|
|
|
News & Events |
Coming Events:CCCT Meeting July 14 for a public discussion of the recent safety enhancements for the Trail.CCCT will host a meeting on Monday, July 14 from 7-9 p.m., at the Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road for a public discussion of the recent safety enhancements for the Trail laid out by the Montgomery County Parks Department. Mary Bradford, Director of the Parks Department, will attend and be prepared to respond to questions. These enhancements include restriping, imposition of a 15 mph speed limit, rumble strips at the two at-grade roadway crossings, and an increased education/enforcement effort by Police aimed at all users of the Trail to enhance safe use of the trail. These safety efforts arose out of a series of meetings between Parks and the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail and include SOME of the recommendations by the Coalition. The Coalition hopes this is only the first step in improving safe use of the Trail and advocates some further improvements, including: 1. WIDEN THE TRAIL – to at least a 16 foot width; The CCCT Board meets almost monthly at Bethesda or Silver Spring. The public is welcome to all meetings. The meeting schedule for the remainder of the 2008-2009 Board year is: August, No meeting News:Caution Advisory during Construction on Trail.The National Park Service has issued this advisory: "320 feet of the Capital Crescent Trail will be paved where new drainage structures were recently installed. Work should begin about July 14, 2008, and last four to six weeks. There will be increased construction traffic on the trail during that time. When completed this construction project will result in the removal of the trail by-pass located near Mile 7."
This is the repair project that we last described in Nov. 2007 in Repair project is putting trucks on Trail at Palisades. Weekday closures of the Trail June 2-13.THE MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE May 14, 2008 Contact: SECTIONS OF CAPITAL CRESCENT TRAIL CLOSED DURING FIRST TWO WEEKS OF JUNE AS DEPARTMENT OF PARKS MAKES SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO TRAIL BETHESDA, MD — Sections of the Capital Crescent Trail will be closed Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, June 2–13, 2008 as the Montgomery County Department of Parks makes significant improvements to the trail. “We expect these changes will improve safety and provide a better experience for all trail users,” said Department of Parks Southern Region Division Chief Brian Woodward. For up to two weeks, June 2 – 13, sections of the Montgomery County portion of the Capital Crescent Trail, about 5.5 miles of paved surface trail from Bethesda Avenue to the District line, will be closed to public access as the department’s contractor adds a center line to the trail, marks trail intersections and crosswalks and installs and marks speed limit signage along the trail. The 15 mile speed limit signage will be the first time a speed limit has been posted on the trail. The work is anticipated to proceed as follows: - The first section to be improved on or about June 2: Bethesda Avenue to Little Falls Parkway “Our contractor will work as quickly as possible to finish before June 13, weather permitting,” added Woodward. “We appreciate trails users’ patience as we get this important work completed.” The Capital Crescent Trail will remain open for use on weekends, Saturday and Sunday, during the project and at peak bicycle commuter times during the week, before 9:00 am and after 3:00 pm, to minimize service disruption. Park Police officers will also be stationed along section endpoints during project work hours to ensure the expeditious completion of the work. “It is unfortunate that the trail has to be closed for any amount of time, but we are pleased that this work is being done in that it will enhance the safe use of the trail for all types of users,” said Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail Board Chair Peter Gray. “We also are appreciative of the consideration given to bikers who use the trail to commute to and from work.” For more information or updates on the project, please call 301-299-0024, visit www.MontgomeryTrails.org. A random act of kindness on the CCT.April 7, 2008 The Gazette and Washington Post have presented stories recently that portray "trail rage" as typical. See the Gazette article Cyclists, pedestrians paths cross on safety of trail. CCCT takes the trail safety issues that result from the trail overcrowding and the inconsiderate behavior of a few very seriously. But we should not not let that take away from also seeing the acts of kindness and consideration frequently seen along the trail. A recent example: "I learned recently how many kind souls are out on the Capital Crescent Trail. I was biking home on Wednesday night, April 2, approaching the detour near milepost 7. Suddenly, my rear tire went flat. (It turned out that I'd picked up a skinny one-inch nail.) Unfortunately, I am pitifully short on mechanical know-how. Not wanting to waste the time it would take to walk five miles home, I pulled out my phone to call my daughter for a ride. Then a biker pulled over & offered help. This proved to be a relatively difficult patch job, but this Good Samaritan (an architect from Silver Spring) stuck with it, inserted his own tube, never complained, refused my offer of money, etc. His only request, as he headed off, was that I call his wife & say he was running late. She told me she was about to eat dinner solo, having given up on him. Several others asked if we needed help, & one woman offered us a new tube." MTA presents their Purple Line/CCT plans.March 20, 2008 (Revised) The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) presented their latest concept plans for the Purple Line transit and trail at the March 10 CCCT Board Meeting at the Bethesda Library. Over 30 trail supporters attended.
