New Path Near Memorial Bridge (fwd)

[Levy.Dave at epamail.epa.gov]

FYI--Allen

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 28 Dec 1972 02:51:37 -0500 (EST)
From: Allen J. Muchnick <muchnick at CapAccess.org>
To: Richard Foster <richard_foster at nps.gov>
Cc: allen at waba.org
Subject: Re: New Path Near Memorial Bridge

Richard,

Thanks for your reply last Friday.  CapAccess emptied my mailbox a week
ago Tuesday, so I might have missed your reply if you had sent it earlier. 


While realigning the trail crosswalks near Memorial Bridge has long been
considered a top safety priority (project "G20" was rated the number one
priority in the 1990 NPS report _Paved Recreation Trails of the National
Capital Region_), and the current construction suggests some real
improvements are in the making, I have several concerns with the project. 

1. The lack of any crossing provisions, or even warnings, for trail users
during construction.  No temporary alternate crosswalks or reasonable
detours have been provided during construction when the crosswalk
approaches at busy high-speed highway ramps have been excavated and/or are
obstructed.  Moreover, while I haven't visited the site in over a week, it
seems that these hazardous conditions may persist for many weeks and
possibly months. Construction should have been postponed until April or 
March if possible. 

2. The apparent construction of trail widths at the crosswalk approaches
which are narrower than the 10-ft minimum recommended in AASHTO's _Guide
for the Development of Bicycle Facilities_.  Crosswalk approaches narrower
than 10 or 12 feet wide are especially hazardous and do not seem warranted
by any "resource management" concerns.  Moreover, due to the heavy use of
these paths by out-of-town tourists (aka clueless, path-hogging
pedestrians), the construction of overly wide or dual "wheel" and "heel"
paths should be a priority, along with much better directional signage. 

3. The apparent omission of one very hazardous and substandard trail
crosswalk from this project: the crossing of the eastbound VA-27 exit ramp
(leading to the southbound GWMP) immediately east of Boundary Channel.  In
1993, Arlington County was awarded about $240,000 in ISTEA Enhancement
Funding from VDOT to upgrade the adjoining shared use path along VA-27 by
the Pentagon from Boundary Channel to the Interchange with VA-244.  When
Arlington's project is finally built (hopefully in early 2001), this first
trail crosswalk on Columbia Island will be a glaring deficiency. 

4. The very busy two-lane crosswalk of Washington Blvd just south of
Memorial Circle is being moved at least several car lengths to the south. 
Unless traffic is directed to STOP (not, as has been done ineffectively at
Rosslyn Circle, to merely "yield) before the new crosswalk, the realigned
crosswalk may be more treacherous than the existing one. 

5. The apparent lack of formal input from bicyclists and other trail 
users on project design (e.g., via a public meeting or consultation with 
the Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee).  Although NPS 
undoubtedly used qualified consultants, public input would have likely 
produced a better project as indicated by my first four concerns.

Please forward my message for consideration by the persons responsible.

Thank you for making the Mount Vernon Trail safer and better. I wish 
you a wonderful new year.

Allen

On Fri, 22 Dec 2000, Richard Foster wrote:

> Allen
> 
> Sorry for the delay in answering you, it has been quite hectic.
> 
> 
> The improvements mentioned in your note are part of several traffic 
safety
> improvements delineated in a 1998 Traffic Safety Study of high accident
> areas along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. As you may have 
noticed,
> we have four different trail crossing near the circle that are being
> realigned with the same contract.  When complete, trail users will have 
a
> safer and more direct route to use as they cross the George Washington
> Memorial Parkway.
> 
> I hope you and your family have a safe and enjoyable holiday.
> 
> Richard 



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