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.

VDOT N. Va. District Chief takes job in Richmond

VDOT announced today that Garrett Moore, VDOT Northern Virginia District Chief, has been named the new VDOT chief engineer.

Garrett Moore, VDOT

“Garrett brings incredible knowledge, experience and sound judgment to a very challenging role in the agency,” said VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley. “Garrett has what it takes to lead VDOT’s construction and maintenance program, making it better for the millions of people who drive Virginia’s roads every day.”

Moore will be accountable for the quality, cost and timeliness of all engineering plans associated with VDOT construction projects. He will also be in charge of the maintenance and operations program of the third-largest state-maintained highway system in the country.

As the northern Virginia district administrator, Moore led a complex transportation program resulting in the successful completion of the 495 Express Lanes; the start of the 95 Express Lanes; 25-mile resurfacing of the Fairfax County Parkway; significant expansion of the snow removal efforts, including increased use of technology and innovation; and many other projects.

Last year FABB met with Garrett to discuss several bicycle-related issues including the need for better implementation of the VDOT bicycle policy, the need for better maintenance of bicycle facilities, including repaving of the Fairfax County Parkway trail, the need for a NoVa District bicycle advisory committee, and the poor quality of bike parking at the then new VDOT NoVa headquarters building.

Garrett understood the issues, was realistic in his assessment of the challenges, and gave us hope that the issues would be addressed. A study has since been commissioned to assess the condition of the Parkway trail, using information that FABB collected. We're hopeful that large sections of the trail will be repaved in the near future. The ball is in our court to generate support among NoVa bicyclists for formation of a NoVa District bicycle advisory committee. It's on our list of things to do.

We wish Garrett well on his new job.

Soapstone bike lanes swept

Sweeping Soapstone Dr bike lanes

It was very encouraging to see a street sweeper on Soapstone Dr in Reston removing the accumulated leaves in the bike lanes between South Lakes Dr and Sunrise Valley Dr. You can see from this poor cellphone photo that the lanes on the near side are clean and the sweeper (in the distance) and following vehicle are sweeper the opposite side. It looked like the lanes on Lawyers Rd were relatively clean as well.

Kudos and thanks to VDOT for being proactive and sweeping the lanes. They aren't much use to cyclists when filled with leaves and debris.

Comments on Route 7 widening project

In an earlier blog post we mentioned that VDOT is planning to widen Route 7 to 3 lanes in each direction from Reston Avenue to the Dulles Toll Road at Tysons. Wide sidepaths are planned on each side of the road. The last day for making comments on the project is Saturday, Dec. 8. Comments should be sent to meeting_comments@vdot.virginia.gov with the subject heading "Route 7 Widening - Reston Avenue to Jarrett Valley Drive." We submitted the following comments today:

Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the Route 7 Widening project from Reston Ave. to Jarrett Valley Dr. I have the following comments:

1. Public transit should be an integral part of the widening project, preferably on dedicated right of way. That right of way could be shared with bicyclists.
2. We strongly support the inclusion of multi-use sidepats on both sides of Route 7. These sidepaths should have the same or similar elevation profile as the roadway and be as straight as possible. If not, the route could be hilly and divergent from the roadway and would not be an efficient way for bicyclists to travel along the corridor. 
3. Intersections of the sidepaths and the roads should be designed for maximum bicycle and pedestrian safety. Curb radii should not be so wide as to allow motorists to exit without yielding to pedestrians. Pedestrian-activiated signals should use the "rest in walk" concept which allows a longer crossing signal for pedestrians and bicyclists and does not require bicyclists to stop to activate the signal. Motorists are not required to get out of their cars to push a button to cross intersections, and trail users should not have to do the same, especially along the mainline of Route 7. 
4. There should be close coordination with the VDOT project to replace the Route 7 bridge over the Toll road that is located just east of this project. The trail through the Toll Road intersection should be grade-separated, and the transition between the two projects needs to be planned carefully.

