Friday, June 20, 2014
Tour de Tysons Fun Family Events
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| Photo by Pete Beers |
Watch the Tour de Tysons races on Sunday June 29 and bring the family! Tour de Tysons is more than just racing this year. Stay for the day and connect with people who are passionate about bicycling in Tysons and beyond. Come join FABB for food and fun in the newest downtown in Fairfax County. FABB has partnered with Tysons Partnership and the Tour de Tysons sponsors to bring you events throughout the day.
A long term goal of FABB is the transformation of Tysons into a bike-friendly community. FABB was involved in the planning for the future of Tysons that resulted in major Comprehensive Plan Changes in Tysons. Those changes include bike lanes on several Tysons roads, new trail links into Tysons, improved on-road conditions in and around Tysons, new bike parking requirements, and improved signage. Those changes are still a few years away, but this is a chance to learn about changes coming to Tysons and to discover bike routes to several of the new Tysons Silver Line stations.
Tour de Tysons Schedule of Events:- Races start at 8:00am and run to approx 5pm on Sunday June 29
- Bike Trains depart at 8:30am
- Talk - Getting there by Bike! - 10:30am
- Tysons Free Open Streets Family Fun Ride - 12:00pm
- Bike Train to Tysons - Meet up and ride to Tour de Tysons. We'll help you discover new routes to get to Tysons by bike. Starting points are:
- Barns at Wolf Trap
- Mosaic District
- Vienna Caboose
Interested in taking the Bike Train? Email us at tysons@fabb-bikes.org
Tysons Open Streets Family Fun Ride - Experience Tysons in a new way as you pedal along the TdT course at your own pace.
Talk - Getting there by Bike! - Elizabeth MacGregor, Certified Bike Instructor and FABB Board Member, will talk about how to make the most of your bike. You'll learn that getting around by bike is easy, fun and saves you money.
Vendors and Food:- 24 HR Fitness
- Bikes@Vienna
- REI
- Whim Pops
- Kettle Korn Guy
- Smart Markets, Inc.
- Firehook Bakery
- Balloon twister & face painter
- Halftime Food Bars
- Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling
- WMATA
- Crepe Love Food Truck
- Scoops 2 U Ice-Cream Food Truck
- Spokes, Etc.
Labels: Silver line, tour de tysons
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Bike Share in Reston AND Tysons Approved by Board of Supervisors
In Reston the county has been moving forward with bike station planning and preparing to purchase the stations and bikes.
While FABB has promoted bike sharing in Tysons and bike sharing was recommended in the Tysons bike plan (p. G-3), but we expected it would be implemented in a second, later phase. What made this happen was Tysons Partnership stepping forward to make a "financial contribution to the initial capital cost, as well as operating costs."
This is great news, especially now that there are over 2 miles of new bike lanes in Tysons. Thanks to Fairfax County for having the foresight to implement bike sharing, and to Tysons Partnership for their sponsorship.
See a FABB blog article a presentation by Charlie Denney of Alta Planning about bike sharing in Tysons.
From the the county news release Fairfax County Approves Bikeshare System for Reston, Tysons.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a $1.7 million plan to bring Capital Bikeshare to Reston and Tysons at its regularly scheduled meeting today. This investment will help get cars off the road, boost local economy and contribute to a healthier community.
“With the transformation of Reston and Tysons into more urban centers, Fairfax County is investing in infrastructure needed to make it easy to get around.” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. “More people are living and working in these areas than ever before. “Downtown” areas by definition are not designed to accommodate high volumes of car traffic and parking. Creating the right atmosphere that encourages walking and biking is important for these areas to continue to be attractive and highly sought after by residents and businesses alike.”
“With the transformation of Reston and Tysons into more urban centers, Fairfax County is investing in infrastructure needed to make it easy to get around.” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. “More people are living and working in these areas than ever before. “Downtown” areas by definition are not designed to accommodate high volumes of car traffic and parking. Creating the right atmosphere that encourages walking and biking is important for these areas to continue to be attractive and highly sought after by residents and businesses alike.”
The bikeshare system will allow individuals in the Reston and Tysons to check out a bike and ride short to moderate distances from station to station. There will be 132 bicycles available in Reston at 15 stations located between the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail Station and Reston Town Center; and 80 bicycles available in Tysons at 11 stations located east of Route 7, north of Route 123, and south of the Dulles Toll Road. The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is working to identify and refine the exact locations for the stations in Reston and Tysons, and will be moving forward with the equipment purchase for the program. The first phase of the system is expected to open in the fall of 2016.
The Board’s action comes just one month after the approval of 31 pedestrian and bicycle projects in Herndon and Reston, and it also supports the county’s Strategic Plan to Facilitate Economic Success. The economic plan calls for creating dense, mixed use communities with many transportation options, and Capital Bikeshare helps to accomplish this goal. Not only do bikeshares attract the younger “creative class” that fuel an innovation economy, but also they produce tangible economic benefits. Also, a 2014 Capital Bikeshare member survey found that its riders make more trips to restaurants and stores than they normally would without the bikeshare system.[1] In addition, an academic study found that 23 percent of Capital Bikeshare riders spent more money because they used the system.[2]
In 2014, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) awarded Fairfax County a Transportation and Land Use Connection grant to study the feasibility of launching a bikeshare system. The results of the study showed that bikeshare could succeed as a viable transportation option in Reston.
In the summer of 2015, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in partnership with Fairfax County, and with the support of the Tysons Partnership, implemented several miles of bike lanes in Tysons. This new infrastructure provoked the idea that a bikeshare system could succeed in Tysons, as well as in Reston. The Tysons Partnership approached FCDOT with a proposal to bring bikeshare to Tysons, and to make a financial contribution to the initial capital cost, as well as operating costs.
For more information on this project, contact FCDOT at 703-877-5600, TTY 711 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/bike.
[1] http://www.capitalbikeshare.com/assets/pdf/cabi-2014surveyreport.pdf , p. v, Jan. 5, 2016.
[2] http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/51000/51900/51965/VT-2013-06.pdf , p. 22, Jan. 6, 2016.
The Board’s action comes just one month after the approval of 31 pedestrian and bicycle projects in Herndon and Reston, and it also supports the county’s Strategic Plan to Facilitate Economic Success. The economic plan calls for creating dense, mixed use communities with many transportation options, and Capital Bikeshare helps to accomplish this goal. Not only do bikeshares attract the younger “creative class” that fuel an innovation economy, but also they produce tangible economic benefits. Also, a 2014 Capital Bikeshare member survey found that its riders make more trips to restaurants and stores than they normally would without the bikeshare system.[1] In addition, an academic study found that 23 percent of Capital Bikeshare riders spent more money because they used the system.[2]
In 2014, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) awarded Fairfax County a Transportation and Land Use Connection grant to study the feasibility of launching a bikeshare system. The results of the study showed that bikeshare could succeed as a viable transportation option in Reston.
