding Creek Local Park, south of Veirs Mill, to the other side of the trail.
‘‘Do they really expect us to cross seven lanes of traffic?” she asked.
State Highway Administration spokesman Chuck Gischlar said the state is pursuing a crosswalk, which would be located by Turkey Branch Parkway and Veirs Mill Road.
Gischlar said the hatched crosswalk would be at-grade or ground level, with flashers in advance of the crosswalk and warning signs. Hikers and bikers would cross and then wait in a grassy median before crossing to the other side of the trail. He said the median would be protected by concrete barriers on either side.
‘‘We’re pursuing the Turkey Branch crossing because it’s closer in line with the trail,” he said Friday afternoon, adding a traffic light at Parkland Drive is about 1,000 feet away.
Still some people are not happy about the trail at all
Barbara Eldredge said she received little comfort from the meeting. ‘‘[The trail is] 50 feet from my property line,”
She must not read this blog, if so she'd know that's a selling point. She goes on to say that "it’s just like they put a road in my back yard.” Except quiet. And non-polluting. And only 10 feet across. And with top speeds of ~15mph. But otherwise just like a road. I'm sure that's how people who live along the Capital Crescent Trail see it.
First of all, back in early May the Montgomery County
Council made several tentative decisions to add money to the bikeway
improvements capital budget. Compared to the County Executive's recommendations
they more than doubled the budget. The changes they (Councilmembers Steve
Silverman, Nancy Floreen, Tom Perez and George Leventhal) made
· restored full funding to the Matthew Henson Trail, Shady
Grove Access Trail and Rock Creek Trail Bridge. They had been delayed
3 years in the original budget
· restored some of the funding to the Silver Spring Green
Trail. The delay was reduced from 3 years to 1.
· added $200k for the repair and resurfacing of the 0.5
miles of the Capital
Crescent Trail that's eroding
· added $160 to fund small-scale bikeway improvements
· added $145k for the repair of the East West Highway
Trail
· added $360k to the annual bikeways program, including
signage
· added $50k for bikeway maintenance
More on the CCT repair
The final budget
includes $200K to regrade and resurface the badly eroded section of the Interim
CCT east of Rock Creek, and to perform a thorough study of what is needed to
correct the storm water drain system in that area. DPWT Director Arthur Holmes
promised the Council Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee that
the trail repair work would begin at the start of the next fiscal year, in July
2006.
In
addition the MacArthur
Boulevard Bikeway is in the preliminary
design phase
MacArthur Blvd. would
be widened, where possible, to 26 feet to provide for two 10-foot-wide lanes
for cars and one three-foot-wide lane for bicyclists on each side of MacArthur.
Also where possible, green space of at least five feet would run along the
boulevard. Next to it would be an eight-feet-wide shared path for pedestrians
and bicyclists.
The new bikeway would,
according to the DPWT, "provide spot improvements to address deficiencies
and immediate safety concerns on MacArthur Blvd." These would include
adding lighting under the Beltway overpass at MacArthur, changing the existing
parking area at the Union Arch Bridge and in front of the Captain's Market at
Tomlinson Ave. Access to the Clara Barton Parkway at Ericsson Road would be
altered.
Finally there were a
couple of reports
(and here) this week
about a study, being compiled by the Metropolitan Washington Council of
Government’s Transportation Planning Board, that shows there are more than 350
projects directly aimed at pedestrians and bicyclists currently working their
way through individual jurisdictions.
“There has been a real
change in the way transportation planners are looking at nonmotorized travel in
the region,” said TPB’s Michael Farrell, co-author of the study. “Adding bike
lanes or sidewalks used to be the exception, now the exception is not to
provide these facilities.”
"The more
bicyclists there are in a place, the safer it is to bicycle -- the more
motorists expect to see cyclists, the more that becomes part of the norm,"
said Farrell.
Planners for the
national capital region have a $500 million plan to make pedestrian and cycling
safety a top priority. The plan calls for 680 new miles of paths, including one
that would put a bike and jogging path on the new span of the Woodrow Wilson
Bridge.
So it's not all doom and gloom. And if you believe, as Benicio Del Toro said in "Way of the Gun" , that "a plan is just a list of things that will never happen." Take joy in actually completed projects. I noticed that East Capitol Street bike lanes between 1st and 2nd street opened (and the road opened too) and that the bike lanes around Thomas Circle NW are open as well (though one bike lane is only 10 feet long - photo to follow).
1. I just recently watched this from May 5th because my tivo is a little backed up. Well known bicycle enthusiast Rep. Earl Blumenauer was on the Colbert Report and he placed his bike in the background of the shot. In the photo at the left, Colbert sports a bicycle lapel pin.
2. I can tell from the comments posted here that some of you know your way around Lexus and Westlaw better than me. So when can DC count on a site like this?
3. Mainstream media coverage of the planning board's recommendation on the Met Branch Trail.
‘If it’s only about the money, then you’ve got to fight for the money,” [Commissioner Meredith K. Wellington] said.
4. Bicycling magazine gave out bikes in Baltimore as part of bike town. As a Bike Town alumnus myself (I got a free bike last year in DC) I think it's a great program. I saw two people at BTWD on their bikes from last year.
Courtney Matthews, a Bicycling spokeswoman, said the magazine has kept in touch with past recipients of free two-wheelers and 86 percent respond they are happier three months after they started riding again.
5. The Post had a good run down of Montgomery County bicycling.
Other projects include the Matthew Henson Trail, which would run through Aspen Hill, past Connecticut Avenue and Georgia Avenue, all the way past Layhill Road. The North Bethesda Trolley Trail, which runs along the old trolley tracks between Old Georgetown Road and Rockville Pike, is to be extended north to the Twinbrook Metro stop and south to the National Institutes of Health campus.
6. Another "Gas gets people out of their cars" story.
"People are starting to look for fundamentally different ways to travel," said Bill Wilkinson, executive director of the National Center for Bicycling and Walking in Bethesda, Md. The soaring price of fuel "prompts people to really think about where they live and how they get around."
7. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors endorsed Transaction 2030.
On the top of the list are transit projects and pedestrian and bike travel. An estimated $16.6 billion would be needed over the next 25 years to fund the projects.
The plan features more Metrorail stations and light rail or rapid bus service in some high-traffic corridors, including Route 7, Route 28 and Columbia Pike. It also includes about 600 miles of new trails and an 8-percent increase in highway capacity.
8. Bike to Work Day was a success in Baltimore and Washington.
Chapman brought along Terri Broemm, a nursing teacher at Harford Tech who was riding to work for the first time and was nervous about the limited space for cyclists on the shoulders of some commuter routes.
Although some noted that the crowd lacked diversity.
9. For those looking for a bike vacation, a new rail trail opens in West Virginia.
It's called the Cranberry Tri-Rivers Rail-Trail, and Richwood city officials believe the 16.5-mile path will cement their town's growing reputation as a recreation destination.
10. Registration is open for the Indian Head 100 on Saturday, September 10, 2006.
Cycle through scenic and historic Southern Maryland. Relax at a rest stop at the Mattawoman Creek Art Center. See bald eagles and blue herons as you pedal through hundreds of acres of gently rolling forested hills and tidal bottomlands to the panoramic vista of the Potomac River at Riverside. Enjoy a rest stop high above the Port Tobacco River with a spectacular view of the Potomac and Port Tobacco rivers.
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