Bike Committee Minutes 1/21/04

[Bruce&Linda Dwyer]

City of Alexandria Bicycle Study Committee Minutes from 1/21/04

in attendance: Bruce Dwyer, Jerry King, Dave Levy, Ruth Reeder, Aimee Vosper, Rachael Kennedy, Scott Newsham, Judy Lo, Ann Bedell Hunt


I.Introductions - 

II. Minutes - Approved 11/19/03 Minutes (Bruce’s 12/29/03 email)


III . Wilson Bridge Bike Ped Projects -

a.) Telegraph Rd.Access to Fairfax. (See Bruce’s 1/5/04 email). Originally the Telegraph west off-road path was to provide safe access for kids and less experienced cyclists to Wave Pool and other Eisenhower Valley recreation facilities.  Proposed off-road trail (same as in BSC Master Plan and WWB stakeholder recommendations) is no longer deemed feasible by VDOT.  Further, this proposed off-road trail  has problems as it’s now obstructed by a new parking garage. City says there is enough room for the trail, VDOT claims there isn’t.  Bruce has proposed improvements to Eisenhower Connector Bike Route with a path through Hensley Park as an alternative.  Fairfax County folks still need to weigh in on this with WWB project staff.  Bruce will write the city with a request to consider asking the WWB project for the alternative. 

b.) Sanitation Plant Restoration - Jerry, Bruce, Amiee, Judy, and Norine Walker from WWB project met in December with Sanitation Authority staff. The original bike trail  along the beltway will be rebuilt as part of WWB project, but the section of the trail going north has been obliterated with the new plant expansion. Jerry proposed that room be included in the viaduct being built over Hoofs Run to accommodate a path across Hoofs Run to the connect to the path system proposed for the East Eisenhower development.    A bridge would also be needed across Mill Race and connecting to Holland Lane/Eisenhower.  These routes  also are in the Bike Master Plan.  Jerry is trying to get the City to endorse this plan at the next WWB neighborhood task force meeting.  Bruce will also pursue through Open Space Steering Committee

c.) Mt. Vernon Trail Alignment - The temporary trail follows the river behind Hunting Towers (close to the original suggestion in BSC Master Plan). VDOT now owns the property and the committee suggests that the trail be permanently moved to this location prior to the tract being sold to a developer. Dave notes that 100' of the shore line is part of the Critical Bay Protection, and the trail could be declared a conservation easement and be included in the City’s Open Space Plan as well as the Waterfront Plan.  Committee stresses this must all take place prior to be sold off for development.  Bruce will pursue.  Others should talk it up with their city and political contacts.

IV. Parks & Rec. and TES -

a.) TEA21 Eisenhower plans - Aimee showed the  30%  plans for the Eisenhower underpass. Construction could begin in spring of ‘05. Bruce noted that the hairpin turn connecting to Eisenhower (south side) appeared too tight and other minor items. Aimee will discuss with TES.

b.) Congressman Moran’s Bike Projects -  These are projects that could be included in the FY 2005 Federal Appropriations Bills. i.) Repaving the Mt. Vernon trail segment that runs through Alex at Oronoco Park and north. ii.) Dora Kelly Trail, from Chambliss to Holmes Run including the worn out bridge near Beauregard and the water plagued section underneath the Federal Interstate 395. Will probably be constructed in two phases.

c.) Next Funding Project? - Aimee asked the committee to consider what other project should be considered future grant funding.

d.) Transportation Commission working group - Discussion on the purpose of the newly formed Transportation Commission. Bruce will submit request that the commission include members representing bicycling, pedestrians and public transit.  These are important and viable forms of transportation the city must encourage and promote to deal with vehicular congestion and pollution.  As the 10th most densely populated city in the country, we can not continue to rely so heavily on cars.

V. Other - 

a.) Rachael reported that the city received a $400,000 federal grant from the Department of Education part of which will include, among other life style fitness programs, the purchase of bicycles and helmets for a series of three-week bike safety classes at T.C. Williams, GW Middle School and Minnie Howard. Way to go Rachael!!!! 

b.) Rachael mentioned that "America on the Move" a program sponsored by the Alexandria-based Center for Food and Nutritional Policy will host a kick off in March.

c.) Bruce asked Judy Lo if she would mind returning with her map update next month, as we had already exceeded our 9 p.m. cut off. Bruce offered to devote most of the February meeting to the map update. Judy and Aimee asked that everyone make note of the routes they use and come prepared to mark them on a master map at the next meeting. Aimee wants to use the City’s GIS map as the base map and add everyone’s suggestions, then send the map out to be printed. She will then have access to the master map and changes will be easier to make. We agreed to post a request on the BSC list serve inviting all to participate in next month’s meeting.

d.) Bruce received a call from Crime Prevention asking if he had a problem with them lifting the 25 cent fee for a bike license. He thought it a good idea and suggested new stickers made from reflective material as an added safety feature.

VI. Next Meeting - Wed., Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lee Center.

Thanks Ruth for taking the minutes.
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