In the summer of 2015, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in partnership with Fairfax County, and with the support of the Tysons Partnership, implemented several miles of bike lanes in Tysons. This new infrastructure provoked the idea that a bikeshare system could succeed in Tysons, as well as in Reston. The Tysons Partnership approached FCDOT with a proposal to bring bikeshare to Tysons, and to make a financial contribution to the initial capital cost, as well as operating costs.
For more information on this project, contact FCDOT at 703-877-5600, TTY 711 or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/bike.
[1] http://www.capitalbikeshare.com/assets/pdf/cabi-2014surveyreport.pdf , p. v, Jan. 5, 2016.
[2] http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/51000/51900/51965/VT-2013-06.pdf , p. 22, Jan. 6, 2016.
Labels: bikeshare, Reston bikeshare, tysons bikeshare
Friday, August 1, 2014
Walking and biking in Tysons
The opening of the Silver Line has highlighted challenges for pedestrians and bicyclists in Tysons and to a lesser extent, in Reston. Yesterday we worked with Coalition for Smarter Growth on a news release on the situation: Opening of Silver Line Prompts Public Attention to Safety Issues for Pedestrians and Bicyclists.
With the opening of the first phase of the Silver Line, news stories and social media are drawing attention to the unsafe conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists on many of the roadways surrounding the stations. While the number of people parking at the new Silver Line stations is much lower than expected, the number of bicyclists has been surprisingly high, with bike racks at the Wiehle-Reston East station filling up quickly, and cyclists voicing the need for more bike lanes to safely reach the stations.
Writing Wednesday on Greater Greater Washington, Ken Archer (Chief Technology Officer for a company in Tysons), described the difficult situation pedestrians face in trying to cross as many as nine lanes of traffic at the intersection of Tysons Boulevard and Galleria Drive, where two sides of the intersection are missing marked crosswalks.
...
“Route 7 and Route 123 remain a particularly serious problem in the Tysons plan. Despite repeated requests for these roads to be converted to true urban boulevards that allow for safe crossing along with protected bicycle lanes and good sidewalks, these roads remain virtual highways through the heart of Tysons.” said Stewart Schwartz. “A final section of Route 123 is even planned for widening to 8 lanes, as is unfortunately the case with the other segments of Routes 7 and 123 through Tysons.”
...
Wright offered a number of other recommendations, including adoption of the Tysons Bike Plan, expediting specific projects like the Vesper Trail and Old Courthouse Road bike facilities, a near term and interim measure to paint “sharrows” on Tysons roads to alert drivers to the presence of bicyclists, wayfinding signs for bike routes, more bike lockers and racks, and strengthened coordination between the County, VDOT, the Tysons Partnership (which can serve as a future Transportation Management Association for Tyson), Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB), local employers, and existing bicycle commuters.
David Alpert of Greater Greater Washington followed up on the news release in his post Why is Tysons walkability and bikeability so bad?Writing Wednesday on Greater Greater Washington, Ken Archer (Chief Technology Officer for a company in Tysons), described the difficult situation pedestrians face in trying to cross as many as nine lanes of traffic at the intersection of Tysons Boulevard and Galleria Drive, where two sides of the intersection are missing marked crosswalks.
...
“Route 7 and Route 123 remain a particularly serious problem in the Tysons plan. Despite repeated requests for these roads to be converted to true urban boulevards that allow for safe crossing along with protected bicycle lanes and good sidewalks, these roads remain virtual highways through the heart of Tysons.” said Stewart Schwartz. “A final section of Route 123 is even planned for widening to 8 lanes, as is unfortunately the case with the other segments of Routes 7 and 123 through Tysons.”
...
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| Routes in Red are Phase I, to be completed by 2013 |
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| The south side of Tysons Boulevard and Galleria Drive. Photo by Ken Archer, Greater Greater Washington |
Virginia officials have known for years that Metro was coming to Tysons. Yet when the four stations opened, commuters found dreadful and dangerous walking and biking conditions. Why?
The Fairfax County DOT has been making some progress. There are two crosswalks at the intersection of Route 123 and Tysons Boulevard, which FCDOT recently installed. But at the opposite corner, there are no crosswalks. This is where Ken Archer described pedestrians running across nine lanes of traffic without any crosswalk.
Fairfax County is making progress, with several funded pedestrian and bicycle projects in Tysons that will provide better access. Those projects need to be expedited. As we noted above, short term recommendations in the Tysons Bicycle Master Plan, that was completed in 2011, should have been implemented last year. They include low cost features such as Sharrows, Bicycles may Use Full Lane signs, and wayfinding signage, all of which could be installed tomorrow.The Fairfax County DOT has been making some progress. There are two crosswalks at the intersection of Route 123 and Tysons Boulevard, which FCDOT recently installed. But at the opposite corner, there are no crosswalks. This is where Ken Archer described pedestrians running across nine lanes of traffic without any crosswalk.
Labels: bicycle master plan, Silver line, tysons bike plan, wiehle station
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Bikesharing in Tysons?
Is bike sharing in Tysons feasible? That is the subject of a presentation to the Tysons Bike Group by Charlie Denney of Alta Planning & Design that is scheduled for next Tuesday, March 6 at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Tysons from noon to 1pm. If you're interested in attended send a message to chairman@fabb-bikes.org. |
| Charlie Denney of Alta Planning at the Tysons West station. |
The Tysons Bicycle Master Plan contains recommendations for many on- and off-road bike facilities. Bike sharing is also recommended in Phase 2: 2012-2016 - "As the core of Tysons Corner begins redeveloping, implement priority on-street, and off-street bicycle facilities. Improve bicycle access within and from the surrounding communities. Install high-tech Bicycle Sharing infrastructure and launch encouragement programs like 'Bike-to- Lunch' and 'Bicycle-Friendly Employer A wards.'" Unfortunately the plan has not even been presented to the Planning Commission or the Board of Supervisors, and we're already into Phase 2 recommendations.
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| Shopper bike racks at Tysons Corner Center |
We rode by three of the four future station locations and got a feel for bike access to the stations. Tysons isn't flat. To cycle from most of the stations to interior locations will require pedaling uphill. Electric-assist bikes would make bike sharing more feasible for many people although there are few electric-assist bike share systems currently in place (see The Bike-sharing Blog for info on Japanese systems that use electric-assist).
On the left are some of the custom "shopper" bike racks that are scattered around the Tysons Corner Center.
It was a beautiful day to tour Tysons on bikes. The kind of day when you think anything is possible, even having a successful bike sharing system in Tysons.
Labels: bike share, charlie denney, Tysons, tysons bike plan, tysons metro
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
FABB Social Ride from Tysons to Mosaic District
- Refreshments and Giveaways at Tysons Corner Center from 9:00am – 9:30am.
