Bike Committee June Minutes

[Bruce Dwyer]

Alexandria Bicycle Study Committee
Minutes for the 19 June 2001 Meeting

Attendance: Suzanne Salva, Chan Mohney, Bruce Dwyer, Dave Levy, Patricia
McManus, Warren Beam, Allen Muchnick, Jerry King

1. Welcome to Warren Beam.  Bruce provided a short history of what the Bike
Committee is, does, has done, and wants to do.  May minutes were approved.

2.Status Reports on open projects
a.  Tarleton:  Bruce and Tricia have staked the alternative routing twice.
Citizen Association has not  provided a letter expressing its agreement on
the preferred routing.  Bike Committee agreed to be passive and lower this
project on its priority list.
b. Holmes Run: On hold until Holmes Run Committee expresses an interest
again.
c. Chambliss: This was the Committee's first priority in 1998, and we have
come full circle by now making it our first priority again. Tricia, Suzanne,
Paul, Bruce, and Bill Hicks met w/ Fairfax County on site.  Fairfax County
will begin construction of Holmes Run Trail from Columbia Pike to Alexandria
City line probably by next spring/summer. The Bike Committee recommends that
the city begin design work so that work on the Chambliss stream crossing
could coincide with the Fairfax County project with the potential for
savings if  Alexandria could piggyback on the construction job.  Without the
stream crossing the Fairfax County trail leaves trail users on the south
side with only  circuitous and difficult street access to continue on the
Alexandria portion of the Holmes Run Trail. Bruce will contact southern
citizen’s committee.  This is very important for Regional connectivity.
d. Mill Road redesign will go forward with wide curb lanes.
e. Police on Holmes Run Trail: Suzanne and Kirk are going out to check on
police high speed and frequent use of trail between South Jordan and
Eisenhower.
f. Abingdon: Cypress trees along powerplant property line have been trimmed
back from obstructing the sidewalk.  Bashford Trail is not paved yet, but
target is to have it done prior to the temporary rerouting onto this trail
from the Mt. Vernon Trail later this year.
g. Holmes Run Maintenance: Trees will be trimmed on Holmes Run.  Suzanne
preparing line item for CIP budget to fix trail in the area of  the I-395
tunnel and weir.  Committee recommends cleaning up trail west of I-395.
h. Mt. Vernon path: Kirk looking into repositioning the yellow posts around
area of boathouse and putting reflective material on them.  Committee also
recommends repaving this section of the trail.from Montgomery to Pendelton
streets
i. TEA-21 Grant: Congratulations guys!!  City got  $372,000, about 1/2 half
of our proposal, which should allow for the construction of the underpass of
Eisenhower Ave.
j. Bike Lanes:  Looks good on Commonwealth Ave., city is waiting for
bicycle template.
k. Wilson Bridge: Jerry King attends the WW Bridge Task Force Meeting  to
look out for bicycling interest.
l. Potomac Heritage Trail signage: Chan is drafting a proposal to the
Archeological Commission to get started w/ signs marking the sites on the
Baron of Cameron, Mill Race, Preservation, and Campaign Trails.
Essentially, this will complete almost everything west of a line drawn along
West Street.  Chan will complete the draft and make the proposal soon.  A
copy will be sent to the Bike Comm. and the Parks Commission when the
Archeological Commission has approved it.
m. Other Reports: Tricia says it is time to print more maps so any
corrections should be forwarded to her.  Eisenhower crosswalk is on the
painting schedule.  The Va.-American. Water Company says that the trail at
Potomac Yards is covering some water valves, so they will need to dig up the
trail to finds them.  Suzanne says that VDOT is looking at a design standard
for bicycle pedestrian facilities.  VDOT has engineers getting training for
designing bike/pedestrian facilities.  Suzanne is representing Alexandria at
a public forum on the Northern Virginia Bike Plan being developed by VDOT.
She will get the Bike Committee input and keep the committee informed.
3.  Event Reports
 a.  Earth Day Bike Ride—2 June—despite overcast skies and some early
sprinkles, Chan says there were 18 riders, including both City Paramedics on
bikes.
b. Earth Day Rodeo: Was not well attended, needed more promotion
c. Bike Round-up: Bike Comm. had 4 there (Bruce, Chan, John Usrey, and
friend) along with many from mountain bike group M.O.R.E.  Not sure how the
give away went.  Bike Committee got mention for support in the Gazette.
d. Arlington Bike Ride with government officials: 4-Mile Run improvements
under I-395 and Glebe are scheduled to begin this fall (hopefully).

4. Upcoming:
a. Open Space Summit: 23 June—0800-1300 at Lee Center.  Dave Levy going.
b. G.W. parkway Improvements Hearings: road improvements first, then trail
improvements (in about 5 years.).
c. Crystal City Streets.: Hearings—redevelopment is coming up.

5. New bridge over Holmes Run over Columbia Pike is done.  Try it out.

Summer recess in July.  Meet again on August 15 at 7:00 PM.