TheWashCycle

E-bikes now allowed on NPS Trails

This may be a change that is actually no change but a new NPS policy will allow you to use e-bikes on NPS trails like the Mt. Vernon or Rock Creek Park trails. From what I've seen, people were already doing that and no one was getting ticketed or stopped. But if you're a vigilant rule-follower, you can now join your more rule-resistant counterparts on the trails with your e-bike. 

Previously, electric bicycles where often forbidden from cycling trails in national parks, though Class 1 e-bikes were allowed in some areas.

The new law allows all three classes of e-bikes to ride on cycling trails in national parks, though Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes are not allowed to use the throttle control. Those e-bikes must be pedaled like standard Class 1 e-bikes while on national park trails. Thus far it appears this will be handled on the honor system.

As Arlnow points out, this should make Captain Kirk happy. 

NCPC adopts the Parks & Open Space Element

At their December Meeting the NCPC adopted the Parks & Open Space Element, with the updated policies going into effect on February 15, 2019. The element’s policies encourage protection, enhancements, and stronger connections for federally managed land in the region’s parks and open space system.

As noted in March, the Element has a whole section on trails. The NCPC received 108 pages of comments on the draft, several of which dealt with biking and trails. For example, the GSA wrote that "The federal government should also start to think about making green connections between their built facilities, spurring healthy and active transitions from building to building. Would suggest adding that the federal government should rethink how public space is used by and interacts with the public on or near federal property. Many facility managers may not even be aware that the property extending out toward the street from a facility is in fact public space. For decades, the federal government has not done much to engage with the public in this space, but we must work with NCR localities to ensure that we do so moving forward." 

Other comments resulted in changes as well. For example:

• At NPS request
  • NCPC added bikeways and multi-modal transportation to mentions of a pedestrian friendly network.
  • Added Capital Trails Coalition to the list of Stakeholders. 
  • Noted that primary commuter routes are not safe for bikes and pedestrians because visiting drivers may not be aware of crossings as the roads meander. (??)
  • Modified the park categories to be based on primary function, resulting in a category "Trails, Parkways, and Greenways: Designated linear routes used by motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians or linear habitat corridors that follow natural or constructed features.
  • Address language about the Potomac Heritage Trail.
  • Noted that NPS can provide more information on the Arboretum and how "Gates and fences could restrict after hours access to the Arboretum while allowing bicyclists and joggers continued access."
  • Added language about the historic use of bridle trails that are now used for multi-use; and that they need to be sufficiently sized for today’s types of uses. Educate about past horse use.
  • Add a policy to Identify opportunities to connect multi-use trails and users and another to Incorporate convenient, safe, separated multi-use trails systems within parkways.
• In response to requests to include language supporting bikesharing on park land, NCPC responded "The Capital Space Plan was completed in 2010. The Transportation Element is in the process of being updated and will address different modes of transportation, such as bikeshare." So not in this, but in something to be done later. 

For more there is an article about the project

Adapting Designed Landscapes, written by NCPC’s Sarah Ridgely, was published in the American Planning Association’s Urban Design and Preservation Division’s fall newsletter. The article examines research conducted by NCPC staff and the resulting findings that were incorporated into the Parks & Open Space Element.

From that article there a bit on Banneker Park.

Another recent example of an adapted landscape reviewed by NCPC is Banneker Park, an 8-acre National Park Service site designed by Dan Kiley, and originally constructed between 1967 and 1969. 

The site serves as a terminus for 10th Street, SW—and despite its location between L’Enfant Plaza and the National Mall to the north–and the waterfront and the then-planned waterfront development known as the District Wharf to the south–offered limited pedestrian and bicycle access between these areas. With Phase I of The Wharf under construction there was a strong interest to provide a safe, accessible connection through Banneker Park.

The project includes a stairway constructed on the west side of Banneker Park, which terminates at Maine Avenue, SW near the waterfront Fish Market. In addition, ramps traverse the park’s east side to provide access for pedestrians, including people with disabilities, down to the waterfront and The Wharf. Landscape enhancements reintroduced a portion of the grid pattern of trees original to the Kiley design, and installed wayfinding signage to direct pedestrians and bicycles to and from the overlook. 

Parks and Open Space Plan calls for creation of regional trail system

Though the comment period has come and gone, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) is working on a new version of the policies for the Parks & Open Space Element Update of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital, one that is strongly influenced by the recent NPS Paved Trails Study. 