Project Engineer Deirdre Smith presented a Powerpoint slide presentation showing typical Purple Line/CCT profiles for key locations between Bethesda and Silver Spring. Project Manager Mike Madden summarized the project schedule. This proposed project would greatly change the character of the CCT between Bethesda and Silver Spring. If the Purple Line is built, the park character of the trail between Bethesda and Rock Creek will be greatly reduced, but the trail will be completed through Silver Spring neighborhoods into downtown Silver Spring. There was far too much project information presented at the meeting to be shown here, but much of the information is at MTA's www.purplelinemd.com website. The MTA powerpoint presentation had profiles of most of the important sections and "choke points" for the CCT between Bethesda and Silver Spring, but did not include any profiles of how the CCT would cross Rock Creek. MTA indicated the trestle would be removed. The berm that now carries the Interim CCT on its top would be lowered by having about 15' removed from the top, so the modified berm would be wide enough to carry the Purple Line on the top. The CCT would be rebuilt on the south side of the berm, lower than the Purple Line. The Purple Line and the CCT would each have a new bridge over Rock Creek. Peter Gray asked MTA to please provide a concept sketch. We have received it, and show it below.
Like the project as a whole, the proposed crossing of Rock Creek Park has strong positives and negatives for trail users. We would lose the trestle and the views from high above the valley, but we would get a much better trail connection to the Rock Creek Trail and the Park. The concept sketch above is not to scale, and does not accurately represent the elevation of the trail. The trail elevation will not be fixed before the preliminary design if the project moves forward. But nonetheless CCCT is pressing upon MTA and M-NCPPC planners the importance of keeping the CCT as high as possible while maintaining good separation from transit. There were many questions and spirited comments from those attending. One of the many issues discussed was the MTA proposal to not include the CCT in the Bethesda Tunnel with either the Light Rail low cost or medium cost options. It is CCCT's strong position that the CCT must remain in the tunnel with all transit options. Another major issue raised was the potential closure of the Interim CCT during the several year construction period. The MTA asserts it will be the responsibility of Montgomery County to provide construction detours. CCCT insists that the County and MTA must work together to phase construction and to develop workarounds to keep the trail open during construction. At the end of the briefing CCCT Chair Peter Gray asked if MTA could evaluate a trail width greater than the 10' width in the MTA concept plans. Peter spoke of the overcrowding and the dangers from collisions between trail users on the CCT in Bethesda. (See Cyclists, pedestrians paths cross on safety of trail, Gazette, March 19 2008.) Mike Madden replied that it is the responsibility of Montgomery County to set the CCT design goals, and MTA would evaluate a wider trail if asked to do so by Montgomery County. M-NCPPC bikeways coordinator Chuck Kines commented that there are negative impacts associated with a wider trail, including higher construction impacts and possibly a reduction in the width of the buffer between the trail and transit. CCCT considers this to be an important issue, and will continue to pursue it. The CCCT Board will continue to follow this project very closely and to participate in the numerous focus group meetings, MTA open houses, and Master Plan Advisory Group meetings. The CCCT continues to take no formal position to either support or oppose the Purple Line project, but will advocate at every opportunity that if this project does go forward, then the CCT must remain in the Georgetown Branch Corridor and be completed into downtown Silver Spring as a high quality trail. The CCCT formal statement on its Purple Line position is at our Action Page. Woodmont East II plan revised, to be reconsidered by Planning Board on March 6.March 6 update: February 27, 2008 The Woodmont East II project plan is scheduled to be reviewed by the Montgomery County Planning Board during their March 6, 2008 meeting. This project, and the associated request for the abandonment of Reed Street, are on the agenda at 9:00 a.m. as agenda items #4 and #5, see March 6 Board Agenda for links to the M-NCPPC staff recommendations and project plan submissions. We reported here in an October 2007 post that we had received a commitment from the developer that the trail tunnel would remain open during construction. Then we reported in a November 2007 post that the strong concerns expressed by the CCCT and the public at the first Planning Board plan review had resulted in the project being sent back to the drawing board for revision to better address trail and open space issues. Now the new project plan is before the Planning Board. The new plan is responsive to some of the concerns CCCT has raised. The proposed hotel has been pulled further back from Woodmont Avenue to make room for open space at the corner of Bethesda Avenue and Woodmont Avenue. The "bridge" building section over the shared used corridor to the tunnel has been reduced in height to two or three stories and has been moved back closer to the tunnel. The shared use corridor has been reduced in width from the previous 75' to now 50', but the retail and cafe seating uses previously proposed to be along the south side of the corridor have been removed. The new plan proposes no non-trail uses in the corridor near the tunnel