Thank you,

Bruce Wright

VDOT Six-Year Improvement Program public hearing on Tues. Nov 13

The public is invited to a Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) public hearing on "projects that are currently funded in the Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) and provide comments for the development of the Fiscal Years 2014-2019 Six-Year Improvement Program. Projects include interstate highway, road, rail, bicycle, pedestrian and public transportation initiatives."

This is an opportunity to let the CTB know that bicycling is an important part of Virginia's transportation system. Accommodations for bicyclists should be included in all VDOT projects. When new projects are planned, they should not make conditions worse for bicyclists.

VDOT has a policy for integration bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. Most new road projects in Fairfax include some bicycle accommodations. However, most large road projects have a negative impact on bicycling and walking. It's important that cyclists speak out in favor of creating a bicycle-friendly Fairfax.

See the Six Year Improvement Program database to find projects in Fairfax.

On that same night is the Transit Network Study public meeting in Vienna. A second meeting is scheduled for Thursday in Springfield.

VDOT and Vienna Trans. Comm. meetings postponed

The VDOT Six Year Program meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 6pm is postponed to a date TBD. See the VDOT website for new dates (as soon as they are determined).

The Vienna Transportation Safety Commission public meeting on W&OD Trail Safety that was also scheduled on Tuesday is postponed as well, date TBD. We will post the new date on this blog and on the FABB Events page.

VDOT releases updated Bicycling in Virginia map

VDOT recently released an updated version of the state bike map, Bicycling in Virginia. The map shows major bike routes in the state, including United States Bicycle Routes (USBR) 1 & 76, Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Parkway, the Virginia Capital Trail, and a few other major trails. There is a Northern Virginia inset showing details of USBR 1, the Fairfax Co Parkway Trail, the Cross County Trail and others.

Unfortunately there is so little road detail that the map can't be used for navigating any of these routes. The FFX Co Parkway trail is shown incorrectly in a couple of places, including showing that it crosses I-66 parallel to the Parkway. In that section there is an unsigned detour away from the Parkway.

USBR 1 on Bicycling in Virginia map

USBR 1 as shown in the NoVa inset shows the section through Ft Belvoir, that has been closed for many years, as a dashed line. On the VDOT website there is an interactive map of USBR 1 & 76 that shows the route following Route 1 for an extensive stretch, a very dangerous route. Adventure Cycling mostly follows USBR 1 and they have identified an alternative route, that could have been shown on the state map.

This is what USBR 1 looks like on the VDOT website online map. As you can see, there are major differences between the two maps:

USBR 1 on VDOT online map

One day we would like to see a state bike route map that shows the many great routes that exist on Virginia's back roads. BikeVirginia has extensive maps showing good routes throughout the state that could be used.

The map could include some of the major routes in Northern Virginia that are identified on the Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax bike maps.

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.

Public meeting on bike facilities on Route 1

Route 1 profile showing wide curb lanes and paved trail

Federal Highway Administration is studying the widening of Route 1 from Telegraph Road to Mt. Vernon Memorial Highway. Current plans include wide outside lanes for use by bicyclists. There is opposition to the project that will impact Woodlawn National Historic Site.

Often bicycle facilities are one of the first options to be cut from a widening project to reduce the overall width. See the proposed road profile (large pdf). All project documents on the FHWA website, including a summary of comments from the 2010 public scoping meeting that includes several references to the need for better bicycling facilities in the corridor.

A public meeting on the project is planned for Tuesday, June 5, at Hayfield Secondary School, 7630 Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315, from 6-8pm. Cyclists need to attend the meeting and speak out for safe, convenient bike facilities as part of the Route 1 project. See a Patch article about the public meeting.

See the MtVernon Patch article Mount Vernon-Area Bicyclists Could Have an Easier Commute

"Route 1 as it is now is just not adequate for bicyclists," Belle View resident Mark Murphy said. "The curb lanes are narrow and traffic is heavy and fast. There are frontage roads along some parts of Richmond Highway, but they don't run consistently."

"In my opinion, Route 1 should have striped bike lanes, but someone in VDOT did not want to promote bicycling on that high-speed roadway, and the 15 feet of space could readily be reallocated at a future time into an 11-foot travel lane plus a 4-foot bike lane," Allen Muchnick, Virginia Bicycling Federation board member.

