Fairfax Co Parkway Trail still closed

Despite multiple requests to VDOT to provide a detour for the Fairfax County Parkway Trail between Route 50 and Fair Lakes Blvd, the trail is still closed with no detour provided. In an earlier FABB blog post we listed the VDOT policy for providing temporary access for trail users at construction site.

Yesterday we rode south on the Parkway Trail from Reston and once again encountered the Trail Closed signs just south of Route 50. There were several bike tire tracks in the mud where other cyclists have tried to get through this area. We've pointed out to VDOT a possible detour through nearby neighborhood streets. We were told on Dec. 4 that VDOT project staff would be willing to sign the detour and they would look at the proposed route and get back to us in a day or so. We haven't heard anything since.

We're preparing a letter to various local leaders protesting this closure. It's unacceptable on a major trail like the Parkway Trail.

On the left is where we assume the new trail will be located, but it's likely still going to be several weeks before it's in place. In the meantime it's a disservice to trail users not to provide a detour.

Fairfax County Parkway meeting tonight

Fairfax Co Parkway Trail

A meeting on the future of the Fairfax County Parkway is being hosted by Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity tonight. The meeting starts at 7pm at Robinson Secondary School, 5035 Sideburn Road Fairfax, VA. 22032.

It's important that any new bridges along the Parkway accommodate cyclists with direct, safe routes. The bridge at Eldon St. in Herndon is an example of providing a bare minimum accommodation. Cyclists must cross an exit ramp, 4 lanes of traffic, and an entrance ramp. Ideally cyclists shouldn't be forced to cross the intersection at grade; the bike/ped facility should be part of the bridge.

The current Parkway trail needs to be fixed. There are several dangerous crossings of entrance/exit ramps at Sunset Hills Rd, the Dulles Toll Road, Route 50, and others. Cyclists should be able to safely use the paved shoulders in the future. We've heard there's a proposal to add rumble strips to the shoulders which would be a disaster for any cyclists hoping to ride there.

It goes without saying that the Parkway trail needs to be repaved. FABB recently assisted VDOT, which just completed a study that assessed the condition of the trail.

Fairfax Co Parkway Trail still "closed"

FFX Co Pkwy trail at Dulles Toll Rd looking S

We noted on August 22 that due to construction on the Fairfax County Parkway the Parkway trail was closed at the Dulles Toll Road. We sent an email to the NoVa VDOT bicycle coordinator complaining about the closure of the trail, a major throughway for bike commuters in that area. We heard nothing for several days until we were contacted by someone in VDOT who let us know that the bike coordinator was on medical leave. That explained why an earlier message we sent to her on August 3 about the closure of the Parkway trail south of Route 50 went unanswered as well.

It's over two weeks since I sent the original message to VDOT about the problem and today I rode past the site. What did I find? "Sidewalk Closed" signs posted on the approaches to the site, with no detour available. Once again we were told not to worry, the construction would end soon and everything would be OK.

Closed lane for parked trucks but no trail detour

For over two weeks this trail has been "closed." Cyclists have been able to get through, but they've crossed a potentially dangerous construction site with no detour and no safety measures for trail users. At one point a front loader nearly ran into me while I waited to get through. As we mentioned in an earlier post, VDOT has clear guidance about providing access during construction.

Section 6G.05 Work Affecting Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities (Page 6G-5)

Where pedestrian [and bicycle] routes are closed, alternate pedestrian [and bicycle] routes shall be provided.

When existing pedestrian [and bicycle] facilities are disrupted, closed, or relocated in a TTC zone, the temporary facilities shall be detectable and shall include accessibility features consistent with the features present in the existing pedestrian [or bicycle] facility.

During the brief time we were riding along this section we saw 5 other cyclists. We've once again written to VDOT about the problem. What is it going to take for the many non-motorized users of our transportation system to get the respect they deserve?

Fairfax Co Parkway trail closed at Toll Road

Today we were riding south on the Fairfax County Parkway trail. Just before the Dulles Toll Road westbound ramp on the Parkway this sign announced that "CROSSWALK CLOSED." VDOT was paving the exit ramp and the trail was impassable. We were able to ride across the grass to get to the ramp and then made our way across to continue on the trail.

There was a VDOT truck parked next to the repaving operation. The person inside the truck said that everything would be OK in another day or so. I let him know that everything wasn't OK today and that VDOT should not close a trail without providing a detour, as we outlined in an earlier post on the closing of the Parkway trail south of Route 50.

