FABB Blog

Today the 2017 Session of the General Assembly Session convened for a 45-day session. Virginia Bicycling Federation is working with Senators and Delegates on several bills that could impact bicyclists. See the VBF website for the full report. Below is a summary of bills under consideration:

SB 860 Use of handheld personal communications devices while driving; penalty. Would prohibit usage of handheld personal communication devices while driving. Filed by Sen. Surovell.

There are two other bills from Sen. Surovell that do not yet have bill numbers. He is "introducing a 'vulnerable user' bill which creates a lower criminality threshold and higher penalties for drivers who injure pedestrians and cyclists.   Also, in an attempt to address the scourge of vehicles continuing to pass stopped vehicles on Sherwood Hall Lane, I am introducing legislation to make clear that bicycle lanes cannot be used by cars to pass other vehicles.

HB 1834 Distracted driving; penalty. Adds a “Distracted Driving” offense to the section of the Code that prohibits Reckless Driving (46.2-868).  This will add a lesser infraction to the code for infractions that are not as severe as to warrant “Reckless Driving” which has traditionally been considered a very severe charge in this state. Filed by Del. Anderson.

A bi-monthly publication of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling

www.fabb-bikes.org

Visit the county bike plan webpage for links to the "Fairfax County Bicycle Master Plan - Final Draft" and the four "Maps of Recommended Bicycle Network." We encourage all Fairfax cyclists to consider attending the October 1 and 28 public hearings. See the FABB blog for details as we get closer to those dates.

2014 Transportation Bond Will Fund Pedestrian and Bicycle Projects

The free racks outside the bike room were over capacity (bikes locked to the fencing) 6 of the 10 days. An average of 13 bikes (of 20 capacity) were parked at the south racks, so there was usually a place to park. The bike room was at about 1/4 capacity with plenty of room for more bikes for those who pay the $60 annual fee (approximately 25 cents/day for daily commuters).

Multimodal improvements are critical to get more cars off the road. It is also hoped that by restricting lane size, this will help to lower speeds and illegal passing on Sherwood Hall Lane which has become a real problem with increased cut through traffic.

These improvements were the result of two public hearings and significant public input. These lanes will eventually link into to a multiuse path on U.S. 1 and other bike lanes as U.S. 1 is redone, properties are redeveloped and road repaved.

DATE: April 14, 2014

TO: Supervisor Gerald Hyland, Delegate Scott Surovell, and Senator Toddy Puller

FROM: Seyed A. Nabavi, Engineer III, Department of Transportation

SUBJECT: Update on Sherwood Hall Lane Pavement Marking

This memorandum is an update on the Sherwood Hall Lane Pavement Marking project. We have received seventy seven comments via mail, email, and comments provided at the public information meeting before March 26th. We also received six comments after the March 26th deadline.

The comments have been compiled and they are mainly focused on retaining on‐street parking and providing bike lanes. The overwhelming desire of the residents in the eastern portion of Sherwood Hall Lane is to retaintheiron-streetparking. We understand that this space provides benefits beyond merely vehicle storage, such ascreating a buffer between the curb and fast‐moving traffic, and providing a safe place to walk where sidewalks do not exist.

We are pleased to report that we have modified the pavement marking plan to retain all the on‐street parking between Parkers and Fort Hunt by eliminating the proposed left-turn lanes. A bike lane will be carved from the existing parking lane, but this space will continue to contribute to the buffer space valued by the residents. Generally, we will provide the following design for the six segments on the project:

Segment 1 Route 1 to FordsonRoad:

The proposed design on this segment will remain the same. We will look at the queue length of the east bound right turns and provide enough gap in bike lanes for the right turning vehicles.

Segment 2 Fordson Road to Schelhorn Road:

The proposed design on this segment will remain the same. We will look at the queue length of the west bound right turns and provide enough gap in bike lanes for the right turning vehicles.

Segment 3 Schelhorn Road to Frances Drive:

The proposed left turn lane into the library will be preserved. The proposed left turn lane into Frances Drive will be removed and the existing parking will be retained on the south side of Sherwood Hall Lane (in front of the library).

Segment 4 Frances Drive To Davenport St:

The proposed two way left turn lane will be removed. The existing parking will be retained on both sides of Sherwood Hall Lane and the bike lanes will be striped.

Segment 5 Davenport Street To Kirkside Drive:

The proposed two way left turn lane will be removed. We will provide a new eastbound left turn lane into Kirkside Drive. The existing parking will be retained. The rest of the proposed design remains the same.

