FABB Blog

 

Important I-66 Public Hearings This Week

It is exciting that current plans for I-66 Outside the Beltway include the parallel trail and bike and pedestrian connections on all rebuilt bridges, but we want to make sure it becomes a reality!

Proposed I-66 Trail segment in Dunn Loring

Your help is needed to continue showing strong support for the bike infrastructure as the I-66 project moves into the procurement phase. VDOT is holding three public meetings this week to present the draft Request for Proposal (RFP) documents for the project. Please consider attending one of the meetings to learn about the procurement process, and to speak-up in support of the bicycle facilities. Hearings are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on:

• Monday, May 23, 2016
  Oakton High School - Cafeteria
  2900 Sutton Road, Vienna
• Tuesday, May 24, 2016
  VDOT Northern Virginia District Office
  4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax
• Wednesday, May 25, 2016
  Piney Branch Elementary School - Cafeteria/Gym
  8301 Linton Hall Road, Bristow

VDOT's draft RFP includes the Technical Requirements and Comprehensive Agreement, which will set the terms of the I-66 contract with the private-sector partner. Searching the documents for "bicycle" will quickly direct you to key sections.

While the parallel trail and bridge facilities are discussed in the technical requirements, the comprehensive agreement currently does not mention the bicycle facilities. Please let VDOT know that you support the I-66 bicycle plan and urge them to fully include it in the comprehensive agreement.

The hearings will provide opportunity for public feedback. Comments can also be submitted until June 10th. Please direct them to Ms. Susan Shaw, Megaprojects Director, by email to Transform66@VDOT.Virginia.gov or mail to VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. Reference "Transform 66 Outside the Beltway" in the subject line.

Labels: custis trail, i-66

posted by Bruce Wright at 1:29 PM permalink

 

VDOT Releases Latest I-66 Environmental Assessment Docs

I-66 Trail at Route 123

VDOT recently released the I-66 Outside the Beltway Tier 2 Environmental Assessment (EA) documents. The project includes a major regional trail parallel to I-66 from Gallows Road to the Fairfax County border as well as  new bike and ped facilities on rebuilt bridges. We are asking cyclists to contact VDOT by February 4 to support bike access along and across I-66. Please reference "I-66 Tier 2 Revised EA" in the subject.

See the Fairfax County portion of the Parallel Trail map. The trail would extend the Custis Trail located inside the Beltway. See the FABB I-66 Info Page for other supporting documents.

The Federal Highway Administration requires the preparation of an EA when VDOT conducts a significant project like the expansion of the I-66 corridor. According to the document, "This Tier 2 Revised EA is being made available for a 15-day public review and comment period. All comments received on the Tier 2 Revised EA will be considered and substantive comments will be addressed prior to finalizing the Tier 2 EA process and prior to a Tier 2 NEPA decision by FHWA." Comments are due February 4.

From VDOT: "Submit your written comments on the Tier 2 Revised EA by February 4, 2016 to Ms. Susan Shaw, PE, by email to Transform66@VDOT.Virginia.gov or via the online comment form on the project's website or join the discussion. Please reference "I-66 Tier 2 Revised EA" in the subject line for all correspondence."

Earlier VDOT released the Requests for Proposals that included Technical Requirements which contained proposed locations where the parallel trail can be accessed from adjacent neighborhoods. We will post our analysis of those points soon.

From the report:

Labels: custis trail, i-66, I-66 multimodal study

posted by Bruce Wright at 2:16 PM permalink

 

I-66 Meeting on Tues. Dec 8 - Support the Parallel Trail

FABB has been advocating for construction of a trail parallel to I-66 outside the Beltway as part of the proposed widening project. The trail  is included on the county Comprehensive Plan and has the support of the Board of Supervisors. With help from cyclists who have contacted VDOT, the trail is now included in the plans, but we are going to have to continue to speak out in support of this trail.

On December 8 you will have an opportunity to speak to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) to support plans for extension of the Custis Trail I-66 outside the Beltway. The meeting will be held at George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church from 6-8 pm. Cyclists are encouraged to attend the meeting and sign up to speak in favor of the proposed parallel trail and bike facilities on the rebuilt bridges.

Labels: custis trail, I-66 multimodal study

posted by Bruce Wright at 2:20 PM permalink

 

CTB Public Meeting on I-66 on Dec. 8

On December 8 the public will have an opportunity to speak to the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) about plans for changes to I-66 inside and outside the Beltway. The meeting will be held at George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church from 6-8 pm. Cyclists are encouraged to attend the meeting and sign up to speak in favor of the proposed parallel trail and bike facilities on the rebuilt bridges. The parallel trail would be an extension of the very popular Custis Trail inside the Beltway.

