Bicycle Element
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Master Transportation An element of Arlington County’s Plan Comprehensive Plan Bicycle Element Adopted April 23, 2019 Part 1 Background, Goals and Policies I. The Role of Bicycling in Arlington .....................................................................................................4 II. Background ............................................................................................................................................7 III. Arlington’s Vision for Bicycling ........................................................................................................13 IV. Goals of the MTP and Bicycle Element ..........................................................................................14 V. Policies and Implementation Actions .............................................................................................15 VI. Measures of Performance and Progress Targets ..........................................................................29 Figure 1: Progress Targets with Applicable Goals ........................................................................29 Part 2 Infrastructure Facilities and Implementation VII. Primary Bicycling Corridors and the Bikeway Network .............................................................31 Figure 2: The Primary Bicycling Corridors Map ..........................................................................33 Figure 3: Planned Bikeway Network Map .....................................................................................35 VIII. Network and Program Implementation Procedures .................................................................38 Appendix A: Glossary of Terms ......................................................................................................40 Appendix B: Bicycle Infrastructure Facility Types ......................................................................42 Appendix C: Design Guidance .......................................................................................................46 Figure 4: NACTO Contextual Guidance for Selecting ...............................................................47 All Ages and Abilities Bikeways Appendix D: Planned Bicycle Facility Projects ..........................................................................48 MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN | 3 Acknowledgements Arlington County Board Core Staff Team Christian Dorsey, Chair Ritch Viola, DES Transportation Planning, Libby Garvey, Vice Chair Project Manager Katie Cristol, Member Sarah Crawford, DES Transportation Division Erik Gutshall, Member David Patton, DES Transportation Planning Matt de Ferranti, Member Henry Dunbar, DES Bike Arlington Erin Potter, DES Communications Arlington County Manager’s Office Eric Balliet, DES Communications Mark Schwartz, County Manager Alex Held, DES Communications Michele Cowan, Deputy County Manager Other County Staff Bicycle Element Update Working Group Dennis Leach, DES Transportation Division Chris Slatt, Transportation Commission, Chair Shelly Peart, DES Transportation Planning James Schroll, Planning Commission Alli Henry, DES Communications Mike Hanna, Energy and Environment Bonnie Parker, DES Communications Conservation Commission David Goodman, DES Transportation Planning Eric Goodman, Pedestrian Advisory Committee Christine Sherman, DES TE&O Bureau Gillian Burgess, Bicycle Advisory Committee Sergio Viricochea, DES TE&O Bureau Chips Johnson, Neighborhood Jason Mattis, DES GIS Bureau Complete Streets Commission Irena Lazic, Department of Parks & Recreation Steve Finn, Parks & Recreation Commission Kevin Stalica, Department of Parks & Recreation Leeann Sinpatanasakul, At Large Jennifer Smith, Department of Community Planning, Lindsay Marfurt, At Large Housing & Development Marcus Jolley, At Large Matt Mattauszek, Department of Community Planning, Edgar Gil Rico, At Large Housing & Development Yvonne Norton, At Large Lt. Dan Murphy, Arlington Police Department Kevin Black, Arlington County Attorney’s Office Kristin Haldeman, Arlington Public Schools Graphic Design by Ken Matthews, NeoNiche Strategies 4 | MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN PART 1: BACKGROUND, GOALS AND POLICIES I. The Role of Bicycling in Arlington Transportation Arlington is a vibrant community, in the heart of the dynamic Washington, DC Metro region. Arlington’s transportation network has contributed to a high quality of life in the County by providing various transportation options, making it possible to travel around and through Arlington at all times with relative safety, speed and ease. Bicycling has consistently been one of the transportation options integral to Arlington’s successful transportation network. As continued growth of both the County and the DC region Bicycling can connect many origins and destinations ... produces more travel demands conveniently providing “the first mile, last mile” access on the transportation system, the need for a robust and versatile use, depend greatly on shifting fixed transit routes. Bicycles can multimodal transportation system more travel to energy-efficient provide students with quick, reliable becomes greater. The value of that travel modes such as bicycling and transport to school and enable versatility becomes most evident walking. travel independence. Shifting trips during times of extreme stress, such from motor vehicles to bicycles can as during natural disasters or major Bicycling plays a unique role in also improve motorists’ travel by facility shutdowns. In Arlington, it managing transportation demand reducing congestion and demand is increasingly important to provide for the growing population. When for parking spaces. Therefore, when varied options to serve diverse using bicycles, people can travel the capacity and quality of the resident and visitor travel needs short- and medium-range distances bicycle network is enhanced, travel while also finding ways to reduce quickly and efficiently while by transportation modes other than the environmental footprint of retaining freedom and flexibility bicycles is often improved as well. local transportation systems. As in their routes and schedules. Trips that are diverted from busy identified in Arlington’s Community Bicycling can connect many origins highway corridors onto adjacent Energy Plan, achieving community and destinations to transit services, bicycle facilities, such as the Custis and regional goals of improved air conveniently providing “the first Trail along Interstate-66, can help to quality and reduced greenhouse mile, last mile” access that allows reduce congestion on the roadways. gas emissions from fossil fuel a broader geographic reach for MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN | 5 The public cost for building or Due to its low cost and lack of and approachable to neighbors and maintaining bicycling infrastructure licensing or other requirements, fellow community members than is typically many times lower bicycling is a very accessible travel people in cars or other vehicles and than providing similar facilities mode. Bicycling enhances equity provide positive activity on local for driving or transit. In addition, in Arlington as it broadens travel streets. Bicyclists can more easily bicycles take up much less roadway opportunities for all persons. converse with neighbors, observe and parking space than motor happenings in their communities Bicycling and other active vehicles. Streets and multi-use trails and spend more time traveling on transportation modes also enhance can accommodate many bicycles, local streets. Bicyclists also help the health of our citizens by moving in two directions, within the the local economy, as they are providing moderate exercise while same amount of asphalt used by more likely than motorists to shop commuting and undertaking other a single motor vehicle travel lane. at nearby businesses, to make personal travel. In addition to being Similarly, significant amounts of more frequent visits, and to spend clean and quiet, bicycling and other bicycle parking can be placed within more dollars locally. Having an active transportation help to build smaller spaces than parking lots at outstanding bicycling environment community. People walking and low fiscal expense and with minimal is often identified as an important bicycling are more recognizable opportunity cost. economic asset that attracts both businesses and highly-skilled workers to a community. Many residents and visitors are attracted to Arlington in part for its high- quality trails and bicycling facilities and the relative ease in traveling by bike here. Bicycling fits well with Arlington’s local values of encouraging all residents to get out and be part of the community. Currently, the technological state of bicycling and personal mobility is changing. Small, quiet, battery- powered motors can be integrated into bicycles thereby making bicycling accessible for more people and purposes. Travelers who may not have the ability or interest in pedaling bicycles and those who may need some motor assistance 6 | MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN Arlington’s Bikeway Network in 2018 when going uphill or carrying conventional bicycles for short large loads or extra passengers term rentals, allowing bicycle travel are gaining additional transport to be a more spontaneous and and route options. These devices accessible travel mode and enabling provide opportunities for more more multi-modal trips. There are people to travel in active ways also other technologies, such as and to access transit options, motorized scooters, unicycles and