other than the uses by the theater and Gifford's Ice Cream as is there now. The CCCT Board believes the potential for conflicts between CCT users and pedestrians is greatly reduced because most new open space activities will be at a location separate from the trail corridor. In the previous plan the open space and trail corridor were combined. The new plan reserves space in the north side of the hotel building so that in the event a tail track for the proposed Purple Line light-rail transit takes space in the corridor, then the CCT could be moved into a 15' wide "gallery". Space is reserved in the building for the switchback ramp needed to elevate the CCT over light-rail inside the tunnel, as in the previous plan. The CCCT Board will present testimony at the March 6 review, and will continue working with the project team to gain further improvements in the design. CCCT wants to see a clear definition of the trail in the more detailed site plan to follow, with paving colors or textures and other landscaping elements being used to give a clear message to all where trail traffic should be expected. The project team is pursuing the CCCT idea of removing the bike lanes to make room for an off-road trail along Woodmont Avenue, to serve as the temporary bypass trail during construction. This and other temporary trail bypass plans must be resolved before the site plan is submitted and approved. We are moving forward toward better plans for this area with the developers and M-NCPPC planning staff. But we may be moving backward toward older, disfunctional plans with our own Montgomery County DPWT. DPWT asserts that it intends to disregard the Woodmont Avenue crosswalk location recommended by the development team and M-NCPPC staff, and instead move the crosswalk to be adjacent to Bethesda Avenue. That DPWT proposed crosswalk alignment is marked by the dashed red line in the sketch at right. All pedestrians and trail users would be forced to follow the circuitous route across the much longer crosswalk. This would also force all CCT users to pass through the proposed new open space area, to create maximum biker/pedestrian conflicts. DPWT asserts this arrangement will result in the best circulation pattern for all users of the intersection - motor vehicles, pedestrians, and trail users. But pedestrians and trail users, who outnumber the motor vehicles at this intersection during many time periods, will find this DPWT assessment to be nonsense. We need someone in a position of leadership in Montgomery County to help DPWT understand this entire area is a vibrant public space, and not just another intersection to be owned by motor vehicles. Stay tuned - this issue will heat up as DPWT moves to rebuild the crosswalk. Decisions are being made now on Boathouse EIS -
|
Source: NPS Environmental Assessment
This photo simulation shows how close the proposed boathouse will be against the CCT and the C&O Canal towpath embankment.
|
NPS performed an Environmental Assessment in an effort to address these objections, and they assert that their study finds the proposed boathouse location and footprint to be acceptable. The study is available online at parkplanning.nps.gov.
The Environmental Assessment falls far short of addressing the key issues of size and location. No alternative locations were evaluated. Two alternative boathouse designs with lower rooflines were evaluated. One boathouse with a slightly reduced footprint was considered. But all alternative designs considered were so large that 800' of CCT would be replaced by a shared access roadway.
While the CCCT is principally opposed to the size of the proposed boathouse, other groups take the position that there are other locations available where the boathouse would not have such a severe impact on the environment. The CCCT is joining with the Defenders of the Potomac River Parkland, www.savethecanal.org, to call for NPS to perform a full Environmental Impact Study (EIS) to address these key issues. We believe that since the NPS is considering swapping parkland to make room for this boathouse, and since the proposed boathouse would have such a high impact on the CCT and on the C&O Canal Historic Park, a full EIS should be performed. A full EIS would require a thorough evaluation, which was not done for this Environmental Assessment.
The CCCT letter to NPS addresses the omissions and errors of the Environmental Assessment in more detail. A full description of the issues for the Trail and for the environment is on our Action Page.
M-NCPPC Planning Staff pushes for a parking lot -
CCCT pushes back for trees and grass instead.
January 3, 2008 update:
The Planning Board has approved the rezoning request, amended to remove the requirement that there be a parking lot next to the CCT and instead requiring the applicant to provide a facility to benefit trail users, "such as" for a trail plaza. The M-NCPPC planning staff and Parks Dept. have been asked to work with the applicant and the CCCT to reach an agreement on what the applicant will provide for trail users prior to the site plan review, expected around June of this year.
The many emails the Planning Board received in the last few days in opposition to the proposed parking lot got attention and results. An unwelcome proposal for a parking lot is now changed into a good opportunity to get an amenity on the Trail that we want. Thanks to all who responded.
December 30, 2007
The Washington Episcopal Day School is requesting rezoning to permit expansion of their day school and a new residential building on their property on the east side of the CCT at River Road. The Planning Board hearing and decision will come on January 3, 2008, see the agenda Item #6 at the MC M-NCPPC website.
