The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board recently approved a number of pedestrian (ped) and bicycle improvements throughout the greater Washington region. These projects, many of which may be in Maryland and the District of Columbia, are incredibly important to all of us who strive to create a multi-modal system of transportation in the greater DC region.
Although @livemore generally highlights the progress and projects that are directly in our “backyard,” it is also important for all our residents and employees to be cognizant of the progress (or lack thereof) of programs and projects outside the immediate Dulles region.
If we are serious about building a multi-modal transportation network – one that includes buses, rail, HOV, Express Lanes, highways, telework (IT infrastructure), bikes and pedestrians, then we really need to prioritize, synchronize and analyze what the options are – and what is actually happening to make this all work. And frankly, the first five modes mentioned above garner the most attention – the last three, not so much.
So, we @livemore want to make our readers aware of some of the projects that are being funded in the next fiscal round of the Metropolitan Transportation region’s funding cycle, and see if there aren’t a few ideas that maybe we all think should be moving closer to the top. Not just the top five modes mentioned above, but all of the possible modes (and even technologies/modes we might not be thinking of right now) deserve our attention. In this edition, we look at the bicycle/pedestrian funding. In coming editions we will explore all of the other modal funded programs and we will highlight some “out of the box” ideas that we (our transportation leaders) and you (our readers) bring to our attention.
The transportation planning and implementation process isn’t an easy endeavor. It takes years for most projects to come to the planning phase, much less to fruition. However, the public should voice their opinions and priorities – we @livemore want to hear them and will certainly move those forward to our regional leaders and readers. Please contact the editor@livemore.us and let us know what you think.
Fiscal Year 2016 Bicycle/Pedestrian Funding Successes!
On July 22, the Transportation Planning Board approved funding for 16 projects. These projects were approved on the basis to improve “pedestrian and bike access and support transit-oriented development throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.” Nine of these projects – totaling $420,000 – are funded under the TPB’s FY 2016 budget. According to the TBP, these projects have been prioritized in the budgetary process because they “address challenges of integrating land-use and transportation planning at the community level.”
KUDOS to the TPB for their efforts and commitment to making our greater Washington, D.C. region a better connected, integrated, and multi-modal community.
Live More Commute Less, as the saying goes.
FY 2016 Transportation/Land-Use Connections (TLC) Projects
Arlington County — Low Stress Bicycle Network Mapping ($45,000)
Planning to increase bicycle use among the “interested, but concerned” user group.
District of Columbia — K Street / Water Street Bikeway and Pedestrian Connectivity Enhancements ($60,000) Address connectivity issues in Georgetown between the Capital Crescent and Rock Creek Trails.
College Park — Citywide Bicycle Boulevards ($30,000)
Create a plan to design bicycle boulevards along neighborhood streets.
Fairfax County — Parking Demand and Trip Generation in Multifamily Developments ($60,000)
Improve parking policies in consideration of current and future demand from multifamily developments.
Fairfax County — Vienna Metrorail Station Area Bicycle Improvements ($45,000) Prioritize and design improved on-road bicycle facilities along streets that access the Vienna Metrorail Station.
Gaithersburg — Improving Access to Transit ($30,000)
Improve first and last mile connections to the city’s three major transit stations.
Prince George’s County — Central Avenue Connector Trail 30% Design ($80.000)
Design the first segments of the proposed Central Avenue Connector Trail, linking the Capitol Heights, Addison Rd, Morgan Blvd, and Largo Town Center Metrorail Stations.
Prince William County — Safety and Connectivity in a Planned Community ($30,000)
Plan for the Dale Blvd and Minnieville Rd node and other connectors along the Dale Blvd corridor.
Takoma Park — Parking Takoma Park ($40,000)
Revise existing parking policies and programs in consideration of current and future demand.
FY 2016 Transportation Alternatives Projects for Maryland
College Park — Hollywood Road Sidewalks ($36,000) Install 1,200 feet of sidewalk improvements along Hollywood Rd, including near a neigh- borhood school.
Frederick County — Mount St. Mary’s-Emmitsburg Multi-Use Path ($128,839)
Establish a multi-use path between Mount St. Mary’s and the downtown area of Emmitsburg.
Frederick County — East Lincoln Ave Sidewalks ($46,000) Install 1,800 feet of sidewalk improvements along Lincoln Ave to improve access to area schools.
Montgomery County — North Branch Hiker-Biker Trail ($2,000,000)
Construct a trail connection between Rock Creek Trail and North Branch Trail.
Montgomery County — MD 355-Clarksburg Shared- Use Path ($523,416)
Create a link in the existing trail network along MD 355 between Little Bennett Regional Park Trail and the Frederick Rd Bike Path.
Rockville — Falls Road East Shared-Use Path ($99,703) Install missing sidewalk segment between Dunster Rd and Kimblewick Rd along the east side of Falls Rd.
Takoma Park — Lincoln Ave Sidewalks ($132,028) Installation of 1,900 feet of sidewalk improvements along Lincoln Ave between Elm Ave and Jackson Ave, involving five neighborhood schools.