- PROMPT departure at 9:30am.
- 20 – 30 minute ride to Mosaic District
- Approximately 1 hour of free time at Mosaic District
- Group Departs Mosaic District to return to Tysons Corner Center at 10:30am.
- Register on Eventbrite.
The Distance: We’ll ride 8 miles round trip, or about 40 minutes. All levels of biking experience are welcome – this is not a race!
Registration: FREE!
Don’t have a bike? No problem! A Capital Bikeshare station is located at Tysons Corner Center. Note there is not a Capital Bikeshare station located at the Mosaic District, so those renting bikes will need to make plans to return their bike back at Tysons Corner Center or at another bikeshare station nearby.
FABB and Access Tysons representatives will be biking back to Tysons Corner Center at 10:30am.
Participants will need to sign releases from both Tysons Corner Center and FABB before participating.
Helmets are required for all group ride participants.
For those who do not wish to return to Tysons Corner Center, the Dunn Loring Merrifield Metro station is less than a mile from the Mosaic District.
Rain Date: May 7th.
Labels: access tysons, capital bikeshare, mosaic district, Tysons
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
DRAFT Tysons Park Plan and questionnaire released
The Tysons Park System Concept Plan was recently released by Fairfax County. As Tysons transforms from a car-dominated place to a livable, walkable, bikable community, park space will play an important role. Residents and employees of Tysons should be able to travel to and between these park spaces without the need for a car.
Connectivity is an important part of the new park plan. An entire section of the plan is devoted to the subject, with an emphasis on transit, ped and bike access. It includes a proposed "Tysons Community Circuit," a 4-5 mile recreational trail loop connecting the planned parks in Tysons.
You can support the goal of a connected park system by filling out the brief questionnaire.
From the plan:
A well-connected park network can be enjoyed by more people! Augmenting the park network with connections between isolated park spaces, stream valleys and key points of interest will enhance the value of all parks and further distinguish Tysons from other urban areas. Creating opportunities for cyclists and pedestrians to experience park spaces and points of interest in Tysons safely and conveniently is crucial. This can be achieved through appropriate placement of new parks and a well-planned recreational trail system that connects and extends public sidewalks, bike lanes and bicycle facilities, recognizing the importance of trails in accessing Metrorail stations. The emphasis here is on recreational use of trails.
Phase I of the Fairfax County Bicycle Master Plan covers the Tysons area and provides detailed bicycle infrastructure recommendations, including trail connections to neighborhoods outside of Tysons, on-road bike lanes, and other facilities to support commuter cycling. The Tysons Circulator Study proposes a three-route bus system to support Metrorail transit ridership and minimize vehicular trips to, from, and within Tysons. Consideration of planned bike and Circulator routes will better inform park and trail network locations.
Tysons Community Circuit: The planned bicycle network is extensive but focused on the cycling commuter and, therefore, not ideal for a child learning to ride a bike or a family out for a leisurely excursion. An off-road trail system along the stream valleys and power line easement will provide for some of this recreational trail need, however, with limited connectivity and limited coverage throughout Tysons. There is a need for another type of recreational trail that is more closely integrated with the places where people live and work, linking parks and points of interest, while providing the flexibility for a variety of users to share the space safely.
Phase I of the Fairfax County Bicycle Master Plan covers the Tysons area and provides detailed bicycle infrastructure recommendations, including trail connections to neighborhoods outside of Tysons, on-road bike lanes, and other facilities to support commuter cycling. The Tysons Circulator Study proposes a three-route bus system to support Metrorail transit ridership and minimize vehicular trips to, from, and within Tysons. Consideration of planned bike and Circulator routes will better inform park and trail network locations.
Tysons Community Circuit: The planned bicycle network is extensive but focused on the cycling commuter and, therefore, not ideal for a child learning to ride a bike or a family out for a leisurely excursion. An off-road trail system along the stream valleys and power line easement will provide for some of this recreational trail need, however, with limited connectivity and limited coverage throughout Tysons. There is a need for another type of recreational trail that is more closely integrated with the places where people live and work, linking parks and points of interest, while providing the flexibility for a variety of users to share the space safely.
Labels: Tysons, tysons bike plan, tysons park system concept plan
Monday, May 12, 2014
Upcoming Tysons meetings
Transforming Tysons Open HouseFairfax County will be holding the 4th Annual Transforming Tysons Open House on Monday, May 19 at 7:00 pm at Spring Hill Elementary School (8201 Lewinsville Road) to provide information on proposed development activity, ongoing transportation studies, potential Comprehensive Plan changes, and park and public facility plans for Tysons. More information on the Open House.
Daytime Tysons Parks Plan Meeting
Do you work in Tysons? If so, we really want to hear your thoughts on what park and recreational opportunities should exist in the Tysons of the future. Please stop in and meet with Fairfax County Park Authority planning staff at the Tysons Parks Open House, Thursday, May 29, 2014 from 12:15 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Stop in and learn about park planning for the Tysons area. This is a great opportunity to tell planners what you want to see. The informal gathering will be held at Tysons Pimmit Regional Library located at 7584 Leesburg Pike in Falls Church, VA.
The Park Authority published the Draft Tysons Park System Concept Plan last month, putting in motion the opportunity for public review and comment on this planning document. The Tysons Park System Concept Plan will guide future park development by the public, private and non-profit sectors that will serve Tyson’s residents, workforce and visitors well into the future. The plan is available online atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/plandev/tysons-park-planning.htm A 60-day public comment period closes on June 16, 2014.
Labels: Tysons, tysons park system concept plan
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Draft Tysons Comprehensive Plan text released
Bicycle facilities play a prominent role in the plans for a transformed Tysons Corner. Based on the Tysons Task Force recommendations, Fairfax County staff recently released draft Comprehensive Plan text (pdf) that will guide future development in Tysons.Bike lanes are planned on many of the roads in Tysons. The proposed grid of streets is divided into four classes of streets: Boulevards (Routes 7 & 123 and International Dr/Gallows Rd), Avenues (interior major streets), Main Streets (streets near the high density Metro station locations), and Local Streets.
Five-foot wide Bike lanes are planned on the Avenues and Main Streets. These are the main connecting streets in Tysons on which bicyclists will travel to work and other major destinations. Dedicated facilities on these roads will encourage more people to use bikes to get around Tysons.
While we strongly support the concept of bike lanes on Avenues and Main Streets, we think that bike facilities are also needed on the Boulevards. The task force report states that "People will be able to walk or bike safely along Route 7 and 123 to nearby businesses." People traveling to Tysons by bike will want to reach destinations along these roads and some kind of bike facilities should be provided. International Dr/Gallows Road is the main north south route through the heart of Tysons. Bike lanes are already planned for Gallows Road from the Dunn Loring Metro stations to Route 7. Without bike lanes on these roads, there will be a major gap in the bicycle network.