Labels: custis trail, i-66, I-66 multimodal study

posted by Bruce Wright at 9:50 AM permalink

 

GGW article on I-66 parallel trail

I-66 parallel trail in green along N side at Nutley St.

The Custis Trail is going to get a lot longer is the title of an article by Canaan Merchant of Greater Greater Washington. As we've said in the past, we're excited that plans for the trail are now an integral part of the I-66 Outside the Beltway project. From the GGW article:
The latest plans are online in several detailed segment drawings and an overview drawing of the proposed trail in Fairfax County. The detailed drawings indicate that most of the parallel trail ramp crossings will be grade-separated, similar to those on the Custis Trail. The latest design indicates that less right of way will be needed than was earlier thought, which should reduce concerns from residents.

VDOT is holding meetings in Fairfax on Oct. 19 & 20. These meetings are a great opportunity for area cyclists to voice their support for this new trail. Just because the trail is shown on plans does not mean it will be built. Your support is critical.

Monday, October 19, 2015Oakton High School
2900 Sutton Road, Vienna, VA 22181

Tuesday, October 20, 2015VDOT Northern Virginia District Office
4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030

Labels: custis trail, greater greater washington, i-66, I-66 multimodal study

posted by Bruce Wright at 3:36 PM permalink

 

I-66 Outside the Beltway detailed plans now available

I-66 at Nutley St, parallel trail shown as solid green line

The drawings for the I-66 Outside the Beltway project are now available on the VDOT website. We are very encouraged that the parallel trail on the north side of I-66 is an integral part of the project. Many of the ramp crossings are grade-separated using either a tunnel or bridge to allow safer crossings of the high speed ramps. Kudos to VDOT for including the trail, an extension of the Custis Trail, in their plans.

Also shown on the drawings are the bike facilities across the bridges that will be rebuilt as part of the project. In the Nutley/I-66 drawing on the right you can see "Proposed Shared Use Paths" as solid green lines. The parallel trail is on the north side weaving through the interchange with bridges or tunnels crossing the ramps. The dashed green line in the upper left is the "Proposed Shared Use Path (By Others)," which in this case would be a section of the parallel trail built by Fairfax County.

There's a great deal of information in a large number of drawings. These will be printed and placed in sequence at the public information meetings planned later this month. Cyclists are encouraged to attend these meetings and learn more about the proposed bike facilities and support VDOT's trail proposal. Even if you don't support the expansion of I-66, if the project is built, we strongly support the trail proposals.

I-66 Outside the Beltway meetings held between 6:30 and 8:30 (as per comment below):

Labels: custis trail, I-66 multimodal study, vdot

posted by Bruce Wright at 1:35 PM permalink

 

I-66 project meeting Thursday at VDOT NoVa offices

VDOT is holding the first Fairfax County I-66 Multimodal project meeting on Thursday, January 29 at the VDOT Northern Virginia District Office, 1st Floor, Occoquan Room, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Please consider attending one of the I-66 meetings to learn more about the project and voice your support for bike access, or Take Action Now to insist that biking and walking be an integral part of the planned multi-modal improvements to the I-66 corridor.

Providing bicycle and pedestrian facilities along I-66 will:

• Improve bicycle and pedestrian access to transit and surrounding neighborhoods
• Promote biking for both long distance and short local trips
• Reduce traffic congestion along I-66 and neighboring roads 
• Provide a great recreational asset and opportunities for physical fitness

Two other meetings are planned for next week:

• Tuesday, February 3, at Oakton High School in Vienna from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
• Thursday, February 5, at the VDOT Northern Virginia District Office in Fairfax from 6:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Labels: custis trail, I-66 multimodal study

posted by Bruce Wright at 8:07 PM permalink

 

Arlington to unveil Bikeometer tomorrow - Update

Tomorrow Arlington County will unveil the first visible bike counter on the East Coast, the Bikeometer, on the Custis Trail in Rosslyn. The event will occur tomorrow, April 1 at 10am at the Custis Trail at Lee Hwy and Lynn St. The device is a great way to show everyone how many people use bikes at this location. According to Arlington, over 500,000 ped/bike trips are taken on that section of the trail each year.

Labels: arlington county, bikeometer, custis trail, visual bike counter

posted by Bruce Wright at 4:12 PM permalink

 

Meeting tonight on the I-66 corridor outside the Beltway

Tonight, Thursday, Jan. 30, VDOT is holding a public meeting on transportation improvements along the I-66 corridor outside the Beltway. The meeting begins at 6:30pm at Oakton High School, 2900 Sutton Road, Vienna.