M-NCPPC staff are recommending that a new eight car parking lot be developed immediately adjacent to the CCT at the north end of the River Road trail bridge, as a "public amenity". The parking lot would be mostly within the CCT r.o.w. owned by the County. Cars would be parked less than a car length from the edge of the trail. A site map in the staff report shows the parking lot would be in the middle of the area the CCCT is proposing to develop as a public/private partnership as a rest area and plaza for trail users.
Washington Episcopal Day School has been a good neighbor for the CCT, and we have no objection to the expansion they propose on their property. But CCCT strongly objects to the M-NCPPC planning staff recommendation that this parking lot be imposed on the Day School project as a condition of approval. Planning staff indicate in their staff report that they intend these parking spaces be for the benefit of trail users. But they have no effective plan to ensure these spaces will not be taken chiefly by visitors to the Day School, to the new residential building, or to any of the nearby businesses. Our recently ended ten year long experience with the Minkoff parking lot on the opposite side of the trail at this end of the bridge shows that most spaces will be taken by non-trail users.
We are dismayed that, just as CCCT is preparing a formal application for a Private/Public project partnership with the Parks Department for a trail rest plaza buffered from adjacent streets by trees and shrubs, M-NCPPC planners think it is a good idea to push for a new parking lot in the center of this area. Washington Episcopal Day School can best contribute an amenity to the community by giving trees, shrubs, and other natural landscaping elements in this area instead of being asked to put more concrete and asphalt on scarce park land adjacent to the CCT.
CCCT is pushing back. CCCT has sent a formal letter to the Planning Board to protest this parking lot, and will present more information to the Planning Board on its vision for a rest plaza here during testimony at the Jan. 3 hearing. But "regular" neighbors and trail users need to speak out as well.
Trail supporters who wish to give a practical end-of-year "gift" to the CCT can send a short email explaining in their own words that this public land should be a park, not a parking lot. Emails can be sent to Planning Board Chair Royce Hanson at
mcp-chairman@mncppc-mc.org. Please send an email before the Thursday Jan. 3 hearing, and reference "Local Map Amendment G-873" in the subject line.
Capital Crescent Trail Coalition Donates More Than $20,000 to Battle Non-Native Invasives.
December 25, 2007
The CCCT has launched a major initiative to protect the trail from the invasive weeds that are threatening many of the trees. CCCT is giving both time and money to the effort.
The Montgomery County Parks Department describes the CCCT support at the M_NCPPC website :
and also:The Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail (CCCT) donated $20,170 to the Montgomery County Department of Parks this month to remove non-native invasive plants along the Capital Crescent Trail.
“The coalition’s number one priority is protecting the trail,” said CCCT Board Chair Peter Gray, “and one of the biggest threats to the trail is the non-native invasives that are taking over.”
Non-native invasive vines threaten many of the native trees that line the CCT.With its members support, the coalition raised the funds and the board identified combating non-native invasives as a project worth backing financially. The group approached the parks department to make arrangements for the donation. The funding will be used for removing non-native invasives along the Capital Crescent Trail in order to protect large decades old trees along the trail that are being threatened by non-native vines.
The bulk of the initial machete work will be completed by Highway Safety Services under the department’s supervision with some additional native planting completed by parks staff and volunteers.
“Invasive species present one of the greatest threats to the health of our parklands,” said Department of Parks Forest Ecologist Carole Bergmann. “So we are very appreciative of this support from the Coalition for the Capital Crescent Trail to continue to battle these alien invaders.”
Since the spring of 2007, the Department of Parks has been organizing and hosting Save the Forest volunteer opportunities throughout county parks to help fight against non-native invasive plants. These volunteer non-native invasive plant pull projects are open to the public and require no experience to participate. Students can also earn Student Service Learning hours by participating. The next Save the Forest volunteer event is planned for Sunday, January 13, from 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm along the Capital Crescent Trail.
CCCT Board Chair Peter Gray, a certified Department of Parks Weed Warrior volunteer, with the guidance of parks staff is leading the volunteer group on Sunday.
“The Capital Crescent Trail Coalition doesn’t just point out the problems, they roll up their sleeves and get out there and help,” added Bergmann. “They are great park partners.”
The CCCT helped the Department of Parks organize two volunteer events to remove invasive weeds from the CCT in late fall, 2007. You are welcome to come out and help us at the next "Save the Forest" volunteer event on the Capital Crescent Trail on Jan. 13, 1:00-3:30 p.m. Meet at the parking lot of St. Dunstan Episcopal Church 5450 Mass. Ave., Bethesda 20816. Contact Parks Department Ecologist Carole Bergmann at 301-949-2818 or visit www.mcparkandplanning.org for more information.