The local streets will not have dedicated bike facilities. They will be designed as complete streets with low speeds to allow cyclists to travel with other traffic, much like many of the local streets in any major city.
Two new bridges over the Beltway/I-495 are also planned. These will finally allow the many people who live nearby east of Tysons to bike and walk to Tysons, especially on the proposed bridge from the Pimmit Hills area to Tysons Corner Center.
FABB is working with the county to develop a bicycle plan for Tysons. The current draft bike plan closely follows the bike lanes indicated on the Avenues and Main Streets of the proposed grid. The major exception is the lack of bike lanes on Routes 7 & 123 and International Dr/Gallows Rd. As the plan moves forward we will be calling on bicyclists to speak out for these facilities at public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors.
Labels: Tysons, tysons bike plan
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Comments on funding of Tysons transportation projects
The Tysons Committee of the Fairfax Co Planning Commission is finalizing their work on the Tysons Plan changes. The plan was approved by the Board of Supervisors in early 2011. During that time the Board asked the Planning Commission to address several issues related to the redevelopment of Tysons, which included 1. Financing of infrastructure, and 2. Providing interim commuter parking at the Metrorail stations.The Committee prepared a response to the Board in the form of a Strawman Document. The document includes a table showing the cost of various transportation projects. The Committee will mark up the Strawman at their meeting on Tues, June 26 based on comments received from a public hearing held on June 21. We testified at the public hearing and sent the following written comments:
Dear Tysons Committee members,
I served as a member of the Tysons Task Force. We conducted a number of public outreach meetings over the 5 years. We asked participants at public meetings in the summer of 2007, which included task force members, representatives from property owners and business owners, residents, and others, to decide how they would allocate $100 of transportation funding. This was the aggregate result: Street network: $30, Pedestrian (and bike) amenities $20, More transit within: $20, More transit into: $18, Widening major routes: $12. It's clear that what is reflected in Table 7 contains a much different allocation of resources. I think it's worthwhile to consider what the public said they wanted when you make the final decisions about how transportation funding in Tysons should be allocated.
I wanted to clarify and expand on my comments at the Tysons Strawman public hearing held last night, June 21.
1. Table 7, Tysons Neighborhood Spot Improvements, Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Improvements, $77M - I am concerned that Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Improvements are combined with the Neighborhood Spot/Intersection improvements. I have seen the list of 19 recommended improvements but have not seen cost estimates for those improvements. I suspect they are significant. I suggest breaking out the bicycle, pedestrian, and spot improvements so that the estimated cost for each item is known. It is my fear that the cost of the intersection improvements will consume the vast majority of the $77M allocation, leaving little for bike/ped. When you consider that 10% of all trips in the DC metro area are taken by bike and walking, and that the total amount spent on all of the other transportation improvements is estimated to exceed $2B, the small amount left from the $77M will not be equitable. 10% of $2B is $200M. A fair share for ped/bike facilities is justified.
2. Tysons Corner Consolidated Transportation Impact Analyses (CTIAs), Line 463 - Last night when I referenced a presentation on CTIAs, it was from a Board of Supervisors Transportation Committee CTIA presentation on May 8, 2012. Slide 14 shows no bike facilities on Chain Bridge Rd or Dolley Madison. While I do not think every street needs dedicated bike facilities, the larger roads that provide key connections into Tysons such as Chain Bridge and Dolley Madison, need bike facilities. During the Bicycle Master Plan meeting in McLean earlier this year one of the most frequent comments from participants was the desire for safe, convenient bike routes to the Metro stations and covered, secure bike parking.
3. Tysons Corner connections to the Dulles Toll Road, Line 263 - I am concerned about the financial and environmental impact of these connections, especially the Boone Blvd ramp from the Toll Road that will greatly impact Old Courthouse Spring Branch stream valley park and the old Ashgrove Lane ped/bike connection to Tysons. I think the existing Route 7 exit ramp could be modified to add a connection to Ashgrove Lane by providing a cut through for exiting traffic just after the toll booth, behind the Sheraton. See an arial image of this location. I don't feel that a costly, high speed exit is needed if the goal is to disperse traffic exiting the Toll Road to the new grid of streets.
4. Interim parking - I feel strongly that providing interim parking goes against the spirit of the Tysons Plan. It is also contrary to basic transit-oriented development principles. We need to plan for good access to the future stations using transit, pedestrian, and bicycle connections, not interim parking.
I also agree with a comment made earlier in the meeting that a dedicated bus lane should be included in the Route 7 widening from the Toll Road to Reston Parkway.
I agree with the other aspects of the Strawman document and will continue to advocate for more funding for transit, pedestrian, and bicycle projects in Tysons when I testify before the Commonwealth Transportation Board as I have done in the past.
Editorial comments:
Line 311, change Flan to Plan
Line 372, insert "to" between "able provide."
Sincerely,
Bruce Wright
Chairman, Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling (FABB)
www.fabb-bikes.orghttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Fairfax-Advocates-for-Better-Bicycling/237045302214http://twitter.com/#!/BikeFairfax
703-328-9619
www.fabb-bikes.orghttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Fairfax-Advocates-for-Better-Bicycling/237045302214http://twitter.com/#!/BikeFairfax
703-328-9619
Labels: tysons strawman
Monday, November 9, 2015
Post Article on Walkable Tysons
One of FABB's goals over the years has been to help remake Tysons from a suburban, car-dominated place to a more walkable, bikeable community. In Sunday's Washington Post article U-Va. professor takes steps to measure Tysons’ path to a pedestrian paradise a UVA professor and his students document walking conditions in a part of Tysons. As anyone who has tried to walk and bike in Tysons lately, it's a challenge.
Fairfax and VDOT need to have a greater sense of urgency about improving biking and walking conditions in Tysons. We've been impressed with progress made this summer with over two miles of bike lanes created in Tysons. However bike connections to the stations are still poor and walking conditions are worse. Changes immediately around the stations should have been made BEFORE the stations opened. As it is, it will be years before basic ped infrastructure is in place. We know the county and VDOT are trying to respond; they need to do what is necessary now to make the changes happen sooner.
From the Post article:
"In addition to the four Metro stations, the plan to remake Tysons Corner includes 36 million square feet of new development — a mix of office, retail and residential. The hope is to add parks, bike paths and plazas, giving residents places to gather and move about without needing a car.
But whether the ambitious plan can be realized remains to be seen. Tysons’ makeover could be a model for other auto-dependent developments, or it could be a cautionary tale."
