Case studies
Corridor Planning -- Tomika Hughey and Robin McElhenney
Ms. Hughey presented a history of the planning done on the H Street NE/Benning Road Corridor. She noted that H Street NE is the first street to have a City Council-approved transportation plan.
Ms. Hughey also discussed the Georgia Avenue/MetroExtra and the creation of a "transit experience" for users in that corridor.
Q: What is the timeline for streetcar service on H Street?
A: The timeline will be determined by DDOT (District Department of Transportation), since it is their project. Alternative transit options, such as streetcars, have ranked high in studies done of this corridor, done by both WMATA and DDOT.
Q: Will WMATA operate the streetcar service?
A: The jurisdictions will decide on who the service provider would be.
Q: WABA is pro-transit, but has some concerns about streetcar/bicycle interaction. WABA has been involved in the "Great Streets" projects and there was a debate between providing a dedicated bus lane/transitway or parking for businesses. What WMATA’s role is in these types of discussions?
A: Metro participates in these types of discussions, recognizing the fine line between encouraging businesses by allowing parking vs. ending up with gridlock. Ultimately, these decisions are made by the jurisdictions. The decisions made in planning the Georgia Avenue MetroExtra service may be revisited, depending on the ridership.
Ms. McElhenney discussed the Columbia Pike Corridor Study, providing a brief overview:
- Overarching goal is to make the corridor more pedestrian friendly with a scale that is better for transit riders/pedestrians;
- Redevelopment (on a more moderate scale than Rosslyn-Ballston) organized around nodes within the corridor;
Columbia Pike is one of the highest-ridership corridors in Northern Virginia (12,000 people/day) and that the proposed 14 transit stops along corridor would provide uniform access to neighborhoods. The Columbia Pike project has relied on a strong partnership between Arlington and Fairfax Counties.
Q: A participant who attended one of the form-based code workshops on Columbia Pike, noted that, as the study developed, the community’s greater concern turned out to be land-use rather than the type of transit provided. Thus, how will land use decisions accommodated transit on Columbia Pike.
A: The goal is to have Columbia Pike as a 5-lane cross section (or 4-lane w/ median) throughout its entire length. The streetcar would operate in mixed traffic; there is a trade-off between transit throughput and the available space.
Comment: There is also little bike traffic along Columbia Pike, largely due to its terrain and the availability of alternative routes.
Comment: Dedicated bike lane may not be necessary in this corridor if traffic is slowed down to 25-30mph.
Station Access Planning at the Vienna Metro station -- John Dittmeier
Presentation on the Vienna Metro Station
The study looked at access to the station and proposed projects, including
- Additional stairway from mezzanine to platform;
- Additional parking structure;
- Roadway and transportation improvements by Pulte Homes;
- Bus-only ramp from I-66 to Vaden Drive.
Mr. Dittmeier’s presentation discussed the various alternatives for providing bicycle access to the Vienna Metro station and a bicycle facility – either bicycle shelters or a "bike station".
Comment: Vertical bike racks are difficult for seniors and people with strength problems to use.
Q: Is there an additional option for north side racks. The consensus of bike riders was to have the bike station closer to the rail station, rather than "hidden away" in a parking structure.
A: Another option was considered that omitted one of the possible sites on the south side.
Comment: It may be possible to design a shared pathway to accommodate both bicyclists and pedestrians.
Comment: Metro should assess pedestrian and bike access during all times that Metro is in operation – this would preclude using the pathway under Vaden Drive because of safety concerns after dark.
Q: Is the developer funding the bicycle project.
A: The developer is not funding the project.
Q: What is the developer doing to encourage pedestrian access to the station?
A: Pedestrian amenities provided as part of the MetroWest project.
Comment: Bike lockers can be provided without bike racks, however, they need to be well-signed to describe what they are, and they need to be well-lit. Bike lockers are not invulnerable to weather, and ideally should be covered to protect them from the elements.
