Trails in Open Space Priorities Report

[Bruce&Linda Dwyer]

The following are the trails related sections of the Open Space Priorities
and Opportunities Report to City Council by the Open Space Steering
Committee, July 2004.  In putting together these list, I tried to encompass
the 1998 Plan was well as all trail concepts the Bike Committee had
discussed in the intervening years.
Please contact me if you have any questions
Bruce Dwyer
703-549-3263

INTRODUCTION

3. Trails Opportunities: Trail segments are listed separately from the above
categories because they deserve special attention. Achieving connections
through the City for non-vehicular travel is one of the central goals of the
Open Space Plan. Many of the trail connections or new segment opportunities
listed in this document are included in either the Open Space Plan or the
Bicycle Transportation and Multi-use trail Master Plan, adopted by City
Council in 1998.

IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES

2. Mount Vernon Trail Waterfront Alignment
A. 1204-1206 South Washington Hunting Point Apartment Complex. Map #
083.02-01-04 & 07
B. Area is included within 2 parcels. It is on the waterfront side of the
apartment buildings with Potomac River frontage of 653 ft. The other sides
are adjacent to Porto Vecchio (247 ft.) and Jones Point wetlands. In Potomac
River flood plain. Approximate 5 acres. Zoned RC. Currently owned by VDOT
which plans to sell entire property in 2005.
C. Included within this area are tennis courts, swimming pool, parking lot,
driveway, temporary 9-foot wide asphalt Mount Vernon path, and temporary
construction trailers.
D. Nearest public parking is on South Royal Street. Future parking will be
available at Jones Point.
E. Permanent alignment along waterfront for Mount Vernon Trail and possible
pedestrian paths closer to waterfront. Currently there are plans in this
specific area to reconstruct wetlands as mitigation for some lost to the
Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project. We strongly suggest a joint planning effort
with those parties involved in the bridge project to find a creative way to
accomplish both goals: the wetlands and this trail.
F. Appropriate for easement. 1206 Washington (no apartment building) 2004
assessment is $1.3 million. 1204 Washington "land only" 2004 assessment is
$3.2 million.
G. Easement with public access is appropriate.

PRIORITY

3. Wide Trail/Park -Between Ivor Lane and Seminary Road  (Note: the city has
acquired this property)
A. 4575 & 4609 Seminary Rd; and one large unnumbered open space track
attached to and east of the Seminary Forest Apartments.
B. Many large trees and heavy vegetation. Refuge for urban wildlife. Cited
in Open Space Plan for a north/south trail from Braddock to Seminary by fire
station.
C. Area zoned R-8. City owns two lots already (fire station, vacant lot).
Owners of Seminary Forest Apartments own the large 6+ acres.
D. Parking on Braddock/Ivor end not a problem. Parking near fire station may
be across Seminary Rd.
E. Trail within long park.
F. 2004 assessment is $1.5 million.
G. Recent land sales and inquiries by developers to Planning and Zoning
Dept. make this imminent.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

2.  King Street to Rosemont Neighborhood Path
A.  2723 King Street First Christian Church (rear portion). Map #
052.02-06-06
 B.  Deep (784 ft.) lot that connects King Street to Summers Drive cul de
sac. Back 100 feet of lot is wooded area with a short, but steep, slope. 2.6
acres. Zoned R-8.
C.  Church building and driveway on front portion of lot. Parking lot and
playground on middle portion of lot.
D. N/a
E.  Two uses: 1. Neighborhood path (on driveway and through wood) to connect
King Street /Janneys Lane area and Rosemont. Path has been used for years
for cut
 through pedestrian traffic and as a safe route to school. There are
currently no official pedestrian or bicycle routes connecting these
neighborhoods between Scroggins and Walnut, a distance of about 3/4 mile. 2.
Back 100 feet of lot is a nice wooded area suitable for preservation as open
space.
  F.  Property assessment for 2004 is $2.1 million for entire site.


III. TRAILS OPPORTUNITIES

"Connecting Alexandria's Neighborhoods" with multi-use paths is one of the
objectives of the Open Space Plan. Following is a list of potential sites
for trail connectivity. Sites may be owned by a governmental entity, or
could be candidates for easements or acquisition. Excluded are on-street
bike routes. Meetings with neighborhood groups may identify more
opportunities, and are needed relative to the inclusion of any future sites
into the City’s Multi-Use Trail and Bicycle Transportation Master Plan.
Future additions would come before City Council through a separate process
related to proposed additions in the master plan.