Please consider letting VDOT and DRPT know about the needs of bicyclists along the I-66 corridor. Many of us currently use the Custis Trail parallel to I-66 in Arlington County. A similar trail should be built along I-66 outside the Beltway. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors supports this trail that is included in the Countywide Trails Plan. Cyclists also need to be able to safely cross I-66.

See our comments from an earlier meeting. See also the display boards from tonight's meeting. The only implied reference to bicycle access in the displays is: "Intermodal Connectivity: Availability of a full range of travel modes within the corridor, as well as availability and functionality of connections between travel modes." See the meeting comment sheet. The above info is contained on the I-66 Corridor Improvements site:

Labels: custis trail, i-66, vdot

posted by Bruce Wright at 3:58 PM permalink

 

Meeting on changes to I-66 outside the Beltway

VDOT has been studying possible changes to I-66 outside the Beltway. A public meeting is planned on January 30 to discuss proposed changes. We think the Custis Trail that parallels I-66 inside the Beltway should be extended outside the Beltway, as is called for in the Countywide Trails Plan (Major Regional Trail).

The meeting will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Oakton High School, 2900 Sutton Road Vienna, VA 22181.

See the VDOT I-66 website for more info:

Labels: custis trail, i-66

posted by Bruce Wright at 6:12 PM permalink

 

Bike signals recognized by Federal Highway officials

Traffic signals that are specific to bicycles have been approved by the Federal Highway Administration and are now part of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), the sign/signal bible for traffic engineers.

Bike signal on Custis Trail at Oak St - Google Maps

If you've ridden the Custis Trail in Rosslyn you may have seen bike signals at the intersection of Lee Hwy and Oak St. If you click on the image on the right from Google Maps street view you can just make out the symbol of a bike in the small traffic signal above the ped hand signal.

The ped and bike signals have different timing. The bike signal stays illuminated longer because it takes less time for a cyclist to cross the intersection than it takes a pedestrian, one of the many ways in which pedestrians and bicyclists are different.

These signals can now be used without the need for special permission from FHWA. From the Streetsblog post Bike Signals Get the Green Light From Engineering Establishment:
Hat tip to GreaterGreaterWashington.

Labels: bike signals, custis trail, fhwa

posted by Bruce Wright at 1:57 PM permalink

 

We need a bike trail parallel to I-66

The Custis Trail that parallels I-66 in Arlington is one of the most heavily used trails in Virginia, used by commuters and recreational cyclists. That trail should be extended along I-66 outside the Beltway.

VDOT is holding public hearings on the Environmental Impact Study on changes to I-66 between the Beltway and Route 15. According to VDOT: "Public hearings will focus on the Draft EIS, which reflects extensive traffic forecasting, analysis of how various transportation modes work in combination with others, and evaluations about possible impacts on the natural and human environments."

Cyclists are encouraged to attend the Fairfax public hearing this Thursday at Luther Jackson Middle School to find out how people who travel by bike will be accommodated by this project. Are bike facilities included parallel to I-66 as is required by the Fairfax Co Countywide Trails Plan? Can cyclists safely travel through I-66 intersections? Are there good connections to transit? Can cyclists access Park & Ride facilities and find good bike parking? If we don't make it safe and convenient for people to travel by bike, then they won't.

I-66 EIS Public Hearing
For more info see the full Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Labels: custis trail, i-66, vdot

posted by Bruce Wright at 12:58 PM permalink

 

Bike access needed on I-66 in Fairfax

A Town Hall Meeting is planned on Saturday, Feb. 6 to discuss future transportation options along I-66, I-66-Today and the Future: Common Sense Solutions to Address Gridlock:One commonsense solution that is in place inside the Beltway is the Custis Trail, a shared-use path along I-66. It is used heavily, especially by bike commuters. It was integrated into the design of I-66 and includes grade-separated crossings of all the entrance/exit ramps. There are also several ped/bike bridges across the road to connect communities.

In 2002 the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission voted to include a shared-use path along the length of I-66 on the Countywide Trails Plan, part of the county Comprehensive Plan. Any discussion of "common sense solutions to gridlock" should include non-motorized access.

Cyclists are encouraged to attend the meeting and ask about bike accommodations along I-66 and to demand that any future projects include bike access.

Labels: custis trail, i-66

posted by Bruce Wright at 11:22 AM permalink