There is a 10 foot paved trail proposed for one side of the road but it does nothing for cyclists taking short trips along the opposite side of the road. Cyclists taking longer trips generally prefer an on-road route.

According to Allen Muchnick of VBF, "Route 1 is of particular importance for bicycling nationally as a desired alignment for four long-distance bicycling routes: US Bicycle Route 1, the Adventure Cycling Association's Atlantic Coast Route, the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, and the East Coast Greenway. Thus, providing first-class bicycling accommodations for all types of bicyclists is particularly important for this project."

See other coverage of Route 1 topics on the FABB blog.

VDOT guidance on use of sharrows

VDOT recently issued guidance on use of the Shared Lane Markings (sharrows) and Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs (BMUFL) in the Northern Virginia District. The formal title is BIKES MAY USE FULL LANE Signs and Shared Lane Markings, Northern Region Traffic Engineering Practice. It was written by Randy Dittberner, VDOT Traffic Engineer and dated April 10, 2012.

The guidance is meant to clarify how the devices should be used in our area. This is an important step in the implementation of these devices. We've heard that both devices will be installed on a few roads in Fairfax in the coming weeks. There will also be publicity to inform the public about why the devices are being used and what they mean.

From the guidance:

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

In order for these devices to be effective, they must not be overused, but rather limited to the locations where motor vehicle traffic, bicycle traffic, and roadway conditions combine to create the greatest need. As such, the following considerations apply when evaluating a roadway for the possible application of these devices:

• Neither device shall be used on roadway segments with bike lanes, since a bike lane eliminates the need for these devices.
• Neither device shall be used on roadway segments with paved shoulders 4 feet or more in width. Although cyclists are permitted to use the travel lane even where shoulders are present, these devices may inappropriately discourage some cyclists from using the shoulder.
• Both devices should be limited to roadway segments designated by the local jurisdiction’s bicycle plan as part of its bicycle network.
• Roadway segments with low traffic volume, less than 3,000 vehicles per day, should not need these devices, because they usually offer a sufficient cycling environment.
• Neither device should be used on roadway segments with traffic volume greater than 30,000 vehicles per day or speed limits greater than 35 mph. Cyclists are generally permitted to use high-volume, high-speed roadways, but these devices may encourage novice cyclists to travel on a roadway above their skill level.
• Both devices should be limited to roadway segments where travel lanes are delineated with longitudinal pavement markings or other methods. (Neither device should be used on undivided unmarked roadways.)

There is also specific guidance for the signs and sharrows:

BIKES MAY USE FULL LANE SIGN

BIKES MAY USE FULL LANE signs shall be used only where bicyclists are permitted by the Code of Virginia1 to use the full lane. The Code of Virginia permits bicyclists to use the full lane in a “substandard width lane,” which is defined as “a lane too narrow for a bicycle . . . and another vehicle to pass safely side by side within the lane.”

Where this condition is the reason for installing the sign, its use should be limited to roadway segments where the combined width of the right-most travel lane and any paved shoulder is 10.5’ or less, excluding the gutter pan, if any.

In order to avoid overuse of the signs that would reduce their impact and effectiveness, BIKES MAY USE FULL LANE signs should be limited to roadway segments used frequently by cyclists, or where cyclists report being intimidated by nearby motor vehicle traffic.

We are a little concerned that the signs only be used on roads 10.5' or less. Most of the roads in Fairfax are 11' or greater. This guidance seems to greatly reduce the number of locations where the signs could be used.

SHARED LANE MARKING

Following are examples of locations that may benefit from Shared Lane Markings:

• Shared Lane Markings can provide guidance where there is a gap in or a terminus of an otherwise continuous bike lane, where constraints such as roadway width preclude the addition or extension of a bike lane.
• Where on-street parking is permitted and frequently occupied, Shared Lane Markings can help cyclists choose an appropriate lane position, rather than riding too close to the doors of parked cars.
• Where a roadway segment is wide enough for a bike lane in only one direction, the bike lane can be installed in the uphill direction and Shared Lane Markings can be used in the downhill direction, where cyclists are more likely to travel near the speed of motorists and may need to ride farther from the curb to have enough reaction time.