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Keep Tysons Moving event
We attended the Keep Tysons Moving event recently at the Capital One building just inside the Beltway off Route 123. Not exactly a bike-friendly area. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an update on all the construction projects in the Tysons area and to discuss the various alternatives to driving along. The main projects in the area are the HOT lanes project, construction of the four Tysons Metro stations, and widening of Route 7.We had a table with information about bicycling in Fairfax. Several people wanted to know about bike routes into Tysons and what was being done to make Tysons more bike-friendly. While there are several bike routes into Tysons, not much is being done to make conditions better in the near term. Route 7 is only getting worse now that the service roads are being removed.
While we support most aspects of the new Tysons plan, in our opinion the biggest flaw in the plan is the lack of bicycle accommodations on Routes 7 and 123. Between Route 123 and the Dulles Toll Road there are no bike facilities planned for Route 7. Cyclists will either ride on the road or contend with pedestrians on the sidewalks, which is always a bad idea, especially in a congested area near transit.
At the Keep Tysons Moving event we learned that as part of the VDOT MegaProjects Employer Solutions, the bicycle commuter benefit for Tysons employees is doubled to $40/month (100% VDOT MegaProject match of the $20/mon employer benefit). If you work in Tysons and commute by bike, and you're employer is not providing the bicycle commuter benefit, this is a great incentive for implementing it.
When this was announced, the program manager pondered why anyone would want to commute by bike to Tysons. Now that's certainly a strong endorsement of bike commuter from the team that is trying to get people out of their cars.
From the MegaProjects web page on Commuter Solutions, it seems like Northern Virginia is a cycling paradise: "Most communities in Northern Virginia have been built with bikers and walkers in mind—there are paths, trails and bike lanes all across the region."
Labels: megaprojects, Tysons, vdot
Friday, March 9, 2012
Tysons Bike Group hears about feasibility of bikesharing in Tysons
According to Charlie, the DC system cost $6.4 million, mostly from Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funds matched by 20% local funding. It consists of 140 stations and 1200 bikes. Arlington's system cost $800,000 and consists of 26 stations in Crystal City and Ballston/Rosslyn Corridor. There are 19,000 members which is double the projected number. There have been over 1.5 million trips that average about 1 mile in length. There have been 20 reported crashes and 10 bicycles have disappeared and not recovered.
Charlie said there are four major considerations when thinking about implementing bike sharing in Tysons:
- Connections to Silver Line stations
- The need for better bicycle infrastructure
- Promotion of bike sharing
- Partnerships and sponsorships
The bike share system would be focused around the four Metro stations which are located along Routes 123 and 7. These wide, pedestrian and bicycle unfriendly streets present major barriers for bicyclists. Bike share stations would need to be located on each side of the Metro station. Other stations would be located near major residential, employment and retail/commercial destinations. Using a bike for short lunchtime trips would reduce congestion and save employees time.
There is currently no dedicated on-road bicycle infrastructure in Tysons. While many cyclists do ride there, most people will be reluctant to use bicycles without some dedicated space such as bike lanes, cycle tracks, or indications of shared use such as sharrows and "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signs. The Tysons Bicycle Plan needs to be approved and implemented, and the planned redevelopment projects need to include bike infrastructure.
The bike share system would need to be promoted by TYTRAN, FABB, the Tysons Bike Group, VDOT and DRPT, and others. Major land developers are logical sponsors as are Fairfax County, VDOT, the Tysons Partnership, and major Tysons employers such as Booz Allen, SAIC, Freddie Mac, PwC, etc.
Bike sharing in Tysons is an exciting prospect but major changes are needed before it could become a reality. The fist step is implementation of the Tysons Bicycle Master Plan.
Labels: bike share, charlie denney, Tysons, tysons bike plan, tysons metro
Friday, September 12, 2008
FABB supports a sustainable Tysons
The Tysons Task Force will present their final recommendations to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Monday, September 22.During the public meetings held to discuss the future of Tysons, many cyclists said they wanted a more bike-friendly Tysons. The Task Force agrees. According to the draft final recommendations [55MB pdf file]: "A fundamental transformation of Tysons transportation is required with a network of walkable streets, bike lanes, and a robust transit system."
Throughout the report there is an emphasis on the need for transportation choices in Tysons: "The creation of a multi-modal transportation system within Tysons will provide diverse and accessible transportation choices. The choices will encourage people to walk, bike or take transit to destinations within Tysons."
FABB supports the work of the Task Force. We have also endorsed the Petition for a Sustainable Tysons sponsored by the Coalition for Smarter Growth. Their goals include the need for extensive bicycle improvements in Tysons:
- All streets should have either designated bike lanes or have low speed limits and wide curb lanes to accommodate cyclists. While bike lanes are preferable they must be designed properly to avoid biker conflicts with traffic such as turning vehicles and the opening doors from parked cars.
- Safe, well-marked bike routes link McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Pimmit Hills, and Merrifield to Tysons, including on Route 123, Spring Hill Road, Old Courthouse Road, Gallows Road, from the W&OD trail via Clarks Crossing and the Town of Vienna, and other radial roadways such as Braddock Road and Little River Turnpike.
- Secure covered facilities are provided wherever bikes are parked.
- Showers and changing facilities are provided in commercial developments.
- Incentives are in place to encourage people to walk and to bike to work.
- Bike-Share is provided throughout Tysons and bike stations are located at transit hubs
- Minimize left-turn and right-turn lanes to minimize road widths and crossing distances and use right in/right out turns
- Turn Routes 7 and 123 into boulevards by using features like:
- no dual left-turns on Route 7, and
- limit Routes 7 and 123 to 6 lanes, and other streets to 4 lanes.
Labels: Tysons
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Busy advocacy schedule
It's been a busy advocacy week for FABB. Here's a list of events and meetings we've attended this week:Tuesday, Nov. 27 - We put in a few miles riding to the following meetings, despite a light rain.
- Dunn Loring Metro Station sidewalk meeting - On Tuesday morning we met with several staff from WMATA at the station to discuss the temporary sidewalk leading into the property from the paved trail along Gallows Rd on the north. The new sidewalk is narrow and splits, with a wide lip that could, and did, catch a wheel and caused a crash. These "temporary" sidewalks will be in place for at least two years. We were told that some additional paving would be done to make the situation safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Tysons Bike Group meeting - Glenn Hiner of Fairfax Co Employer Services brought copies of the microfiber bike map of Tysons that he is using to promote bicycling in Tysons with the goal of reducing congestion. The map shows bicycling conditions in and around Tysons. A similar map is planned fro the area in Reston around the Wiehle Ave Metro station. Glenn also discussed the possibility of the county subsidizing small-scale, employer-based bike sharing in Tysons, similar to Patriot Bikeshare. We discussed the many funded bike projects in the Tysons area including bike lanes on Idylwood Rd between Helena and Idyl Lane, paved shoulders on Old Courthouse Rd at Freedom Hill Park, upgrading the Ashgrove Lane trail, building a new trail from Vesper Ct to the Tysons West Metro station, and sharrows and wayfinding signage in various locations.- Tysons Stakeholder meeting - Updates on various transportation projects around Tysons. As development occurs in Tysons, developers are being requested to contribute to a Tysons-wide transportation fund to be used for trip reduction strategies, probably managed by the Tysons Partnership. Bicycling will play a role in those strategies.
