Below is a public notice regarding the Rock Creek Park Trail as sent to the DC Bicyclists and Pedestrians List by the DDOT Bicycle program manager, James Sebastian. BAC encourages the public to comment on this public facility that serves thousands of pedestrians and bicyclists in the region and allows for the safe access of Rock Creek Park.
This is the second meeting regarding the rehabilitation of this section of the trail. The open house and subsequent presentation will be held Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at the Columbia Heights Educational Campus, Auditorium, 3101 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20010 from 6:00p to 8:00p.
The rehabilitation project cover the main trail and at least two tributaries, from Broad Branch Road, NW to P Street, NW. It also includes the addition of new connections to the trail from the surrounding communities. The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT), proposes to rehabilitate the Rock Creek Park multi-use trail.
According to the NPS planning website, the purpose of the project is to improve the safety and connectivity of the deteriorating Rock Creek Park multi-use trail system in order to enhance visitor use and experience within Rock Creek Park, protect the park's ecosystem, improved access to the Rock Creek Park multi-use trail system from other pedestrian and bicycle facilities, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods; and more effective drainage and erosion control, thereby reducing trail maintenance.
The proposed action includes resurfacing, trail widening where environmentally feasible, modifications to the trail alignments and road crossings, directional and interpretive signage, and connections to and from the trails to other pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The majority of the proposed improvements are located on NPS land, with some improvements located within District of Columbia right-of-way. A segment of the trail also passes through National Zoological Park property.
NPS has proposed three alternatives:
Alternative 1: No Action
Under the no action alternative, NPS would continue to maintain the existing trails and no new construction would occur. The no action alternative sets a baseline against which to compare impacts of the build alternatives.
Alternative 2: ResurfacingIn addition to spot improvements and new connections, the Rock Creek Park multi-use trail would be resurfaced at existing widths. The Piney Branch Parkway trail would be resurfaced to a varying width of 6 to 8 feet.
Alternative 3: Resurfacing and Widening
In addition to spot improvements and new connections, the Rock Creek Park multi-use trail would be resurfaced and widened a minimum of 6 feet up to a maximum of 10 feet, depending on environmental constraints. The Piney Branch Parkway trail would be resurfaced to a varying width of 6 to 8 feet.
Certain sections of the trail are in a state of disrepair or are not build to a width necessary to safely accommodate trail multiple modes of usage. One of the more critical sections is were the trail crosses Rock Creek under the Duke Ellington Bridge (Calvert Street NW) just south of the Zoo tunnel. The trail narrows section approximately 3 feet in width requiring bicyclists to dismount and walk their bikes.
NPS is encouraging comments on its website and as always, please comment below.
Notice of Public Meeting - Rock Creek Trail
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| Map from NP |
This is the second meeting regarding the rehabilitation of this section of the trail. The open house and subsequent presentation will be held Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at the Columbia Heights Educational Campus, Auditorium, 3101 16th Street, NW Washington, DC 20010 from 6:00p to 8:00p.
The rehabilitation project cover the main trail and at least two tributaries, from Broad Branch Road, NW to P Street, NW. It also includes the addition of new connections to the trail from the surrounding communities. The National Park Service (NPS), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT), proposes to rehabilitate the Rock Creek Park multi-use trail.
According to the NPS planning website, the purpose of the project is to improve the safety and connectivity of the deteriorating Rock Creek Park multi-use trail system in order to enhance visitor use and experience within Rock Creek Park, protect the park's ecosystem, improved access to the Rock Creek Park multi-use trail system from other pedestrian and bicycle facilities, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods; and more effective drainage and erosion control, thereby reducing trail maintenance.
The proposed action includes resurfacing, trail widening where environmentally feasible, modifications to the trail alignments and road crossings, directional and interpretive signage, and connections to and from the trails to other pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The majority of the proposed improvements are located on NPS land, with some improvements located within District of Columbia right-of-way. A segment of the trail also passes through National Zoological Park property.
NPS has proposed three alternatives:
Alternative 1: No Action
Under the no action alternative, NPS would continue to maintain the existing trails and no new construction would occur. The no action alternative sets a baseline against which to compare impacts of the build alternatives.
Alternative 2: ResurfacingIn addition to spot improvements and new connections, the Rock Creek Park multi-use trail would be resurfaced at existing widths. The Piney Branch Parkway trail would be resurfaced to a varying width of 6 to 8 feet.
Alternative 3: Resurfacing and Widening
In addition to spot improvements and new connections, the Rock Creek Park multi-use trail would be resurfaced and widened a minimum of 6 feet up to a maximum of 10 feet, depending on environmental constraints. The Piney Branch Parkway trail would be resurfaced to a varying width of 6 to 8 feet.
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| Rock Creek Trail on sidewalk (left), south of zoo tunnel From Google Maps |
NPS is encouraging comments on its website and as always, please comment below.
Notice of Public Meeting - Rock Creek Trail