However, Shared Lane Markings shall not be used in any of the following situations:

• As a substitute for a bike lane where conditions permit a bike lane to be marked
• To provide wayfinding guidance to cyclists
• To designate a roadway as a bicycle route
• On a shared-use path or other facility where motor vehicle traffic is prohibited
• In an exclusive turn lane, where they could communicate that cyclists are permitted to use the lane to travel straight through an intersection instead of using the appropriate through travel lane

The layout of Shared Lane Markings shall not vary from the figure depicted above.

When roadway segments with Shared Lane Markings are repaved, the segments should be evaluated to determine whether the pavement could be widened enough to mark a formal bike lane. Roadways with Shared Lane Markings should be a high priority for shoulder widening. If it is infeasible to widen the pavement, the segments should be evaluated to ensure that traffic and roadway geometric conditions continue to support the use of Shared Lane Markings.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

A BIKES MAY USE FULL LANE sign and a Shared Lane Marking should not normally be used on the same roadway segment, unless extreme conditions, such as a documented volume of heavy cyclist traffic and severe roadway geometry, are present to a degree that using both devices together would provide a significant additional benefit to the traveling public.

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.

I-66 Multimodal Study Inside the Beltway update

The I-66 Multimodal Study team has released new information gathered at earlier public meetings (see FABB summary of the Fairfax meeting held in Dec. 2011). Fact Sheet 3 is new and there's a list of public involvement comments from the December meetings.

Two open house meetings to review progress to date are planned in April:


Tuesday, April 24, 2012
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Navy League Building
2300 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22201
Public transportation directions to open house

Wednesday, April 25, 2012
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School
7130 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22043
Public transportation directions to open house

From the public comments regarding bicycle facilities:

• Improvements in bicycle travel and key connections are needed throughout the study area. This includes new and wider pavement on existing paths such as W&OD and Custis as well as new connections to transit. (6)
• Provide a bike/pedestrian crossing near West Falls Church Metro to link Haycock Rd./W&OD with Pimmitt Hills neighborhood. (2) More bicycle parking is needed at Metro stations. (2)
• Provide bicycle access along U.S. 50 across the Beltway to connect Merrifield and Graham Rd. areas. (2)
• Try to create a safe bike trail into the heart of Tysons Corner from the W&OD trail.
• Extend the Custis Trail beyond East Falls Church.
• The Custis Trail needs to be completely redesigned and rebuilt. The steep slopes discourage commuter cycling. The trail should have the same gradual changes in elevation as do the highway travel lanes.
• A viable two-way solution to reducing traffic is to further promote the use of what is already there along I-66 - a bike path.
• Need an improved bike/pedestrian connection from Rosslyn/Iwo Jima Memorial to Theodore Roosevelt Bridge.

FABB's Jeff Anderson profiled in VDOT SRTS newsletter

Jeff Anderson

Jeff Anderson has been organizing bike trains at Wolftrap Elementary School for several years. Wolfie's Bike Train runs several times a year. Jeff has also been instrumental this year in working with FABB, WABA, Trails for Youth and others to encourage Fairfax County Public Schools to get more involved in the Safe Routes to School Program.

Jeff is profiled in the latest edition of the Virginia Safe Routes to School Winter Newsletter. As you can see from the photo on the right that Jeff is also a cyclocross racer, but we won't hold that against him. Here's the interview from the newsletter:

Friends and Faces

Jeff Anderson is a parent of three children, all of whom bike to school at Wolftrap Elementary School in Vienna. Jeff spearheads the school's Safe Routes to School program, and as his photo shows, is a cyclocross racer in the mid-Atlantic region.

How did you get involved in SRTS?
It was by accident, really. My wife, kids and I are great bike enthusiasts. So when my oldest child started first grade at Wolftrap Elementary School, biking to school was a given. The only glitch was that the school lacked a bike rack. Two weeks after asking the principal about it, the rack appeared! Shortly after that I started a bike train, comprised mostly of my daughter's friends and some neighborhood kids. The bike train now operates monthly over a nearly 2-mile route.