- W&OD Trail Safety meeting - The Vienna Transportation Advisory Commission held a public hearing that evening on W&OD Trail safety. It was an unusual public hearing since there was no public information on which to base comments. We're well aware of many concerns expressed by some trail users regarding bad behavior, but there was no clear definition of the problems nor any proposed solutions provided beforehand. We suggested that a TSC subcommittee meet with reps from the various user groups to discuss the perceived problems and to develop suggestions. At the end of the meeting Bob McCahill, Vienna Bicycle Advisory Committee chair, presented a list of proposed safety measures. The Town Council plans to meet with reps from the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority at a work session on Dec. 10 at 8pm to discuss the issue.
Wednesday, Nov. 28 - It was a cold but clear riding day with a very bright full moon that evening.
- Alternative Transportation event at Defense Health Headquarters - DHHQ is located just inside the Beltway on Route 50. There are no safe bike/ped crossings of the Beltway on Rt 50 and only the most experienced cyclists will try to right through the intersection. However, there are many good routes from the north, east, and south. We had a table at the mid-day event and spoke to a few of the 3,000 employees working in the building.
- Route 7 Public Citizen Information Meeting - VDOT now holds public meetings much earlier in the planning process than they did in the past. At this evening meeting information was provided regarding plans to widen Route 7 to 6 lanes between Reston Parkway and Jarrett Valley Dr. There will be multi-use trails on each side of the road. We asked about the possibility of dedicating a lane to transit service. The next citizen information meeting is scheduled for Fall of 2013 at the end of the preliminary design phase.
Thursday, Nov. 29
- Transportation Planning Board Community Leadership Training - This training is provided for free by Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG). This is a "workshop designed to help community activists learn how to get involved more effectively in transportation decision-making in the Washington Region." The major part of the training takes place on Saturday. The sessions have received good reviews from other who have taken them in the past. The trip to the training was multimodal: bike to bus, bus to rail, rail to DC, Capital Bikeshare to the MWCOG offices.
Friday, Nov. 30
- Historic Marker Bike Tour - We plan to meet with a cyclist interested in helping us put together a bike tour that would visit several of the historic markers located throughout the county. It would be a great way to explore the rich history of Fairfax.
Labels: dunn loring, mwcog, route 7, transportation planning board, Tysons, tysons bike group, W and OD Trail
Friday, May 28, 2010
Tysons plan approved by Planning Commission
Early this morning, after a long meeting that ended past midnight, by a vote of 10-1 the Fairfax County Planning Commission approved plans to transform Tysons into a walkable, bikeable transit-oriented community. Dranesville Commissioner Jay Donahue was the lone dissenter. He had wanted to ensure that the 20 athletic fields planned for Tysons were restricted to just the Tysons area and didn't spill over into the Dranesville District.The marked up plan (not yet online) includes several recent bicycle-related changes (while we had to leave the meeting before these items were discussed, we'll assume they were approved in the final motion). Under Land Use Monitoring, a process for monitoring progress for achieving the vision for Tysons, a new bullet was added: "Progress toward implementing facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists."
The most far-reaching changes are in Table 8, Transportation Infrastructure, Programs, and Services. Previously there was no mention of bicycle infrastructure. While bike lanes are included in the grid of streets, and both the bike lanes and grid will make conditions better for bicycling, many more improvements are needed to make Tysons bike-friendly. Two new entries are now included in the table. Item II, Required Additional Transportation Improvements to Accommodate 60 Million Sq. Ft. of Development (2013-2020), E. Misc. Improvements: Bicycle Access Points—Bicycle connections into and out of Tysons—Tysons-wide. This same language is included under item III, 2020-2030.
With the inclusion of this language it's more likely that dedicated funds would be available for the many relatively low cost bike improvements needed in Tysons. Kudos to the Commission, to county staff, for making these changes, suggested by FABB and others. And thanks to cyclists who took the time to speak out for better bike facilities in Tysons. However, the same language is need in item I, Transportation Improvements To Be Completed by 2013. Bike facilities are needed between now and when the stations open. The only parking at the stations will be for bikes, and cyclists need better facilities now to allow them safe access to the stations.
Cyclists will have one last chance to weigh in on these changes, to support the new bicycle-related language and to ask that bicycle connections into and out of Tysons be developed between now and when the stations open. The Board of Supervisors will hold the final public hearing on June 22. You can sign up to speak at that public hearing (application number ST05-CW-1CP).
Labels: Tysons
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Comments due July 17 on Tysons Plan text
Comments on the draft "Straw Man" of Comprehensive Plan text for Tysons (PDF document) are due tomorrow, Friday, July 17. We submitted the following comments on the Transportation section of the Plan text:DRAFT "Straw Man" Plan Text
Comments by Bruce Wright
July 16, 2009
1) P. 45, Local Bus Service - One of the major criticisms of the draft strawman is the lack of detail regarding transit solutions for overcoming future congestion. While there is an extensive bus network currently serving Tysons, it is not seen as a viable option for many people, I sense in large part because it does not use a dedicated roadway. Bus/bike lanes on Routes 7 and 123 could greatly improve travel times for buses. I anxiously await the "detailed bus service plan for Tysons".
2) P. 46, The plan text states: 'THE STREET NETWORK, Overview, The following principles are adopted from the document "Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities," published by ITE in 2008. They describe an approach to the planning and design of urban street networks:
The text that follows has no mention of bicycling, and yet the quoted document contains several references to the need for bike facilities. In fact, the first two principles for CSS in Urban Walkable Communities are:
a. Urban circulation networks should accommodate pedestrians, bicycles, transit, freight and motor vehicles, with the allocation of right-of-way on individual streets determined through the CSS process.
b. The larger network, including key thoroughfares, should provide safe, continuous and well designed multimodal facilities that capitalize on development patterns and densities that make walking, transit and bicycle travel efficient and enjoyable.
The fourth bullet in the text on p. 46 should read: "Street networks should provide a high level of connectivity so that drivers, pedestrians[, bicyclists,] and transit users can choose the most direct routes and access urban properties."