Since the federal government’s goal is to protect and enhance the National Capital Region’s parks and open space system while providing recreational, ecological, social, and educational benefits for visitors, residents, workers, and future generations, it would make sense that this plan would have some impact on cycling and trails. And so it does. One of the key guiding principals is that the government should "Provide Access to and Connections between Parks and Open Space" and trails are one of the main ways they plan to do that. 

Improving access and enhancing connections includes improving physical and visual connectivity and filling the gaps in the existing system. It also requires a shift from thinking of parks and open space as isolated spaces to planning how the park network functions as a whole and rethinking how streets, sidewalks, trails, and plazas, complement and connect parks and open space and facilitate movement within the network.

Furthermore, trails, parkways and greenways are specifically mentioned as they types of facilities they want to connect.

Similar to parkways, trails create an integrated, inter-jurisdictional network for recreation, multimodal transportation, and education. Trails often follow scenic routes, linking destinations including significant cultural properties and natural resource areas. However, these areas can sometimes be vulnerable to ecological or development changes, and trail development in or near sensitive areas and habitats must be planned with thorough research and careful design.

And trails can help connect people to and along the Waterfront

For example, the recently completed Kenilworth Segment of the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail connects Anacostia Park in Washington, DC with Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The recently completed threemile connection made it possible to link Washington, Maryland and Virginia through a 16-mile long trail. This segment of trail provides a pleasant, accessible, and safe route for cyclists who commute between Prince George’s County and Washington, and offers convenient access to the river and its natural resources.

Several policies identified in the plan call for trails to be used to create connectivity

POS.C.1 Plan and maintain connections between parks and open space through streets, sidewalks, plazas, and trails to create a unified and accessible park system for the national capital region.

POS.C.2 Improve public access to parks and open space, including removing barriers that limit physical or visual connectivity.

POS.C.3 Create access points to the region’s park system from adjacent communities where impacts on natural and cultural resources will be minimal

POS.C.4 Link open space along the Potomac and Anacostia shorelines to provide a continuous public open space system.

POS.C.5 Promote access to waterfront parks by encouraging improved pedestrian and other multimodal connections, and wayfinding signage from adjacent communities.

POS.C.6 Promote public access along the region’s shorelines, including on federal properties when security considerations will permit.

POS.C.7 Develop, improve, and maintain a regional trail system that serves recreational and commuter needs by closing gaps and connecting parks and open space, natural areas, and destinations. Ensure that regional trails connect with the national trail network.

POS.C.8 Consider opportunities to develop trails or connect trail systems when planning anddesigning projects throughout the region. Ensure that new development do notpreclude future improvements to trail connections.

POS.C.9 Improve access to the Civil War Defenses of Washington historic fort sites by linking them to surrounding communities using the existing street rights-of-way, sidewalks, and trails where possible.

POS.C.10 Provide public access to open space on or adjacent to federal properties as mission and security considerations permit, while minimizing impacts on natural and cultural resources. Where security is an issue, encourage limited access through coordinated programs and events.

Furthermore, trail maintenance should be an opportunity to engage with and educated the public

POS.B.21 - Consider opportunities to educate and engage communities in the cleanup, planting, removal of invasive species, and maintenance of the region’s rivers, trails, parks, and open space.

But since another principle is that they should balance interests, it means trails have to build in low impact ways, especially in the sensitive Capper-Cramton Parks

POS.D.4 Ensure that proposed improvements and maintenance projects along trails and parkways minimize impacts to viewsheds and are sensitive to their natural and historic qualities that make them significant.

POS.D.5 Minimize impacts from development adjacent to parks and open space, including trails and parkways, to protect their natural and historic features.

The plan also calls for collaboration between agencies and jurisdictions

As an example, portions of the trail system cross multiple jurisdictions, and there may be opportunities to collaborate on maintenance or improvement projects with other stakeholders to ensure that trails continue to serve both recreational and transportation functions. The federal government can provide leadership and assist in linking new and existing trail networks with parkland or trails on federal properties to create an integrated parks and open space network serving the residents of and visitors to the region.

POS.F.2 Develop partnerships and build coalitions among local agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, foundations, and other stakeholders to create, manage, maintain, and connect a cohesive open space system.

If you missed the last comment period, you'll get another chance. NCPC staff will revise the Parks & Open Space Element based on public comments and stakeholder feedback recieved through May 7, 2018. At a Commission meeting in the winter, staff will present the revised element for the Commission's approval and adoption. The public will have the opportunity to comment on the revised element in the weeks leading up to this Commission meeting.