Segment 6 Kirkside Drive to Fort Hunt Road:

We will implement typical section concept 2 on this segment. The proposed two way left turn lane will be removed and the bike lanes will be striped. The existing parking will be retained.

We are in the process of finalizing the pavement marking and signage plans. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is in the process of repaving areas near Sherwood Hall  Lane, We will submit the final plans to VDOT on April 25th for their review and implementation.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please email me at Seved.Nabavi@fairfaxcountv.gov or call me at (703) 877‐5759.

MARCH-APRIL 2014 FABB News

A bi-monthly publication of Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling

www.fabb-bikes.org

Bicycle Master Plan Public Hearings Scheduled

The Fairfax Co Bicycle Program Manager recently announced dates for public hearings on the Countywide Bicycle Master Plan. The Planning Commission hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 8 in the evening, and the Board of Supervisors hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 17. Both hearings will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center. This is a great opportunity for you to show your support for better bicycling in the county, either by attending a public hearing or writing a letter of support to your county Supervisor.

FABB plans to hold rides to the public hearings. Having a number of cyclists present at the hearings shows we care about our community and that we want the Board to approve the plan. The plan is not yet available on the county website but FABB has posted the July 2012 Draft Bicycle Master Plan text and maps (see FABB homepage for map links).

Wiehle Station Bike Room Applications Being Taken

Fairfax County DOT recently sent out applications to over 130 cyclists who requested information about renting a space in the new Wiehle-Reston East Metro station bike room. The room has capacity for over 200 bikes. Rates for use of the bike room are $40 for six months or $60 for a year plus a one-time $15 fee for a key fob. See the Wiehle Bike Room page for details and to request an information packet or see the FABB blog for other details, including the bike room FAQ.

Fairfax County Parkway Trail Repair to Begin in March

VDOT recently held an information meeting on the Fairfax County Parkway Trail repair project scheduled to begin this month. The first phase of the project will extend from Route 7 to Route 29, although the section around the I-66 overpass will not be included. Only the most damaged sections of the trail will be repaved. Where large cracks have developed but the remainder of the trail is in good condition, the cracks will be sealed. Where the asphalt has deteriorated, those sections will be repaved.

The section of trail being repaired will be closed between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Cyclists using the trail for commuting during regular business hours should be able to complete their trips before and after those times. Otherwise we've asked that where possible, trail users be allowed to carefully bypass work in progress. Informational signage and maps will be posted on site. See the FABB blog for more info about the meeting. The work is a major undertaking and will greatly benefit cyclists who use this important north-south trail connection. Thanks to VDOT for funding the work and listening to our concerns. Their efforts are very much appreciated.

Fairfax County Board Approves Funding for New Bike Projects

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recently approved over $200 million in funding for pedestrian and bicycle projects as part of a major 6-year transportation funding package. The majority of the projects are pedestrian sidewalks. Bicycle project funding was not identified separately. We've estimated that approximately $40 million is available for bike projects, approximately $7 million/year. This is a significant increase in funding from previous years although it is only a small portion (3%) of the nearly $1.3 billion in total transportation funding. Bike projects will be included in many of the road projects that were part of the package. Funds for improving bike access to the Silver Line stations are also available. Unfortunately none of these funds can be used for maintenance.

Meeting to Discuss Bike Lanes on Sherwood Hall Lane

On Wednesday, March 12 Fairfax DOT and VDOT are holding a meeting to discuss proposed bike lanes on Sherwood Hall Lane. This road is an important connection between Mt Vernon Parkway/Fort Hunt Rd and the Route 1 Corridor. Some nearby residents have voiced strong opposition to the plan. Cyclists are encouraged to attend the meeting and support the proposal. The meeting is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306. See the meeting announcement for more details.

Fairfax County to hold Sidewalk Snow Removal Forum

At the Fairfax Co Board of Supervisors meeting on February 25 Hunter Mill District Supervisor Hudgins raised the issue of snow removal on sidewalks. She asked the Board to direct staff to hold a "forum for discussion of sidewalk snow removal." The Board has addressed this issue repeatedly in the past as we outlined in a recent blog post on snow-covered sidewalks and trails. We will suggest that snow removal on trails and bike lanes be included in the discussion. See the FABB blog for more info on Supervisor Hudgins' request. When a date for the forum is announced we'll spread the word via FABB social media.

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