FABB Blog

 

Fairfax Co Parkway trail still unpaved

FFX Co Parkway Trail looking south from Route 50

We heard recently that the section of Fairfax County Parkway Trail that had been closed for many months, between Route 50 and Monument Dr, was finally paved. Our source had only driven by the trail so we decided to ride there today to check it out. We also wanted to take our recumbent tandem for a spin since we haven't used it in a while.

We've written about this section of trail too many times. When we last wrote about it, nearly a month ago, VDOT had just opened it for use. It wasn't paved but at least it was open. It appeared that it would be paved any day. Well, almost no progress has been made. A long section of the trail is still unpaved.

Parkway Trail at Route 50

As you can see from the first photo, there's construction debris blowing across the trail and just beyond that is a wide eroded area. Just north of here (left photo) the trail is a mess, with trash scattered about and construction fences still up. Construction is still ongoing so we'll be pleased once the project is finally completed.

Closer to Monument Dr the trail has been paved. It's a nice, wide surface that extends down to Monument Dr.

It's unfortunate that it has taken so long to finish this trail segment. The road has been paved and open to traffic since November 2012.

Paved an unpaved sections of the trail

We've scheduled a meeting with VDOT's Assistant District Administrator on April 9 April 10 to discuss the trail closure and how to keep it from happening on this and other trails in the future.

After checking out the trail we rode to lunch, stopped by REI to drop off some FABB rack cards, then tried to leave two used smoke alarms at the county landfill. It might have been the first time the folks at the landfill had seen customers on a recumbent tandem. They said not to worry, that we should just put the smoke alarms, that have radioactive sensors, in the trash.

Bikes parked in rack in front of REI Fairfax Corner

It turned out to be a nice day. Unlike on the W&OD Trail, we encountered few cyclists. Running errands by bike is an easy way to get some exercise, discover new bike routes in the county, and save on gas.

Labels: fairfax county parkway trail, route 50, temporary access

posted by Bruce Wright at 8:01 PM permalink

 

Fairfax County Parkway Trail now open

Fairfax Co Parkway Trail at Rt 50 - looking south

Thanks to SouthLakesMom who commented on our earlier post about the Parkway trail being closed. She referenced an email message that she received from Lauren Mollerup of VDOT who said the trail opened on Monday morning. Today we decided to ride down and check it out.

The trail segment that has been closed for nearly a year is now open between Route 50 and Fair Lakes Parkway. Paving has not been completed and as you can see from the photo on the right the trail surface is a mix of gravel and dirt. The photo is looking south toward Fair Lakes Pkwy from near the Route 50 overpass.

New Parkway trail - looking north toward Rt 50

There are actually two trails in this segment, the original trail that is now mostly dirt. It's located to the left of the sound barrier in the photo above. The two trails converge at the pond in the lower photo which is looking north toward Route 50. Where you see the orange fencing the trails split again, with one following the path of the original trail and the new trail.

There are no signs and where the trails converge is a little confusing. I think the geese in the lower photo seem to have taken a wrong turn.

This is far from idea but at least the trail is open. We saw some tire tracks in the dirt so others have discovered it. We hope the new trail is paved soon. We have long wanted some kind of wayfinding signage on this trail; it was a FABB goal in 2005 and despite our many attempts to work with the county and VDOT there are still no signs. Maybe this is a good time to restart that project.

Labels: fairfax county parkway trail, temporary access, vdot

posted by Bruce Wright at 2:49 PM permalink

 

Fairfax Parkway Trail still "temporarily" closed

We've written twice before about the closure of the Fairfax County Parkway Trail between Route 50 and Fair Lakes Parkway. According to VDOT's project website it was scheduled to "open by the end of 2012." It's still closed . This "temporary" closure has lasted for nearly a year.

In August we pointed out a possible detour to the NoVa District bicycle coordinator and we didn't hear back (she was out on sick leave and her email went into a black hole). We also wrote to the person listed on the website as the construction manager, Oscar Jamilla, who never responded. In December Mimi Kronisch, who apparently is the construction manager, responded by email saying that VDOT would be "happy to sign a detour." I sent a possible route and she said they would look at it in the field and "get back to you in a day or so." I haven't heard back yet despite sending a followup email, and there's no detour.

On January 18 I wrote to Del. Keam, in whose district this section of the trial lies, to complain. One of his staff called about two weeks later saying that VDOT said this was just a temporary closure and the trail would be open soon.

Closing one of Fairfax County's major trails for nearly a year, with no detour, is unacceptable. An obvious detour was available. Even if that detour wasn't possible, VDOT could have created a detour had they wanted to, something that is recommended by their own policy. The Parkway overpass at Fair Lakes has been open for several months and still trail users in this area cannot use this commuting and recreational trail.

We drove by the trail today and noticed that some paving work has been done but the trail will likely not be open for several weeks. This closure sends a clear message to cyclists in Fairfax; you don't count. It's too late now to do anything about this trail closure. We plan to find out why this occurred and to get assurances that it won't happen in the future.

Labels: fairfax county parkway trail, temporary access, vdot

posted by Bruce Wright at 10:47 PM permalink

 

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.

Labels: fairfax county parkway trail, temporary access, vdot

posted by Bruce Wright at 9:02 AM permalink

 

Fairfax County Parkway Trail still closed at Fair Lakes Blvd

The Fairfax County Parkway Trail has been closed for several months while construction of the Fair Lakes Blvd/Fairfax County Parkway intersection is underway. No detour was provided. This is a major multiuse trail that is completely closed, despite VDOT's policy to provide detours for pedestrians and bicyclists affected by construction, especially on heavily used trails:
We've asked VDOT contacts about possible detours and have not received a response. According to a July 2012 update on the project website, "The multipurpose trail that runs adjacent to northbound Fairfax County Parkway around to the ramp for Rt. 50 eastbound will be closed for about one more month in this area for soundwall construction. A new trail will be built in front of the wall."

The red line is the section of trail that is closed. The blue line is a possible detour that could have been signed for cyclists. I haven't ridden the detour but it appears to connect the two sections of the Parkway Trail.

As a note, the above section from the Virginia Work Area Protection Manual is a good example of why it's important to distinguish between pedestrian and bicycle facilities. What would be a long detour for pedestrians is often a relatively short ride for most bicyclists. There are enough differences between bicycle and pedestrian facilities that it's often not wise to use the term "pedestrian" to reference both as was done above. I added the term [and bicycle] above as I believe it is implied.

Labels: fairfax county parkway trail, temporary access

posted by Bruce Wright at 12:14 PM permalink