3) Starting on p. 50, Bike lanes are indicated on the Avenue and Main Street sections. These closely match what was included in the Tysons Bicycle Transportation Plan presented to the Planning Commission on February 19, 2009. However, the Boulevard sections (Routes 7 & 123 and International Dr/Gallows Rd) do not contain bike lanes. The text does state: "5 foot on-road dedicated bike lane per direction, where applicable." The Boulevard sections, especially International and Gallows, should have some kind of dedicated bike facility. I suggest striking "where applicable". The boulevards are the major commercial streets and bicyclists will want to access destinations along these streets, including the Metro stations. The text notes that people will be able to walk and bike along Routes 7 & 123 (p. 10, Achieving the Vison) and yet there is no provision for them to bike. My greatest disappointment as a task force member is the lack of a creative solution for Routes 7 and 123 that would create truly walkable and bikeable boulevards.
4) P. 58, Pedestrian and Bicycle Network - As noted above, a Tysons Bicycle Transportation Plan was presented to the Planning Commission on February 19, 2009. This plan should be refined by a transportation consultant and adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan. The plan includes a network of bicycle routes that closely aligns with the proposed grid of streets and street types. Also included are examples of end-of-trip facilities (bike parking, changing facilities, showers), and proposals for a bike station and bike sharing within Tysons. Detailed end-of-trip facility requirements should be included in the Plan text, based on those used by Arlington County. The Arlington standards may not be applicable to other parts of the county but they do apply in Tysons.
Bicycle connections to surrounding neighborhoods are needed and should be identified now for those areas within a 3 mile radius from the Tysons Center 123 station. A three mile bike trip takes approximately 20 minutes. That travel time is be comparable to SOV and transit travel for trips with in 3 miles. Consideration of this mode should be included in transportation models of short trips into Tysons.
5) P. 59, Parking - It is disappointing that specific parking guidelines were not included in the strawman. As stated in the report, "Fairfax County's TDM Study, when completed, will suggest specific parking rates for TOD areas such as Tysons. These rates can be used for updating Tysons parking requirements in the Zoning Ordinance." It is difficult to review this section without any detail.
6) P. 60, TDM - This section is very weak. After all the work done by the transportation subcommittee on TDM measures, it's unfortunate that almost none of it is in the document. According to the staff note: "Targets for TDM programs need to be added based on the results of the transportation study." However, some basic TDM measures should be identified now, with specific goals based on the results of the transportation study. There is no mention of biking or walking in the measures listed at the top of p. 60. They should be added as examples. Examples could read: "Provide incentives for employees who commute by bike." and "Provide facilities for employees who bike and walk such as changing rooms and showers." or "Promote bike to work day events." Or "Provide one bike sharing station with 20 bicycles for use with the larger bike station network." Later in the document there is mention of TDM mode splits, but if non-motorized modes are not part of TDM, then they aren't part of TDM mode splits.
Comments by Bruce Wright
July 16, 2009
1) P. 45, Local Bus Service - One of the major criticisms of the draft strawman is the lack of detail regarding transit solutions for overcoming future congestion. While there is an extensive bus network currently serving Tysons, it is not seen as a viable option for many people, I sense in large part because it does not use a dedicated roadway. Bus/bike lanes on Routes 7 and 123 could greatly improve travel times for buses. I anxiously await the "detailed bus service plan for Tysons".
2) P. 46, The plan text states: 'THE STREET NETWORK, Overview, The following principles are adopted from the document "Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Major Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Communities," published by ITE in 2008. They describe an approach to the planning and design of urban street networks:
The text that follows has no mention of bicycling, and yet the quoted document contains several references to the need for bike facilities. In fact, the first two principles for CSS in Urban Walkable Communities are:
a. Urban circulation networks should accommodate pedestrians, bicycles, transit, freight and motor vehicles, with the allocation of right-of-way on individual streets determined through the CSS process.
b. The larger network, including key thoroughfares, should provide safe, continuous and well designed multimodal facilities that capitalize on development patterns and densities that make walking, transit and bicycle travel efficient and enjoyable.
The fourth bullet in the text on p. 46 should read: "Street networks should provide a high level of connectivity so that drivers, pedestrians[, bicyclists,] and transit users can choose the most direct routes and access urban properties."
3) Starting on p. 50, Bike lanes are indicated on the Avenue and Main Street sections. These closely match what was included in the Tysons Bicycle Transportation Plan presented to the Planning Commission on February 19, 2009. However, the Boulevard sections (Routes 7 & 123 and International Dr/Gallows Rd) do not contain bike lanes. The text does state: "5 foot on-road dedicated bike lane per direction, where applicable." The Boulevard sections, especially International and Gallows, should have some kind of dedicated bike facility. I suggest striking "where applicable". The boulevards are the major commercial streets and bicyclists will want to access destinations along these streets, including the Metro stations. The text notes that people will be able to walk and bike along Routes 7 & 123 (p. 10, Achieving the Vison) and yet there is no provision for them to bike. My greatest disappointment as a task force member is the lack of a creative solution for Routes 7 and 123 that would create truly walkable and bikeable boulevards.
4) P. 58, Pedestrian and Bicycle Network - As noted above, a Tysons Bicycle Transportation Plan was presented to the Planning Commission on February 19, 2009. This plan should be refined by a transportation consultant and adopted as part of the Comprehensive Plan. The plan includes a network of bicycle routes that closely aligns with the proposed grid of streets and street types. Also included are examples of end-of-trip facilities (bike parking, changing facilities, showers), and proposals for a bike station and bike sharing within Tysons. Detailed end-of-trip facility requirements should be included in the Plan text, based on those used by Arlington County. The Arlington standards may not be applicable to other parts of the county but they do apply in Tysons.
Bicycle connections to surrounding neighborhoods are needed and should be identified now for those areas within a 3 mile radius from the Tysons Center 123 station. A three mile bike trip takes approximately 20 minutes. That travel time is be comparable to SOV and transit travel for trips with in 3 miles. Consideration of this mode should be included in transportation models of short trips into Tysons.
5) P. 59, Parking - It is disappointing that specific parking guidelines were not included in the strawman. As stated in the report, "Fairfax County's TDM Study, when completed, will suggest specific parking rates for TOD areas such as Tysons. These rates can be used for updating Tysons parking requirements in the Zoning Ordinance." It is difficult to review this section without any detail.
6) P. 60, TDM - This section is very weak. After all the work done by the transportation subcommittee on TDM measures, it's unfortunate that almost none of it is in the document. According to the staff note: "Targets for TDM programs need to be added based on the results of the transportation study." However, some basic TDM measures should be identified now, with specific goals based on the results of the transportation study. There is no mention of biking or walking in the measures listed at the top of p. 60. They should be added as examples. Examples could read: "Provide incentives for employees who commute by bike." and "Provide facilities for employees who bike and walk such as changing rooms and showers." or "Promote bike to work day events." Or "Provide one bike sharing station with 20 bicycles for use with the larger bike station network." Later in the document there is mention of TDM mode splits, but if non-motorized modes are not part of TDM, then they aren't part of TDM mode splits.
