Friday, November 21, 2014
November-December FABB Newsletter
November-December 2014 FABB News
A bi-monthly publication of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
Fairfax County Now Has a Bicycle Master Plan
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted the county's first-ever Bicycle Master Plan on October 28. The plan is now officially incorporated into the Transportation component of the Comprehensive Plan. Thanks to the Board and the Planning Commission for their support. A special thanks to everyone who took the time to attend the final public hearings and who testified in support of the plan. Thanks also to the more than 850 people who signed the FABB/WABA petitions.
Some key recommendations from the Plan (as referenced in the final Board package and posted on the county website):
Bike Fairfax - Creation of Bike Fairfax for conducting bicycle encouragement and education programs. The program "should have a dedicated staff, separate from the FCDOT Bike Program staff. It would require its own funding to support program administration, marketing materials and events."
Trail Maintenance Funds - Fairfax County, VDOT and other key agencies/entities that own and manage Transportation Trails should establish dedicated funding for annual maintenance of Transportation Trails in the Bikeway Network;
Strengthen the Bicycle Program - Continue to expand the number of full-time employees staffing the Bicycle Program in order to accomplish the goals and objectives outlined in the Plan. Allocate an annual budget dedicated to bicycle planning and programmatic
initiatives and small-scale capital projects such as: installation of bicycle parking
racks and lockers; signs for signed bicycle routes; curb ramps; and small bicycle and
trail access projects.
Fairfax Voters Overwhelmingly Support Ped/bike Project Funding
The 2014 Transportation Bond was approved by over 70% of voters. The $100 million bond includes $77.5 million in pedestrian projects, $6.5 million in bike projects, and $16 million in spot road projects. The vote shows that Fairfax residents want safe pedestrian and bicycle routes. Thank you Fairfax voters!
Bike projects include:
- Wakefield Chapel Rd Walkway/Bike Lanes
- Lake Braddock Drive Road Diet
- Burke VRE Connector Ph. IV
- Cross County Trail Upgrades
- Burke Road Bike Lanes
- West Ox Road Trail
- Route 50 Trail
- Elm St/Dolley Madison Blvd Improved Pedestrian and Bicycle Crossing
- Franconia-Springfield Metrorail Station/VRE Enhanced Bicycle Parking
- Government Center Area Bicycle Demonstration Project
- Northern Virginia Community College Medical Education Campus, Springfield
- Vienna Metrorail Station Area Bicycle Connectivity Improvements
- Westmoreland Street On-Road Bike Lanes
- Westmoreland Street/Rosemont Drive
Fairfax Park Board Endorses Tysons Park Plan
The Fairfax County Park Authority Board recently approved a comprehensive parks plan for Tysons. The plan includes a recreational trail loop connecting many of the current and future parks. "As Tysons transforms from a suburban commercial center to a major regional urban center, a connected network of urban parks will help to distinguish Tysons as a great urban area and bring benefits to the local economy and quality of life. To help ensure that happens, the Park Authority developed a comprehensive park system concept plan for Tysons."
See related info on the Tysons Park Planning project website.
Trail Repaving Updates
VDOT has nearly completed the first phase of repairs on the Fairfax County Parkway Trail, from Route 7 to Route 50. Several of the most damaged sections of the trail have been repaved. Also, NVRPA recently repaved a major section of the W&OD Trail, from Crestview Dr in Herndon west to Ashburn Rd.
Arlington County to Plow Major Trails This Winter
From the Washington Post: "The Parks and Recreation Department has purchased two small plows to clear up to 10 miles of Arlington’s busiest trails after each snowfall. At the same time, the Environmental Services Department will launch a pilot program to pretreat and clear snow from the protected bike lanes that have been established on some county streets.
"The targeted areas include 5.2 miles of the Custis trail from Lynn Street to the Washington & Old Dominion trail; 1.25 miles of the Bluemont Junction trail from Fairfax Drive to the W&OD; 2.25 miles of the Four Mile Run trail from National Airport to Shirlington Road; and 0.4 miles of the Route 110 trail between the Iwo Jima Memorial and Arlington Cemetery."
Reston's Healthy Community Design Summit
Reston Association recently sponsored a talk by Mark Fenton, a nationally known consultant on building healthy, more physically active communities. Mark's talk was filmed and the video of the Healthy Community Design Workshop is now online.
It's well worth taking the time to view the presentation. Mark presents an excellent summary of the reasons we need physically active communities to help combat obesity and diabetes, very preventable and costly diseases.
Holiday Bike Drive
On Saturday November 29 volunteers will be in the parking lot next to Bikes@Vienna (128-A Church Street NW, Vienna) and at Antioch Christian Church (1860 Beulah Road, Vienna) collecting gently-used bikes for holiday distribution to local families. The program is being sponsored by Committee for Helping Others. Questions: edjporter8@gmail.com
Bike Lanes Recommended in Fairfax City
At a November design workshop sponsored by Fairfax City and George Mason University, transportation consultants recommended restriping University Drive for bike lanes between the Mason campus and downtown Fairfax. More than 200 individuals attended the three-day workshop, which focused on developing various short-term and long-term visions for strengthening the Mason-Fairfax City connection. Downtown Fairfax City is about 1 ½ miles from the Mason campus, an ideal distance for bicycling. The recommendation included a road diet for the north end of University Drive approaching downtown. The City will be evaluating the workshop recommendations in the coming months. See the final workshop presentation. To get involved in advocating for implementing these recommendations, contact Douglas Stewart at douglasbstewart@gmail.com.
- November 19, Wednesday - FABB monthly meeting
- November 27, Thursday - Reston Thanksgiving Day Ride
- November 29, Saturday - Holiday Bike Drive at bikes@vienna and Antioch Christian Church
- December 17, Wednesday - FABB monthly meeting
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