Arlington's Public Spaces Master Plan and the "Zachary Taylor Trail"

Since I last wrote about the Arlington County Public Spaces Master Plan, the Preliminary Draft was made public and received public comments (It may have been out before my post, but it was close). Not much changed in the way of trails, and most of the comments on the trails were positive and there hasn't been much discussion of the trails section at the committee meetings since then. 

Unsurprisingly, the Public Spaces plan has sections dedicated to trails and their expansion as all three of the fastest growing fitness activities in the US are related to biking and running; and Hiking trails and paved, multi-use trails are the highest and third highest
priorities for investment in outdoor facilities, respectively, based on responses from the statistically valid survey. The heart of the trails section is still the creation of a pair of loops through the County, an outer loop and an inner loop which will overlap in places with each other and the existing "Arlington Loop" (made up of the MVT, Custis and FMR trails). Surveys show that people want more trails, with better connectivity and better signage. 

One thing that I was surprised to find out is that there is a whole trail I've never heard of in Arlington, and it's not new. It's been there for years. I'm talking about the Zachary Taylor Trail in the north part of the County and I've never heard of it or seen it before. I don't even know who I am right now. How have I never heard of a trail named for one of our lessor presidents (though it does appear to have only been paved sometime between 2009 and 2012)? This is very disturbing. 

Anyway that trail would help make up the northern part of the Outer Loop. 

Other goals are to

1. evaluate opportunities to create better connections across boundaries like the GW Parkway, I-395 and Arlington Cemetery 
2. Connect Long Bridge Park to the MV Trail
3. Creating safe routes to parks by filling in gaps in sidewalks and trails
4. Create better connections with trails outside the County
5. Expand trail use monitoring
6. Complete and clarify trail design standards
7. Use striping on trails to keep traffic moving in opposite directions
8. Ensure paved trails are wide enough for passing
9. Explore new ways to inform trail users about etiquette
10. Separate modes where space allows
11. Develop learn to ride areas
12. Provide public wi-fi at trailheads
13. Name all trail segments with descriptive names
14. Develop common trail signage
15. Add location identifiers at regular intervals
16. Improve wayfinding signage at trailheads
17. Advocate for National Park Service trails to be connected to County trails and maintained to the agreed upon maintenance standards
18. Revise and review trail maintenance standards
19. Consider leasing, on a temporary or permanent basis, land adjacent to trails at trailheads for concessions (e.g., cafes, bike rentals) to increase revenue.
20. Include park access planning in transportation planning efforts in order to ensure sufficient transit service to major parks and trails

The current state of trails can be seen on the map below.

The plan also mentions other bike relevant projects like Long Bridge Park, seating, water fountains, 

We can expect the Final Draft Plan sometime this spring coinciding with another round of public meetings. 

NCPC's Draft Federal Parks & Open Space Element Open for Public Comment

The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) released the draft policies for the Parks & Open Space Element Update of the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital for public review and comment through Monday, May 7. Public comments may be submitted online or by mail.

The draft has a whole section on trails that reflects recent changes and the new Paved Trails Study

As the area continues to grow, trail usage has increased, encouraging federal and local governments to address challenges associated with meeting commuter and visitor needs and expanding the trail network. Although the region has hundreds of miles of trails on the ground, they are not all connected in a cohesive, easy-to-navigate network. Administered by multiple jurisdictions with different design standards, trail segments were built at different times when funding was available.

The Capital Trails Coalition (Coalition), a collaboration of public and private organizations, agencies, and citizen volunteers, is an effort to unify the region’s trails by advancing the completion of an interconnected network of multi-use trails in the region. The Coalition’s goals include closing gaps, improving trail access, and creating a network that links communities and major destinations in the region; promoting health and physical activity; and helping spur both economic development and trail tourism.

More on the draft

Last updated in 2004, the element establishes policies to protect and enhance the many federal parks and open spaces in the National Capital Region and promote improvements to the regional open space network. NCPC uses these policies to guide agency actions, including review of projects and long-range plans that affect federal parks and open spaces.

The update introduces policies that address current issues, such as adapting designed landscapes or balancing commemorative works with active uses in parks. The element includes information and policies referencing the Capper-Cramton Act that provided federal funding to acquire parkland in the region and authorized NCPC to review development projects in these parks to ensure their protection. It also incorporates information from recent planning studies such as the Small Parks Management Strategies Study completed by NCPC and the National Park Service.