I wasn't totally unaware of SRTS at the time, so I talked with someone at another school about their SRTS program. That got things started for me and now I understand what the states' SRTS program is and how the program can help Wolftrap. I work with the school's PTA to promote SRTS. The PTA is very supportive and is an outlet to the school community about SRTS events and activities.

Other than enjoying biking, why is SRTS important to you?
I am committed to getting more students to walk and bike to school as a way to reduce the number of cars around the school during arrival and dismissal. All three of my children are at Wolftrap - in 5th, 3rd and 1st grade - so I'm in it for the long haul and believe that by the time my 1st grader leaves Wolftrap, things will be very different. My vision is for 20 or more bikes in the racks most days. We now have two racks, but we'll need a third with that many kids biking to school. And, I would like to see kiss and ride used as a convenience, not as the main mechanism for kids getting to school. This would greatly reduce the 90-100 cars using Wolftrap's Kiss & Ride each school day.

Is the school principal supportive?
Because principals have a lot of decision-making power, they can often influence decisions parents make about how their kids get to school.Our school principal has been great. She really understands SRTS and supports the program. Most importantly, she trusts parents to do the right thing in setting up and running programs and activities. This is key for SRTS successes at any school. Our principal's support for SRTS comes from her own active lifestyle. She runs marathons and is very visible about promoting health and well-being in the school. She understands the importance of educating the whole child. For example, she didn't object to the bike/walk challenge we held during SOL testing week, joining in our walking and biking to school activities.

How do the students feel about SRTS?
They love it. They get very excited about the bike and walk challenge, creating meeting points for walking and biking to school. They especially love the comraderie that comes with walking and biking to school together. Unlike the past, this initial socialization happens on the way to school, not in homeroom. Our students' enthusiasm is contagious! School board members, state delegate (Mark Keem), and a couple local professional bike racers have all joined in.

Have you applied for infrastructure funds to improve the walking and biking conditions around Wolftrap?
No, Wolftrap has good sidewalks around the school. The infrastructure is the easy stuff; county engineers know how to do this. It's the education and encouragement which is harder.

So, how have you tackled the need for education and encouragement?
We received a $2,000 grant from Prevention Connections and will host our first bike rodeo in April 2012. This is a logical growth of our past work. For example, in 2010 we held a series of events during the May National Bike to Work week, such as a bike education workshop for students and parents, and after school events with the police department. It was the second year of our Bike and Walk Challenge Week, which we have continued since its inception in 2009. I started the Bike and Walk Challenge Week with the goal of creating a friendly competition among classes at Wolftrap Elementary School and other Vienna schools to see which could get more kids to walk or bike. During the week, we challenged parents to not drive their kids to school. We counted kids walking and biking to school, and those arriving by car. As the week progressed, we reached a 50% reduction in the number of students arriving by car and about ½ the kids either walked or biked to school by the end of the week.

Who else do you work with on SRTS at the school and in the larger community?
I am really proud to say that the entire Wolftrap Community has been involved, including the PTA. PTA members help get out information about our SRTS program and actively participates. For example, PTA members count kids and cars during the challenge week. A couple of parents help - regardless if the temperature is 19 degrees or 90 degrees!

What about the school division?
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is really beginning to engage in SRTS. Working with the Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB), Trails for Youth, the Washington Area Bicyclists Association (WABA), FCPS supported International Walk to School Day in October 2011, resulting in 26 schools participating in event activities. Our goal is for 50 schools to participate in the 2012 event. Another sign of their support is a change in the criteria for the division's Golden Wellness Award. Schools apply for the award, ranking themselves in areas such as recycling and student health. In the past, the application didn't provide credit for walking and biking to school. But, we successfully lobbied for a change in the application. Now, walking and biking to school is included in language for the health and well-being awards. In addition, the FCPS School Board recently passed new school policy that puts decision-making about how children get to school firmly in the hands of parents. The policy also adds bicycling education to the existing pedestrian and bus safety education.

