Posts by Steve Offutt — Guest Contributor
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Arlington Public Schools must think beyond buses
Arlington County residents rely more and more on a wide range of transportation choices to get around the county, but Arlington Public Schools (APS) still focuses solely on buses in its transportation plan. A recent controversy around which students could ride the buses exposed the weaknesses and omissions in APS’s transportation planning. Current Arlington policy… Keep reading…
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Arlington trail signs improve wayfinding, mostly
Arlington has started installing the first of the 250 “wayfinding” signs it has planned along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. They are part of a comprehensive plan that will include hundreds of signs across the county. The first signs are a big improvement over the non-existent or outdated signs currently along the trails. They can still be better, and hopefully… Keep reading…
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Four Mile Run getting new pedestrian and bike bridge
Arlington County is replacing the footbridge across Four Mile Run that connects the W&OD and Custis trails east of Sycamore Street with the East Falls Church Metro station. Replacing the is necessary to improve safety. The current footbridge is very narrow, very old, and has become obsolete. The new bridge will meet ADA standards, will be wider, and is in a better location… Keep reading…
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New Carlin Springs Bridge design better serves non-motorists
Arlington County has chosen a pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly design for its upcoming rehabilitation of the Carlin Springs Bridge over North George Mason Drive. Keep reading…
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The Capital Crescent Trail should stay in its Bethesda tunnel
Last week, Dan Reed argued that an on-street Crescent Trail may be better for cyclists and pedestrians. But not putting the trail in a tunnel represents a huge downgrade of bicycle infrastructure, and the MTA should find a way of fitting the trail in the tunnel with the Purple Line. For a year or so I commuted through that tunnel almost every day and have been an occasional user since… Keep reading…
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Redesign could improve dangerous Rosslyn intersection
The intersection of Lee Highway and Lynn Street in Rosslyn, where the Custis Trail crosses Lynn St., is one of the most dangerous intersections for cyclists in the Greater Washington area. By reconfiguring the exit ramp for the Key Bridge, this conflict could be reduced, dramatically improving safety while also potentially improving traffic flow. Keep reading…
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Falls Church misses planning opportunity with BJ’s
Rather than taking maximum advantage of an opportunity to improve an area that is in dire need of better design, the City of Falls Church settled on a cookie-cutter, big box store when planning for BJ’s. The BJ’s Wholesale Club opened last October 9 near Seven Corners to much fanfare. Most of the press around the opening was very positive, though it was built with little… Keep reading…
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Safeway at Seven Corners fixes pedestrian access problem
Back in March, I reported that the newly renovated Safeway at Seven Corners had designed their shopping cart corral in such a way as to block sidewalk access, forcing pedestrians to walk into traffic. Two weeks ago, the Safeway removed this barrier, and now the sidewalk is completely open, allowing for safe and convenient pedestrian passage. Keep reading…
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Temporary urbanism thrives in Rosslyn
An empty plot of land in Rosslyn has been turned into a temporary public plaza while its owner works to build a skyscraper. Instead of a weedy, fenced-in lot, the plaza is a lively public space. JBG Companies is planning a million square foot, 2-tower development at the corner of Wilson and North Moore Streets in Arlington. While they work to secure tenants in preparation for construction,… Keep reading…
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Arlington County installs new bike signal on Custis Trail
On Tuesday Arlington County activated a bike-only signal in the Rosslyn area of the Custis Trail at the corner of N. Oak Street and Lee Highway. This is one of the several intersections on the trail’s “Rosslyn Hill” section, which is definitely the most dangerous section of the Custis Trail. Numerous cyclists and drivers have collided at some of the… Keep reading…