The proposed Parks & Open Space Element is structured around six guiding principles that create a cohesive vision through improved stewardship, utilization, maintenance, planning, and design, as follows:

1. Protect the Parks and Open Space Design Legacy
2. Provide Stewardship of Natural and Cultural Resources
3. Provide Access to and Connections between Parks and Open Space
4. Balance Multiple Uses within Parks
5. Balance Commemorative Works within Parks
6. Build Partnerships and Coordination among Multiple Landowners and Jurisdictions

NCPC will host two public open houses for the public and the media to learn more about the updates:

• Wednesday, March 21 (6:00—7:30 pm)
• Thursday, April 12 (10:30 am—noon)

Both meetings will cover the same content.

Rules change could make bike commuting in suburban Maryland parks legal and lower trail speed limit

The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) has drafted a revision to the Park Rules and Regulations that govern parks in Montgomery and Prince George's County. Since so many multi-use trails in suburban Maryland pass through N-NCPPC parks there are obviously parts of the new rules that are relevant to cyclist. There will be a planning board hearing on the draft rules tomorrow (and also that review of the Bicycle Plan Framework) at which the public is invited to testify and the public may provide comments via email at  [email protected], or by mail to:

M-NCPPC
c/o Rules and Regulations Review Committee
6611 Kenilworth Avenue, Suite 200
Riverdale, MD 20737

The public input period will end at 5 p.m. on August 1, 2016.  Public input will be considered before the Commission enacts new rules and regulations.

There are several rule changes that are relevant to cyclists and bike commuters.

• Instead of prohibiting all public use of Commission or Park Property from sunset to sunrise unless that facility is officially open for public use, the new rule would make it possible to specifically allow bike commuting. "An Administrative Directive may provide alternate hours of operation for a Park Property or Facility, including alternate hours deemed appropriate for any trail or trail segments that facilitate bicycle and pedestrian commuting..."
• The current rules permit cycling "only on roads or trails designated for that purpose" but the new rules permit it "on roads on Park Property, including Parkways...[and] on official paved and natural surface trails on Park Property...Unless otherwise posted." Which means parks have to opt out instead of opt in.
• The default speed limit on all trails drops from 25 mph to 20 mph.
• Under current rules, parking is prohibited on or obstructing the entrance to, any trail. The proposed rules prohibit it "on or within twenty (20) feet of any bicycle path"
• Horseback riders now "must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists."

These are mostly small changes, to rules that probably aren't often enforced, but hopefully this will mean the end of restrictions of bike commuting via trails at night. I once got a written warning for commuting home in the winter. And surely there are some foot-droppers out there like Crikey who have been foregoing night commuting because of the sunset rule.

The full bicycle section of the current and proposed rules are below the fold for your comparison fun.

National Capital Region gets less money for trail maintenance than other NPS regions

Not to drone on and on about the NPS paved trails study, but one interesting factoid in it is the claim that the National Capital Region (NCR) "is allocated a significantly lower amount of funding for trail-related cyclic maintenance and repair/rehabilitation than other NPS regions." When looking at almost every federal funding source (in bold) that other National Park regions rely on, NCR parks get less money for trails. 

Other NPS park regions allocate funds from park fee revenues and concessions fees for trail projects at levels far higher than the NCR. For example, the Recreation Fee fund is formed from a portion (20%) of the recreation fees collected by all NPS park units and then is distributed to NPS regions; this source accounted for 33.5% of funding for trail projects between 2000 and 2015 nationally but only 3.28% of funding for trail projects in the NCR for the same time period.

The NCR averages just under $200,000 in recreation fee-based funding for trails per year, but in the last three funding years (2013-2015) the NCR has received less than half the average each year. An important note for the Recreation Fee funding source is that the NPS park units included in this study do not collect entrance fees.

The Cyclic Maintenance program is designed to complete regular, scheduled maintenance of assets. Cyclical maintenance is typically not sufficient in and of itself to complete all maintenance needed for all assets. Nationally, NPS funding for trail related cyclic maintenance accounted for approximately 20.7% of total funding between 2000 and 2015. Cyclic maintenance only accounted for 1.5% of total funding for the NCR during the same period.

In the last five years, the NCR has received less than $10,000 in trail repair / rehabilitation funding across all park units. Other individually significant park units such as Acadia National Park (ACAD) have received over $586,000, while Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRMP) in the Southeast Region has received more than $3.1 million in trail repair/rehabilitation funding in the last five years

So, trails within the NCR don't get a lot of support from NPS funding sources, not when compared to other parks. But it makes up for it with non-NPS funding. 