Virginia Bicycle Level of Service Maps

VDOT has created a series of maps showing Bicycle Level of Service for major roads in Virginia. The area on the right shows the Dunn Loring/Merrifield area of Fairfax County. It shows the problem we face; there are a few bike-friendly roads (in green) that mostly don't connect. The roads that do connect are level D or E that only experienced cyclists are willing to use.

Thanks to TheWashCycle for pointing out these maps.

I-66 public meeting tonight

A public meeting on "multimodal improvements that will address existing and future transportation needs in the Interstate 66 corridor from U.S. Route 15 in Prince William County to Interstate 495 in Fairfax County" is scheduled for tonight, Feb. 2 from 5-8 p.m. at VDOT NoVa Headquarters, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. This is just south of I-66 off West Ox Road.

Cyclists are encouraged to attend the meeting and speak out for bike access along the I-66 corridor. We need a major trail along I-66 similar to the Custis Trail. Bicyclists also need to be able to safely cross I-66, which forms a major east-west barrier in many areas of western Fairfax Co.

Please either attend the I-66 meeting or email comments to the study team's leadership (reference "I-66 Tier 1 EIS: Public Comments" in your subject line) at CG.Collins@VDOT.Virginia.gov or Stephen.C.Walter@Parsons.com.

I-66 public meeting Thursday

VDOT is studying "potential multimodal improvements that will address existing and future transportation needs in the Interstate 66 corridor from U.S. Route 15 in Prince William County to Interstate 495 in Fairfax County." Inside the Beltway the Custis and W&OD Trails provide good bicycle access to major destinations in that corridor. No such accommodation exists outside the Beltway.

A public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 2 from 5-8 p.m. at VDOT NoVa Headquarters, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. This is just south of I-66 off West Ox Road.

Cyclists are encouraged to attend the meeting and speak out for bike access along the I-66 corridor. In 2002 the Fairfax Co Board of Supervisors approved plans for a major trail along I-66 similar to the Custis Trail, but it has never been implemented. Now is the time.

Bicyclists also need to be able to safely cross I-66, which forms a major east-west barrier in many areas of western Fairfax Co.

Please either attend the I-66 meeting to email comments to the study team's leadership (reference "I-66 Tier 1 EIS: Public Comments" in your subject line) at CG.Collins@VDOT.Virginia.gov or Stephen.C.Walter@Parsons.com.

DRAFT VDOT Safe Routes to School Strategic Plan

The VDOT Safe Routes to School coordinator just released the DRAFT Virginia Safe Routes to School Five-Year Strategic Plan 2011-2016. Comments are being collected until February 17.

We have not yet had a chance to read the details. This is from the one-page summary at the beginning of the report:

In the short term,

• The Program Structure will remain as is, with all program elements managed by VDOT’s Central Office.
• Outreach and Education efforts will focus on aggressive outreach with existing resources, guided by an annual communication plan (developed separately from the Strategic Plan), and by optimizing partnerships with other state agencies.
• Project Application and Selection will focus on re‐instating the non‐infrastructure application program.
• Project Implementation and Management will become more streamlined and include clearer guidance.
• Project Close‐out will become a more reliable and predictable process for the State SRTS Coordinator and grantees.
• Evaluation and Measurement will include processes to generate information about project effectiveness.
• SRTS Program Sustainability will provide greater support for VDOT staff working on SRTS projects and begin to identify ways to create self‐sustainable local SRTS Programs.

Beyond 12 months, the anticipated changes include:

• A revised Program Structure that expands the SRTS Advisory Committee’s role, especially with respect to project selection.
• A more flexible Outreach and Education plan, according to demand by local SRTS Programs and within existing resources.
• Program Sustainability efforts that focus on making SRTS a part of standard operating procedures for VDOT and participating localities.

Bike recommendations from I-66 Multimodal Study

Last night we attended the public information meeting on the I-66 Multimodal Study Inside the Beltway. It was a pleasant ride from Reston using a combination of local streets and the W&OD Trail. The temperature was in the 60's and there was a light rain; much better than fighting rush hour traffic through the Tysons/Vienna area and it probably took about the same time to get there.