Non-City owned properties
1.  Make permanent the temporary Mt. Vernon Trail alignment at Hunting
Towers' waterfront. Property is owned by VDOT. (See Priority Site history #2
for detail.)
2.  King Street to Rosemont connection path at the First Christian Church.
Property is privately owned. (See Opportunities List #2 for detail.)
3.  Buzzard's Gap/Pickett's Ridge. This trail would provide a safe and short
route connecting schools and neighborhoods and extended between Pickett
Street and Polk Avenue. City Council approved an easement on private
property on February 24, 2004.
4.  Between Seminary Road and Braddock Road behind the fire station would be
an extension of the Buzzards Gap route to get to Ft. Ward Park on land that
is a part of the Seminary Forest Apartments property. (See Priority Site
history #3 for detail.)
5.  Dartmouth Road between Crown View Drive and Skyhill Road is currently
dead-ended and needs a path. Walkers currently make their way around a
fence. Property is privately owned.
6.  Trail between the end of Francis Hammond Parkway and Forest Park has
been used for many years. A stream runs along FH Pkwy so this land is in an
RPA. However, it is not clear from the site if the path is on city or
private land.
7.  Stevenson Park to Yoakum Parkway to connect this city park to condo
community. Steep terrain would make this a difficult project. Private
property.
8.  Potomac Yards Linear Park and trail is to be funded and constructed by
the developer.
9.  Potomac Yards to Potomac Greens pedestrian bridge over rail line has
been subject of potential change in approved plans. Local neighborhood
concerns have been raised about public access from the proposed bridge.
10.  Hooffs Run Bridge needed at the southern boundary of the Alexandria
Sanitation Authority (ASA) Plant. Reconstruction of previous trail along the
ASA southern boundary is included in WWB Plan. Previous trail through ASA is
no longer feasible. Alexandria Bike Plan identified need for bridge in 1998.
Private, public, and ASA property.
11.  East Eisenhower development plan contemplates trails along Mill Race
and Hooffs Run.
12.  Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project has off--street bicycle and pedestrian
trails and side paths included in plans for Jones Point, Washington Street,
US Route 1, and Telegraph Road. Plans need to be implemented.
13. Develop a pedestrian trail along the back of the Northern Virginia
Regional Park Authority Cameron Run Regional Park and the City Animal
Shelter. NVRP A and City property.
14.  Include a trail in the future as part of a natural stream reclamation
of Backlick Run west from Booth Park to the City line. Private property.

City-owned property
15.  Open the Mt. Jefferson Greenway in Del Ray between Raymond and Jeff
Davis Highway. This is city owned property that is currently fenced off. A
connecting Trail proposal was rejected in 1998 bike plan because of promises
made by city officials in years past that it would not be developed.
Probably only reclamation by City. A former WO&D railroad track. The
Greenway extension northwest is problematic, since the city has already
allowed development to occur in the fonner railroad right-of- way.
16.  Complete Tarleton Park trail by placing a gravel path across 200 feet
of grassy area. Neighbors have been favorable to this path improvements but
have concerns about the number and frequency of city vehicles using the
paths and they fear improvements would promote city vehicle use.
17.  Construct a path from Raleigh Avenue to connect to Holmes Run, Foxchase
Shopping Center with Foxchase Apartments and other neighborhoods.
18.  Path and bridge or weir across Holmes Run at Chambliss would make a
safe neighborhood connection and join with Fairfax County planned trail
running west to Columbia Pike.
19. Build a trail underpass for the Holmes Run trail to avoid a dangerous
street crossing at Beauregard.
20.  Build a short trail to connect the backside of Ft. Ward Park to Van
Dorn Street.
21. Complete trail loop on the south side of Backlick Run in Ben Brenman
Park.
22.  Bike Path Easement on North Commonwealth. On the last quarter mile
Commonwealth, ending at
 Four-Mile Run, a green strip of land exists in all but a short spot from
the intersection of Reed Ave. This green strip is on the east side of
Commonwealth, opposite of the school. This is a very popular commute route
for Alexandria residents into the District. A bike path in this green strip
would keep bikes off the roadway, which is barrow in front of the school.
This may be city right-of-way, or be done with an easement from Jack Taylor
and the new townhome development on their western property lines (past their
fences).
23.  2619 Randolph. Connects the Mt. Jefferson Greenway with Randolph. Could
be nice bike access to Greenway if completed.