Then the VDOT person said that there was supposed to be a flag person guiding bicyclists around the construction. We later heard from another cyclists who has been by the site earlier in the day, that the trail was closed then. That cyclist has contacted the VDOT bike/ped coordinator and the Hunter Mill District Office. We plan to do the same. If you use this trail, please contact VDOT and the HM office.

The Parkway trail is a major commuter route for cyclists. It's inexcusable that VDOT feels they can completely close the trail, with no prior warning, no warning signs far enough in advance to be useful to cyclists and pedestrians, and no detour. VDOT can talk about accommodating cyclists all they want, but until they provide adequate access through construction sites, that talk means little. Cycling is a viable transportation option that needs to be treated like other options, and until VDOT embraces that philosophy, we'll continue to have to fight this type of injustice.

Fairfax County Parkway Trail still closed at Fair Lakes Blvd

The Fairfax County Parkway Trail has been closed for several months while construction of the Fair Lakes Blvd/Fairfax County Parkway intersection is underway. No detour was provided. This is a major multiuse trail that is completely closed, despite VDOT's policy to provide detours for pedestrians and bicyclists affected by construction, especially on heavily used trails:

Section 6G.05 Work Affecting Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities (Page 6G-5)

Where pedestrian [and bicycle] routes are closed, alternate pedestrian [and bicycle] routes shall be provided.

When existing pedestrian [and bicycle] facilities are disrupted, closed, or relocated in a TTC zone, the temporary facilities shall be detectable and shall include accessibility features consistent with the features present in the existing pedestrian [or bicycle] facility.

We've asked VDOT contacts about possible detours and have not received a response. According to a July 2012 update on the project website, "The multipurpose trail that runs adjacent to northbound Fairfax County Parkway around to the ramp for Rt. 50 eastbound will be closed for about one more month in this area for soundwall construction. A new trail will be built in front of the wall."

The red line is the section of trail that is closed. The blue line is a possible detour that could have been signed for cyclists. I haven't ridden the detour but it appears to connect the two sections of the Parkway Trail.

As a note, the above section from the Virginia Work Area Protection Manual is a good example of why it's important to distinguish between pedestrian and bicycle facilities. What would be a long detour for pedestrians is often a relatively short ride for most bicyclists. There are enough differences between bicycle and pedestrian facilities that it's often not wise to use the term "pedestrian" to reference both as was done above. I added the term [and bicycle] above as I believe it is implied.

School Facilities and FFX Co Pkwy meetings tonight

See the FABB Events page for information on two meetings tonight. The School Facility Planning meeting is being held tonight at Carson Middle School, 13618 McLearen Rd, Herndon, VA 20171 and Glasgow Middle School, 4101 Fairfax Pkwy, Alexandria, VA 22312. Both meetings start at 7pm. This is an opportunity to speak out for the need to make our schools more bicycle and pedestrian friendly and to ask FCPS to spend less on making it easier for parents to drive kids to school, kids who could take the bus or walk or bike.

VDOT his holding a public meeting to discuss repaving of FFX Co Parkway. The trail is not part of the project but it desperately needs to be repaved and redesigned. The redesign should be part of the repaving project. That meeting also starts at 7pm at VDOT District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Fairfax Co Parkway repaving meeting tonight

VDOT will be repaving 24 miles of the 32-mile, six-lane Fairfax County Parkway between Route 7 in Dranesville and Rolling Road in Springfield. While the road has been repaved several times, the paved sidepath has never been repaved. It's in very poor, dangerous condition and should be repaved.

Cyclists should plan to attend the repaving meetings to ask that the trail repaving be included, either as part of this project or concurrnetly as a separately funded project. The meeting starts at 7pm at Robinson Secondary School, 5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA 22032.

 If you can't attend tonight's meeting, two other meetings will be held on April 24 and May 2. See the FABB Events page for details.