Labels: transportation, tysons strawman
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Silver Line opening day
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| New bike room customers with Charlie Strunk, county bike coordinator |
At around 11:30 a.m. the ribbon was cut at the south entrance to Wiehle station. Participants included US Department of Transportation Secretary Foxx, Virginia Governor McAuliffe, Congressmen Connolly and Moran, and several Virginia and Fairfax elected officials.
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| Cutting the ribbon at Wiehle-Reston East |
We exited again at Tysons Corner to check out the new Plaza at Tysons Corner Center (see construction camera). The direct connection from Tysons Corner station to the Plaza is not completed so we followed a circuitous route to street level then through Lord & Taylor. There were no bikes parked at the station racks but we expect them to get more use during the week.
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| Tysons Corner station |
We saw several passengers with bicycles at the Tysons and Reston stations. Metro is a great way to extend your cycling opportunities in the metro DC area.
Today was a major milestone for multimodal transportation in Fairfax County. It will be interesting to watch how travel patterns change over the next several years. We expect many more people in Fairfax to add Metro and biking to their transportation options.
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| First train riders entering Wiehle-Reston East |
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| Passing under Wiehle Ave |
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| Tysons Corner station bike racks |
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| Bird sculpture on The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center |
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| John Wetmore of Perils for Pedestrians |
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| Metro entrepreneur |
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| Bikes at the Wiehle station |
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| Free parking outside Wiehle bike room |
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| Bike coordinator Charlie Strunk and Bruce Wright of FABB inside Wiehle bike room |
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| Bruce and Kerie in Wiehle bike room |
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| Bike parking on south side of Wiehle station |
Labels: dulles metrorail, Tysons, wiehle station bike room, wiehle-reston east
Monday, February 23, 2015
"Green Artery" trail proposal in newest Tysons Plan text
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| Design concept for Green Artery trail Photo: Washington Post |
The latest Phase 3 draft text was recently released. Among proposed changes is the "Green Artery" trail, a linear park linking the four new Metro stations "that could weave under and along the Silver Line." This trail was one of the ideas that came out of a June 2014 design session convened by Chairman Bulova to look at ways to spruce up the area under the elevated Metro tracks.
This proposed trail would be in addition to a planned circuit trail included in the Tysons Park System Concept Plan approved in November, 2014 and bicycle facilities contained in the Bicycle Master Plan. While these facilities will take many years to implement, they will have a major impact on how future residents will be able to get around Tysons by bike and on foot. The Green Artery trail is especially important since almost all future development in Tysons will be focused around the new stations.
The Planning Commission's next meeting on Phase 3 updates is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 at 7 p.m. See the Tysons Comprehensive Plan Amendments page for more information. Public hearings on all changes contained in Phases 1-3 are expected to be held later this year.
From the Phase 3 proposed edits, page 85 (emphasis added):
Trail Network: The conceptual trail network is included in Map 9. This network will be designed for frequent use through continuous lengths of outdoor trails or spaces that are a minimum of eight feet wide and may include amenities and/or design features such as trailheads, orientation features and wayfinding signage. These linear parks and trails will be popular for jogging, dog walking, biking, walking, enjoying the outdoors and general exercising. The space along the Metro rail provides an opportunity to create a “Green Artery” linear park to link the four stations with a pedestrian and bicycle path that could weave under and along the Silver Line.
Connecting continuous linear spaces with the grid of streets in Tysons provides an important amenity that can be linked with pedestrian and bicycle street elements. The County will pursue lighting of certain trails that provide Metro access and will consider other services to keep trail access open during winter months. The “Tysons Community Circuit” recreational trail loop as proposed along existing and planned roads will be a combined recreational and transportation feature that will add to the diversity of options available for moving through Tysons. The Tysons Park System Concept Plan describes features of and implementation strategies for “The Circuit” in greater detail.
Connecting continuous linear spaces with the grid of streets in Tysons provides an important amenity that can be linked with pedestrian and bicycle street elements. The County will pursue lighting of certain trails that provide Metro access and will consider other services to keep trail access open during winter months. The “Tysons Community Circuit” recreational trail loop as proposed along existing and planned roads will be a combined recreational and transportation feature that will add to the diversity of options available for moving through Tysons. The Tysons Park System Concept Plan describes features of and implementation strategies for “The Circuit” in greater detail.
Labels: Tysons, tysons green artery trail, tysons park system concept plan
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Win Free Bikeshare Membership at Tysons Open House next Wed.
Capital Bikeshare is coming to Reston and Tysons this Fall. Next Wednesday you can win a free bikehsare membership or free one-day bikeshare rentals. Fairfax County and Tysons Partnership are holding the Tysons Showcase and Open House on Oct. 19, 2016. Sample food from Tysons restaurants and learn about changes coming to Tysons in the near future:
The free event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Basis Independent, 8000 Jones Branch Drive in Tysons. Fairfax County and the Tysons Partnership have teamed up to put on this community celebration.
The showcase will feature:
- Free tastings from selected Tysons restaurants
- A raffle for a free Capital Bikeshare membership
- Coupons for one-day bikeshare rentals
- Live music
- Presentations from developers and county staff on upcoming plans and projects
“It’s amazing how far we’ve come in the six years since our board passed the Plan to Transform Tysons,” said Fairfax County Chairman Sharon Bulova. “This open house is a festive and informative showcase of the vibrant, urban lifestyle being created in Fairfax County’s new downtown. The newTysons will offer two premier grocery stores, a luxury movie theater, a biergarten, restaurants, food trucks, new luxury and affordable apartments and condos, and new ways to get around, including bikeshare.
Labels: bikeshare, capital bikeshare, Tysons, tysons bikeshare
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tysons bike map and bicycle parking guidelines in the news
To our knowledge, this is the first time that bicycle parking guidelines are included in the county's comprehensive plan. There are also plans for an extensive network of bike lanes throughout Tysons and the Post published the conceptual bicycle plan map on the right. This map is a placeholder. It was developed by county staff and FABB. As stated in the plan, "A bicycle master plan study has been initiated for the greater Tysons area. Once completed, bicycle routes in, around, and through the urban center will be refined and Map 8 will be updated."
That process is scheduled to begin around the first of July. The plan will extend to a 3 mile radius around Tysons which includes planning bicycle access to Tysons, Pimmit Hills area, Vienna, and other surrounding areas. Several public meetings are planned to provide area cyclists the opportunity to weigh in on proposed bike routes and other bicycle facilities needed in Tysons in the future.
This is a huge win for Fairfax cyclists. Thanks to FABB members and all the cyclists who attended the many public meetings to speak out for the need for Tysons to become a bicycle-friendly place. We hope you continue to be involved as the Tysons bicycle plan process gets underway.
Labels: Tysons