On a national level, NPS has received approximately 5.3% of funding for trail projects from Non-NPS sources. The NCR is a leader in obtaining funding under this category. Approximately 40% of the NCR funding for trails came from Non-NPS sources between 2000 and 2015. This equates to about 45% of the total amount of Non-NPS funding Service-wide.

Which seems good, except that the reason NPS has done so well comparably was because of the $10 million TIGER grant that DDOT secured for the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. It "accounted for most of this funding."

Another funding source available for NPS trails is the Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP) – Category III – Alternative Transportation Program. 

The NCR receives a $1.2 million allocation for Category III projects each year. Prior to 2011, these funds were utilized on non-trail related projects. However, since then over $1.9 million has been provided for trail capital projects, including funding for this study.

So part of the reason why local NPS trails have so many needs is that not only is NPS insufficiently funded to provide the needed maintenance of its infrastructure, but even within NPS, the NCR trails seem to get considerably less federal funding than other parks and regions do.

NPS Trails Study - George Washington Parkway

The National Park Service's National Capitol Region (NCR) recently released a draft version of its "Paved Trails Study", which serves as a plan for how NCR sees the paved trail network, both within and outside of the parks, developing in the future and as an update to the 1990 plan. In addition to identifying several high priority capital projects, the NPS Paved Trails Study also identifies some lower priority capital projects which it groups by park.

Comments are open until May 19th.

Here are all the paved trail projects identified for the George Washington Parkway, which with 33 projects, has the most of any park. There are some good ideas here, but many of the best ideas from the 1990 plan - like widening the trail - have neither been completed, nor carried forward to this plan.

Immediate (0-2 years) - all of these projects are high priority projects that were covered in this earlier post. 

1. (G1.7) Conduct alternatives analysis to provide off-road trail connection from the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge to Arlington Ridge Park
2. (G2.2) Improve access on Airport Access Road overpass to Reagan National Airport/ Aviation Circle; connect with steps; expand sidewalks
3. (G2.3) Connect 14th Street Bridge to proposed off-road facility on Boundary Channel Drive along Lagoon; create on-street trail facility on Boundary Channel Drive that connects under I-395 to Long Bridge Drive
4. (G2.4) Develop connection from Mount Vernon Trail to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge on south side of bridge
5. (G2.5) Improve safety and access at intersection of Mount Vernon Trail and Custis Trail at Lee Highway/North Lynn Street approach to Key Bridge Coordinate with NPS regarding access drive to future boathouse
6. (G4.7) At the intersection of Mount Vernon Trail and Four Mile Run Trail at Reagan National Airport, provide safety and sightline improvements and explore the potential for new roundabout

Short Term (2-5 years)

1. (G1.2) Develop off-road trail facility along Vernon View Drive from the MVT to Fort Hunt Road
2. (G1.3) Develop off-road trail facility along Fort Hunt Road from Fort Hunt Park to Belle Haven Road
3. (G1.4) Develop off-road connector along Belle Haven Road from Fort Hunt Road to Mount Vernon Trail
4. (G1.5) Develop off-road connector along Belle View Boulevard from Fort Hunt Road to Mount Vernon Trail
5. (G1.6) Realign trail within Gravelly Point Park to separate through-traffic
6. (G3.1) Develop a regional trailhead with bike share at Mount Vernon Estate
7. (G3.5) Develop a regional trailhead at Jones Point Park
8. (G3.6) Develop a regional trailhead at Long Bridge Park
9. (G3.7) Develop a regional trailhead at Gravelly Point Park
10. (G4.2) Provide traffic calming measures to facilitate crossing of GWMP at Vernon View Drive
11. (G4.3) Provide traffic calming measures to facilitate crossing of GWMP at Collingwood Road
12. (G4.4) Provide traffic calming measures to facilitate crossing of GWMP at Morningside Lane
13. (G4.5) Provide traffic calming measures to facilitate crossing of GWMP at Belle View Boulevard
14. (G4.6) Provide traffic calming measures to facilitate crossing of GWMP at Belle Haven Road
15. (G4.8) Provide at-grade crossing improvements per ongoing EA recommendations at Arlington Memorial Bridge
16. (G4.9) Provide at-grade crossing improvements per ongoing EA recommendations at Washington Boulevard

Mid Term (5-10 years)

