Duke St. Ped Bridge

[Bruce Dwyer]

Rich,

The question of  the Duke Street Pedestrian Bridge project came up in both
the Bike Committee meeting and the Park&Rec. public hearing in January.
Suzanne provided the following information.  "Duke Street Pedestrian Bridge
near Cameron Station (FY 02 CMAQ) TES is requesting funding from the State
(CMAQ) to widen the existing fly-over ramp, which extends from Duke Street
into Cameron Station, to provide pedestrian and bicycle access from the
north side of Duke Street into Ben Brenman Park.  TES will be soliciting
public input during both the study and design phases.  The study is
scheduled to commence after July 2001."  I believe the project estimated
cost is over $300,000.
We discussed the project further at the bike committee meeting last night.

1. We want to note that the bike plan and map show this as an on-street
route so it should not be characterized as a bike project.

2. The bike committee has raised the question of bicycle and pedestrian
accommodation in the west end for many years and there are several projects
(and should be more) in the bike plan to address them. Most importantly, the
committee recommended a study of the bicycle and pedestrian needs in the Van
Dorn Street Landmark Corridors. In looking at the difficulties facing
pedestrians and bicyclists in the west end we question whether this proposed
project at the proposed funding level should be a priority.  For example,
compare the distance of 3/8 mile between available pedestrian crossings of
Duke at Picket and at the Holmes Run Path (which connects to the new bridge
into Ben Brenman Park) to the full mile between Duke Street and Sanger
Avenue along I-395.  Further, the Duke Street pedestrian crossing of I-395
is a nightmare and the multi-use trail under I-395 at the half-way point is
under water much of the time. (Am I sounding like a broken record.)  While
we do not have specific pedestrian counts, our observations are that these
pedestrian routes are heavily used in an area of higher residential density
and broader economic diversity.  We believe that both of these
pedestrian/bike routes would promote non-motorized transportation and meet
the federal criteria for addressing environmental justice far more than the
proposed Duke Street overpass.

3. We support a safe pedestrian crossing of Duke street to improve access
between Ben Brenman Park and the library.  However, we believe that
pedestrians could be accommodated on the bridge without the expense of any
construction for widening the bridge.  Each lane is about 18 feet wide with
a four foot median on the bridge itself. On the approaching roadways, there
is additional paved shoulder room.  This width should be sufficient to
create a separate pedestrian right-of-way, with a curb or with a mini jersey
barrier. Such a design should be relatively inexpensive. More expensive
possibilities could involve shifting the median to make a wider two way
pedestrian right-of-way on only one side of the road, which should be the
inside lane since it is a shorter distance for the foot traveler. Further,
since this is an entrance to a park on a sharp curve, we would recommend a
posted speed limit of 15 MPH, which also would enhance pedestrian safety
(probably don't need barrier separation.) and bicycle safety.  We are sure
that there are other low cost solutions.

We would be glad to discuss this and other non-motorized transportation
projects with you or your staff further.

Bruce Dwyer
Chair, Alexandria Bicycle Committee
703-549-3263
ouibike at worldnet.att.net