The Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee has developed a list of top priority unfunded bicycle and pedestrian projects from a regional perspective since 1995. The list is a statement of priorities among the unfunded or partially funded bicycle and pedestrian projects from local, state, agency, and regional plans. Projects are nominated by the jurisdiction in which they are located.
The purpose of the list is to raise awareness of the projects and increase the likelihood that they will be funded.
Priority Bicycle/Pedestrian Project Descriptions and Background
- New York Avenue Trail (District of Columbia)
The New York Avenue trail will run from NOMA to the National Arboretum along New York Avenue, serving the existing and proposed development in the corridor.
- East Street Rail with Trail (City of Frederick)
The project has several developer contributions, but does not yet have full construction funding committed to it that include a bridge over MD26. This project connects the bicycle network to employment centers, recreational facilities, transit stations as well as Frederick County. This is a rail trail project that will run alongside a road way that currently has an unconnected sidewalk system, enhanced safety for both bicycles and pedestrian is achieved by this improvement. There is a connection to the MARC station on one end and a regional park and ride on the other. The regional park and ride will have both local transit service as well as commuter bus service. It is very reasonable, given the immense public support, that it will be completed in the next 3 years. The RWT project is on the City MDOT priority correspondence. Due to the cost of the bridge, the project has a high price tag, but cobbling together funds is possible in the foreseeable future.
- Monocacy River Greenway Trail Phase I, Monocacy MARC station to Ballenger Creek (Frederick County)
The Monocacy River is one of the most visible natural features in Frederick County. The Monocacy is one of the most often mentioned corridors, by the public, to have a parallel trail. The corridor is primarily in agricultural use except for the central priority section around Frederick City South to Monocacy Battlefield and west of I-270 to Ballenger Creek which has developed with residential uses and some industrial and commercial uses. The priority segment is the 2.6 miles between Monocacy MARC Station and Ballenger Creek. The priority segment does include a number of properties currently under public ownership. Very little of the rest of the floodplain along the River is under public ownership. The priority segment of this trail would go from the Monocacy MARC Station in the City of Frederick and proceed south to the Monocacy Battlefield and the intersection with the Ballenger Creek Trail.
- Macarthur Boulevard Bikeway Improvement Segment 3 (Montgomery County)
The MacArthur Boulevard Bike Path/Lane Improvements project will provide safe accommodations for on-road and off-road cyclists who travel along MacArthur Boulevard between Old Angler’s Inn and the DC line (a distance of 7.3 miles).
- Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail Extension (Prince George’s County)
This trail will extend the existing segment of the Trolley Trail that was constructed by the City of College Park. It will provide bike and pedestrian access through several residential communities, the planned Whole Foods, downtown Hyattsville, and to the Riverdale Park Town Center.
- Suitland Parkway Shared Use Path Feasibility Study (MDOT)
This project is intended to provide an analysis of the feasibility of extending the existing Suitland Parkway shared use path which extends along the District of Columbia’s portion of Suitland Parkway from the DC line to Maryland Route 4/Pennsylvania Avenue in Prince George’s County. The study would evaluate environmental, safety and design factors and provide design and construction estimates. Maryland DOT has submitted a Bikeways application to fund 80 percent of the $120,000 cost estimate for the study. It has the support of the National Capital Parks East unit of the National Park Service and from the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission.
- Arlington Boulevard Pedestrian and Bikeway Improvements (Arlington County)
Arlington Boulevard (US 50), which divides the County north and south is one of Arlington’s least hospitable environments for cyclists and pedestrians to travel along or to cross. This project provides for design and implementation of a series of bicycle and pedestrian safety and access improvements to the shared-use trail that parallels Arlington Boulevard. Additionally, the project will provide much needed access and safety improvements to the corridor’s transit stops. The project area extends from the Fairfax County line to the Washington Boulevard (Route 27) interchange. Major components include intersection, marking and signage improvements at trail crossings, introduction of bike lanes on service roads, and modified ramp geometries to calm traffic exiting the corridor. Other improvements include accessible bus pads and sidewalk connections, as well as crosswalk, signal and lighting upgrades. A detailed cost estimate for these improvements has not yet been developed, but is roughly estimated at $4,000,000.
- Folly Lick / Spring Branch Regional Trail to Dulles Metrorail (Town of Herndon)
This project is to implement a 1,300 foot long trail section from the Van Buren Street / Worldgate Drive intersection to the pedestrian entrance pavilion on the northside of the of the future Herndon Metrorail station. A 10-foot wide trail easement has been dedicated along property boundary lines.
- Atlantic Boulevard Corridor Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvements (Loudoun County)
This is one of the projects identified in the Recommended Countywide Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations Priority List adopted by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in 2011. This project has already been designed, and is awaiting funding for R/W acquisition and construction. The limits of the project extend 1.3 miles, from Magnolia Road to Nokes Boulevard. The project calls for sidewalk on one side and a shared use path on the other, providing accommodations for all users. The construction of these improvements will create a much needed connection between the W&OD Trail and the commercial development along the Atlantic Boulevard corridor all the way up to the Dulles Town Center.
- Route 234 Trail from Country Club Drive to Route 1. (Prince William County)
This project would be constructed on Route 234 (Dumfries Road) between Country Club Drive and Route 1 which will complete the existing trail on Route 234 (Dumfries Road) between the Prince William County Parkway (Route 294) and Route 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway). It will provide an important cross-county and regional connection including a crossing over I-95. The 10’ trail will be located on the south side of Dumfries Road. The project length is approximately 1.5 miles. The estimated cost for this project is $6,000,000.
- US Bike Route 1 Signing in Northern Virginia (VDOT)
This project is to install route and wayfinding signage along 50 miles of U.S. Bicycle Route 1, a national AASHTO bicycle route which runs from the state line at the 14th street bridge in Arlington through the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County and Prince William County before exiting the NOVA District on Fleetwood Drive at the southern boundary of Prince William County. It has the support of the jurisdictions through which it passes. Estimated cost for the project is $85,000 to $100,000.