1. (G1.1) Realign trail at bridge near Little Hunting Creek at Mount Vernon Estates
2. (G2.1) Replace existing 300-foot-long bridge through wetlands near Dangerfield Island
3. (G3.2) Enhance existing Local/NPS trailhead with improved signage and amenities at Riverdale Park
4. (G3.3) Develop a local/NPS trailhead at Fort Hunt Park
5. (G3.4) Develop a local/NPS trailhead at Belle Haven Road
6. (G3.8) Develop a viewshed compliant local/NPS trailhead with bikeshare at Arlington National Cemetery
7. (G3.9) Enhance the existing bikeshare station on North Meade Street adjacent to the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial with signage, shelter, bike repair station, etc.
8. (G3.10) Develop a local/NPS trailhead at the Theodore Roosevelt Island parking lot
9. (G4.1) Provide improvements to at-grade Highway crossing at Mount Vernon Estate and Garden
10. (G5.1) Implement edge of pavement striping on trail within close proximity of roadway along National airport perimeter
11. (G5.2) Coordinate with the City of Alexandria to promote, through enhanced signage, the Potomac Yard Trail as an alternate to the Mount Vernon Trail and as a commuter route

 

 Some really good proposals were in the 1990 Plan that don't show up in this one. Among them are

1. Widening the trail to at least 8 feet, 10 feet where possible and 12 feet near the city center and bridges
2. Relocate the trail at the Gravelly Point parking lot to eliminate conflicts between drivers and cyclists (maybe this has been "done" and things use to be worse than they are now, but conflict has not been eliminated)
3. Provide an attractive barrier between the trail and the parkway north of the airport where the two are very close together. This would protect cyclists from on-coming headlights and from vehicles crossing from the trail to the road or the road to the trail.
4. Construct a shoreline loop trail on Dangerfield Island
5. Develop safe access under the Boundary Channel Bridge (Despite the fact that to everyone else the Boundary Channel Bridge isthe bridge from Arlington Memorial Circle to Arlington Cemetery, on second review NPS is clearly talking about the "Humpback Bridge" (based on the map on page 61 of the 1990 plan). They also use the two to mean the same thing here. So this has actually been done).
6. Build both an east-west and north-south trail near the Pentagon (maybe this was done. There aren't enough details to know what this entailed).
7. Re-establish federal ownership of the Glen Echo Trolley Right-of-way and develop parts of it for trail use. 
8. Extending the Mount Vernon Trail to Scott's Run Park in Fairfax County. 

Trailheads are nice, but the 1990 plan was significantly more ambitious than the one proposed now is, at least when it comes to the Mt. Vernon Trail. 

NPS Trails Study - National Capital Parks East

The National Park Service's National Capitol Region (NCR) recently released a draft version of its "Paved Trails Study", which serves as a plan for how NCR sees the paved trail network, both within and outside of the parks, developing in the future and as an update to the 1990 plan. In addition to identifying several high priority capital projects, the NPS Paved Trails Study also identifies some lower priority capital projects which it groups by park.

Comments are open until May 19th.

Here are all the paved trail projects identified for the National Capital Parks East. The NPS study is about paved trails, which it defines as asphalt or concrete trails that serve pedestrians and cyclists of all abilities. While the C&O Canal Towpath and the Fort Circle Hiker Biker Trail are not paved, NPS has included them in this study due to their regional significance. 