At the meeting the various contractors involved in the study displayed panels highlighting different aspects of the study. Toole Design Group is conducting the bicycle and pedestrian portion of the study and they showed maps of the top bicycle recommendations developed so far:

Specific Issues

1. Lynn Street Improvements
2. Scott Street Bridge
3. Clarendon Circle
4. Fairfax Drive/Kirkwood Intersection
5. Fairfax Drive/Custis Trail/Bluemont Junction Trail Transition
6. Custis Trail Underpass near Kennebec Street/Bon Air Park
7. Bicycle Access to West Falls church Metrorail Station
8. Pimmit Hills Connection on Route 7/Leesburg Pike
9. Gallows Road Bike Lanes

General Issues

1. Trail Width and Pavement Condition
2. Regional Wayfinding
3. Trail Lighting

The last three "Specific Issues" are located in Fairfax and are much-needed improvements. Unlike the other bike recommendations they are not related to the W&OD Trail or the Custis Trail, in part because the Custis Trail ends in Arlington at the junction with the W&OD Trail, which at East Falls Church diverges from I-66. We recommended that the Custis Trail be extended to the Beltway (the limit of this study) and beyond.

Route 50 at the Beltway is included in the study area. We recommended that bicycle access be provided along Route 50 to connect the residential and commercial areas in Merrifield and Dunn Loring with areas east of the Beltway along Route 50. This stretch of Route 50 is a nightmare for bicyclists and pedestrians due to the character of the road and the number of exit and entrance ramps.

Bicycling and pedestrian access were mentioned numerous times during the presentation. Whether the models being used to assess various "mobility options" will be able to look at other factors besides Level of Service (LOS) for road traffic is another story. Generally the models look at what impact any change in the system has on LOS, which many communities are finding is not a good measure of a livable, bicycle and pedestrian friendly place. LOS is the subject of a recent article entitled The Transportation Planning Rule Every City Should Reform: 

"LOS is one of the most widely-used traffic analysis tools in the U.S. and has a profound impact on how street space is allocated in U.S. cities," writes Jason Henderson, geography professor at San Francisco State University, in the November issue of the Journal of Transport Geography.

As Henderson argues, it's about time cities addressed the problem, and San Francisco is doing just that. It's currently in the process of drafting a new sustainable transportation metric that will replace LOS and promote livability. Still, the fight is far from over.

"Every city I've ever come across has some use of [LOS]," says Henderson, who has conducted an extensive review of LOS and is writing a book on the politics of mobility in San Francisco. "LOS and the privilege of the car is the incumbent. The way the political process is set up is you have to disprove the incumbent."

The draft I-66 Multimodal Study results will be published any day now on the project website.

We were interviewed by NBC4 reporter Jane Watrel but we haven't seen any coverage of the event yet. We'll post a link here if there is.

Vienna Patch covered the meeting: VDOT Study Could Offer Ideas for Better Travel on I-66

Multimodal options for I-66 inside the Beltway

Tonight VDOT wants to hear about your ideas for multimodal access along I-66 inside the Beltway. There is a public hearing tonight, part of the I-66 Multimodal Study Inside the Beltway. The hearing begins at 6 p.m. with a presentation at 6:30 p.m. at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School, 7130 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043.

Wouldn't it be great if the Custis Trail, which runs parallel to I-66 from Rosslyn to the East Falls Church Metro station, extended into Fairfax. It would provide better bike access to the West Falls Church, Dunn Loring, and Vienna Metro stations. Extending it inside the Beltway would be a start. The County Trails Plan indicates a planned trail along I-66 outside the Beltway so it makes sense to extend it inside the Beltway.

Bike access across I-66 needs to be improved, especially along Route 7 near the West Falls Church Metro station. Many more people would travel by bike in this area if there were safer bike conditions. There also needs to be bike access to the WFC station from the Pimmit Hills area across I-66.

Cyclists are encouraged to attend to show support for better bicycling in the I-66 corridor.

A second meeting is scheduled for Dec. 14 in Arlington. See the VDOT I-66 study page for more info.