Busy week ahead in Fairfax

There are several events and meetings this week that cyclists should be aware of:

• Monday, April 16 - Vienna Elementary School Bike Rodeo, 128 Center St. South Vienna, VA 22180 from 1-3pm. FABB will be there along with a mechanic from bikes@vienna who will do minor repairs on kids bikes.
• Tuesday, April 17 - Fairfax Co Parkway Repaving meeting at Robinson Secondary School, 5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA 22032 at 7pm. Speak out for repaving of the parallel trail that is in bad condition and has never been repaved. Other meetings include April 24 at VDOT District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 and May 2 at West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Rd, Springfield, VA 22152
• Wednesday, April 18 - Pohick Valley Stream trail meeting at White Oaks Elementary School, 6130 Shiplett Blvd, Burke at 7pm. The trail is an important connector between Burke VRE and Rolling Road VRE stations. This is a chance to speak out in support of the trail.
• Wednesday, April 18 - FABB Monthly Meeting at Patrick Henry Library, 101 Maple Ave E, Vienna, 7:30-9pm. Tom Biesiadny, Director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, is our invited guest speaker.
• Thursday, April 19 - Vienna Green Expo at the Vienna Community Center from 6:30-9pm. FABB will be there along with the Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee, bikes@vienna, and Spokes, Etc.
• Falls Church Bike/Ped Plan meeting is also on the 19th, at the Community Center, 223 Little Falls Street starting at 7:30pm.  This is a chance to provide feedback on the draft plan.
• Saturday, April 21 - Bike Rack Ribbon-Cutting and Family Event in Vienna at the Maple Ave Shopping Center, 11-1pm. Sign up to win a Breezer bicycle.

See the redesigned FABB Events Page for details.

Fairfax County Parkway repaving meetings

Parkway trail south of Rt 29

VDOT will be repaving 24 miles of the 32-mile, six-lane Fairfax County Parkway between Route 7 in Dranesville and Rolling Road in Springfield. While the road has been repaved several times, the paved sidepath has never been repaved.

The trail is in very poor, dangerous condition and should be repaved. Cyclists should attend the repaving meetings to ask that the trail also is repaved, either as part of this project or concurrnetly as a separately project.

The meetings starts at 7pm at the following dates and locations:

• April 11: Armstrong Elementary School, 11900 Lake Newport Rd, Reston, VA 20194
• April 17: Robinson Secondary School, 5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA 22032
• April 24: VDOT District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
• May 2: West Springfield High School, 6100, Rolling Rd, Springfield, VA 22152

Three FABB members recently rode the length of the trail and identified the many sections like the one above where there is cracked and crumbling asphalt wide horizontal gaps, raised utility covers, and other problems with the trail. We collected GPS points and photos and submitted that data to VDOT so they could prioritize repaving locations. It's our hope that major sections will be fixed this summer. Attending the above meetings will help get that message across.

Fixing the Fairfax Co Parkway Trail

Fairfax Co Parkway south of Rt 29

Over the past few years we've documented the deterioration of the Fairfax Co Parkway trail. There are many sections where large cracks have appeared and grass grows through the cracks. Contractors have unearthed sections of the trail and then poorly repaved. The trail has subsided in places where it abuts concrete bridges, leaving large gaps that are sure to pop a tire.

The trail also diverts from the Parkway, most notably at I-66 and Route 123, without proper way finding signage.

The Parkway will be repaved in the near future. Repaving and signage of the Parkway trail has been a priority for FABB for several years. We've been told that VDOT may have the funds this year to repave at least some sections of the trial.

FABB volunteers are currently conducting a reconnaissance of the trail. We're documenting degraded pavement, muddy areas, subsided asphalt at bridges, and other problems. By riding the trail, taking pictures, and collecting GPS points we hope to complete the work in the next couple of weeks, in time for VDOT to be able to develop priorities for paving. Ideally the entire trail, at least from the W&OD trail south, should be repaved. Our work should ensure that sections in most need of repair will be repaved first. If you know of sections in bad shape, let us know and we'll check our records to ensure we've documented them properly.

Public meeting on Fairfax Co Parkway at Ft Belvoir North

VDOT is holding a public meeting to provide an update on construction of Fairfax County Parkway between Barta Rd and Franconia-Springfield Parkway at Ft Belvoir North (Engineering Proving Grounds). This is an opportunity for cyclists to find out what provisions are being made for bicycle access in this area. The meeting is on Wednesday August 24th, 2011, 7:00pm – 9:00pm, Saratoga Elementary School, 8111 Northumberland Road, Springfield, VA

More information about the project is on the BRAC/Fairfax County Parkway page. See also the Phase 3 website that includes a map of the Phase 3 construction.