1. (E1.1) Develop an on-street connection between Shepherd Parkway along Blue Plains Drive SW and DC Village Lane to Oxon Hill Farm Trail - this is a high priority project and was covered in this earlier post. 
2. (E1.2) Improve connection from Audrey Lane and Forest Heights Elementary School to Oxon Run Park and Oxon Hill Farm Trail 
3. (E1.3) The South Capitol Street Trail 
4. (E1.4) Construct an off-road connector from the Suitland Parkway Trail to the Fort Circle Hiker-Biker Trail
5. (E1.5) Develop an off-road trail along Fort Davis Drive SE and Fort Dupont Drive SE with a connection to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail under I-295
6. (E1.6) Connection from the Fort Circle Hiker-Biker Trail to the Minnesota Avenue Metro Station
7. (E1.7) Connection from the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail to the Minnesota Avenue Metro Station
8. (E1.8) Develop an on-street facility from Oxon Hill Farm Trail across 495 to Oxon Hill Road and Harborview Avenue (in Prince George's Co.); improve signage and crossings; connect to the POHE - this is a high priority project and was covered in this earlier post. 
9. (E1.9) Develop an on-street trail (along 13th SE and Dogwood Street) to connect the improved Oxon Run Trail to the Suitland Parkway Trail through Saint Elizabeth's  with a link to Metro.
10. (E3.1) Develop a regional trailhead facility with bikeshare at Oxon Hill Farm
11. (E3.2) Develop a regional trailhead facility with bikeshare at Poplar Point Park
12. (E3.3) Develop a local/NPS trailhead facility at Fort Dupont Park
13. (E5.1) Conduct a feasibility study to establish an offroad trail facility along Oxon Run extending through D.C. and MD linking to Pennsylvania Avenue, SE and the Congress Heights Metro Station
14. (E5.2) Conduct a feasibility study for extending the Suitland Parkway Trail from the D.C./MD line to the Henson Creek Trail, and to also address upgrades to the D.C. portion of the trail - this is a high priority project and was covered in this earlier post. Interestingly, the Henson Creek Trail doesn't extend to the Suitland Parkway, so this shoud really be an added part of this project.
15. (E5.3) Work with Prince George's County to explore the feasibility of a trail along the Baltimore Washington Parkway (or other nearby corridor) to connect Washington to Baltimore

A few things I'd like this to pull forward from the 1990 plan are

• Extend the Fort Lincoln Trail to the Anacostia and take it across the river either on or underneath the US-50 (New York Avenue) Bridge
• Extend the Kenilworth Park trails east along Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue to the Mavin Gaye Park Trail
• Building a trail from Buzzards Point along the shoreline of Fort McNair (I know, fat chance, but in 1990 they thought it was possible) to the SW waterfront
• Urge appropriate agencies to implement long-standing open space plans by opening up the Potomac shoreline to trail use from Oxon Cove/Wilson Bridge to the Douglas Bridge through Blue Plains, NRC and JB Anacostia-Bolling. [Again, fat chance. But interesting that this seemed to be the policy at the time, and so how it was that a direct connection from DC to the Wison Bridge was missed remains mysterious]

Then, of course, there is the EOTR Fantasy map. Key among them:

• A trail along the abandoned railroad to Blue Plains

 

 

NPS Trails Study - top programmatic priorities

In addition to identifying several high priority capital project priorities, the NPS Paved Trails Study also identifies some programmatic priorities. 27 total programmatic recommendations are outlined in the study, but 7 of them scored well enough to be considered among the highest priority.

Establish an NPS Regional Trails Coordinator

This regional position would be responsible for furthering the implementation the recommendations in this plan and the enhancement of the NPS paved trail network. The position would coordinate with all NPS park units, other federal, state and local land managers, and trail advocacy groups, regarding the planning, design, construction, maintenance, and promotion of NPS trails and those trail segments impacting the NPS network. The trail coordinator would be a liaison between the NPS units and trail partners to provide guidance on process requirements and would assist in the cultivation of trail partnerships, marketing, and communications. 

It's kind of surprising that they don't already have one, and thus seems like a great idea.

Adopt a standard trail counting methodology and formalize agreement(s) with local government and expand the number of trail counters (2 separate recommendations)

NPS has noticed that trail counting has improved and the report notes that the installation by Arlington and Alexandria of counters along the MVT have benefited them. Improved trail use counts would provide a more accurate picture of trail usage for the overall network and the study dedicates numerous pages to the subject. 

In addition to the number of trail users, trail data can be used to identify seasonality impacts, special event impacts, and can help substantiate the need for investment in high-volume corridors. 

But they don't want to abandon manual counts, because "manual counts remain the best means to collect quantitative information regarding user characteristics such as trail user type (e.g. walker, jogger, or biker), helmet use, etc..."

The count data they have is limited both in locations and in the length of time it's been available, and the bridge counts that DDOT does have not been done on all bridges in all years due to budget issues. And then sometimes errors in data counters aren't fixed for several months. Nonetheless, they note that all the counters show bike traffic and trail usage to be up. For example, bridge traffic for cyclists is up 78% between 2008 and 2014. Also of interest:

• "The Key Bridge, Arlington Memorial Bridge and 14th Street Bridge accounted for 76% of all bicycle usage on area bridges, down from a high of 83% in 2011." [Which is another reason why improving the TR bridge could be so important].
• "The fastest growing usage is primarily on bridges with on-road facilities, representing a combined 130% growth since 2008."
• And somewhat humorously, "Despite the pronounced seasonality, there has been a steady increase in winter usage, from near zero in 2010 to approximately 20,000 in 2012." But the reason it was near zero in 2010 is that the trail counters in place then all registered zero cyclists in February due to Snowmaggedon. 
• "Three NPS-owned and maintained trails have trail count data available for analysis: the Mount Vernon Trail, the Towpath, and the Capital Crescent Trail. The Towpath has one of the longest time periods of data from automated counters available for analysis, spanning from 2009 to 2014"
• "Data provided by NPS-maintained counters had errors or gaps in data approximately 30% of the months that counts were collected, whereas, the Eco-Counters maintained by Arlington County on the Mount Vernon Trail had errors or gaps approximately 8% of months. Errors associated with NPS counters lasted longer (approximately 4.8 months per occurrence) than errors associated with Arlington County counters (2.3 months)"

So, NPS would like to see more counters installed, and that they report data in a standard format. They recommend that jurisdictions co-ordinate their purchasing and maintenance for efficiency and that they work to close counting gaps. Some of the more notable gaps are along the Potomac Heritage trail, National Mall trails and Rock Creek Park Trails (no mention of whether or not the current projects will install any). "Emphasis should be placed on the junction and terminus points along the Capital Crescent Trail, Rock Creek Park Multi-use Trail, Anacostia Riverwalk Trail as well as the POHE."

Complete At-Grade Crossing Study and Develop Standards for At-Grade Crossings as part of the Study

Because at-grade crossings represent the most dangerous parts of the trails, NPS would like to improve them by studying, determining and utilizing best practices. " A primary focus of this effort may be directed initially toward existing crossings along the Mount Vernon Trail; however, development of design standards should have a regional application"

The Mount Vernon Trail has 18 at-grade trail crossings with vehicular traffic and another nine at-grade trail crossings associated with Arlington Memorial Bridge (NPS Transportation Scholar Report, 2012). Thirteen of the at-grade crossings exist south of the City of Alexandria. Many trail crossings occur at high vehicle volume intersections with minimum-to-no safety or signage features for pedestrian or cyclist crossings. The George Washington Memorial Parkway was designed as a scenic roadway along the natural terrain of the Potomac River. Points of interest and overlooks were designed to be reached by motorized vehicle. To improve overall safety, at-grade crossings should be targeted for roadway and trail safety enhancements; improvements could include improved sightlines, speed limit reductions in key areas, creating shorter trail crossing distances by narrowing or reducing lanes, introducing pavement markings, and improved crossing signage

Establish Comprehensive Trail Standards and Manual of Standards

NPS has no trail design standards. 

The NCR should establish a set of trail design standards and guidelines unique to the NCR that define trail user types and at a minimum address trail width; clear zones; sight distances; crossings; markings; amenities; access; vegetation; safety features; lighting; snow removal; maintenance; signage; wayfinding; bridges; tunnels; and boardwalks. The standards and guidelines should take into consideration the regional hierarchy of trail and trailhead types (high volume corridors) and industry standards being implemented locally.

Establish Protocols for Incident Reporting and Data Collection and Increase Trail Security Infrastructure

Obtaining comprehensive pedestrian or bicyclist accident or incident data related to NPS paved trails is difficult due to the number of agencies, organizations, and local police departments involved in tracking fatality and injury data. Methods and standards by which data is collected, reported, and made publicly available vary widely and the NPS incident reporting system does not currently require or capture incident geospatial information that could be used to analyze trends and target investment to specific locations. Protocols for incident reporting and data collection to increase trail safety should be developed and mile markers should be installed along all trails to aid emergency responders and trail users.

Unfortunately it appears that the worst tracker of data is the United States Park Police (USPP)

The Incident Management Analysis and Reporting System (IMARS) is a relatively new Service-wide system that is used by USPP to document incidents that occur in a park. Currently the system does not require or capture geospatial information for incidents that would allow mapping of incidents along trails for analysis. When an incident occurs, the location of the incident is typically referenced as the nearest roadway intersection when entered into the system, which may be a considerable distance from the actual location of the incident.

Develop National Capital Trail marketing and promotion program

Promotion of the National Capital Trail concept across the region should include the development of standards for signage and wayfinding system-wide and a trail map and booklet, as well as, interactive features such as virtual experience opportunities, i.e. mobile device apps, interactive mapping tools, educational websites. Efforts should include the establishment of a clear agreement with Arlington County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, City of Alexandria and the District of Columbia to advance the National Capital Trail concept and branding.