Comments for Silver Spring Trails

Comment on Trees and Grass by Everybody's Trail

Everybody's Trail — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:12:24 +0000

Once you destroy the 17 acres of forest between Bethesda and Silver Spring it will be gone forever…an ecological/environmental disaster.
Please consider this for our future generations.
In this heat the shaded trail is a welcomed respite, on all sections of the CCT.
In this economy, we cannot afford another transit system, especially when Metro is hurting for funds.
Let’s make our existing infrastructure more efficient and economical.
I’m all for making the trail more accessible and longer.
I love the trail.
The problem is that this drumbeat for a train, being played by the developers, is drowning out propper, efficient planning.
How much more traffic will the development around the stations cause – please look at these plans, suspiciously not included in the PL plans – look at the Land Use Committee’s proposed plans (initiated by the developers).
Your video lacks bikes in both directions, with runners, walkers and children learning how to ride their bikes.
Let’s have a conversation – name calling doesn’t help further the trail.

Comment on Bus Rapid Transit, or just a fancier bus? by admin

admin — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:54:09 +0000

Michael:
I too like very much what Councilman Elrich is proposing for BRT in Montgomery County. But Elrich supports light rail for the Purple Line, perhaps in recognition that this route is one where light rail is more appropriate to meet the demand.

My information is the the state will not be able to make a formal submission of the project to the FTA until it wraps up its refined ridership study that is still underway. Unfortunately the schedule on that will likely push a formal submission and a decision by the federal government to after the election.

Comment on Bus Rapid Transit, or just a fancier bus? by Michael Drayne

Michael Drayne — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:09:30 +0000

I do like what Councilman Elrich is proposing for BRT in Montgomery County. I do think BRT can work IF they are given a dedicated lane with no sharing with HOV. They should also have dedicated stations with pre ticketing so boarding is quick and the driver does not have to mess with tickets. I don’t see this being viable on JBR since it it too narrow to provide dedicated lanes for buses. I also agree that the buses can’t keep pace with the increased ridership that is projected by 2030.

Comment on Bus Rapid Transit, or just a fancier bus? by Michael Drayne

Michael Drayne — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:01:54 +0000

So with the election rapidly approaching and two different visions for the Purple Line being offered by O’Malley and Ehrlich, I’ve been wondering where the O’Malley request to the Obama Administration for federal funding stands right now. I emailed Van Hollen’s office (3 times) and O’Malley’s twice and I got no response. Why is the Transportation Department taking so long to decide which projects to fund? It would seem the stimulus money should be spent relatively quickly to get people back to work. It also seems like The Obama Administration can hand O’Malley a victory prior to the election by awarding the Purple Line and the Baltimore light rail project federal money.

So, when can we expect the federal government to decide which transportation projects they will fund?

Comment on Forgotten neighborhoods. by Woodsider

Woodsider — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:57:54 +0000

There is probably 100 acres available for redevelopment in addition to the purple line service area. Great opportunity for all once it and the trail are completed.

Comment on Forgotten neighborhoods. by Dan

Dan — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:54:18 +0000

A huge part of that warehouse/industrial land that north of the tracks at the Lyttonsville stop is slated to become the work yard and train storage lot for the Purple line. Some better shops might open there, but ti’s not going to be a new main street.

While the Purple line is great, I’ll stress how even even a pedestrian/bike path from the neighborhood to downtown Silver Spring would greatly help that area. Right now, one needs to go south to East West Highway and then up a huge hill to get to down town. Simply having the path with multiple access points as proposed at http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/viewer.shtm#http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/transportation/projects/documents/PurpleLinePlanningBoardDraftApril2010_002.pdf (page 30) would make this neighborhood into easy waling distance from downtown.

Comment on Forgotten neighborhoods. by Woodsider

Woodsider — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:45:54 +0000

It should be very interesting to see what happens around the Lyttonsville Purple Line stop. There is incredible potential to redevelop a lot of that warehouse and industrial space into mixed use. Imagine that stretch of Lyttonsville Road (west of the tracks) filled with “main street” retail, small businesses, housing, etc….with a Purple Line stop at the center. I’m guessing it would look a lot like the hundreds of communities that sprouted up at railroad stops in mid-1800’s to early 1900’s before the advent of the automobile. Keep your fingers crossed.

Comment on Another neighborhood against a “bicycle raceway”? by justafed

justafed — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 03:22:15 +0000

First off, I am glad they are going to do this trail project. As you point out, opposition to trails does tend to depend strongly on NIMBYism. But, that said, I must also point out that there are a lot of bicyclists out there whose trail etiquette is completely unacceptable. And I should know, because I have been a bicycle commuter on and off regional trails four years here in DC and for six years prior to that in a smaller Midwestern metro. During that time, I have logged thousands of miles on various roads and trails in the area (I have moved twice in that time, and so has my worksite), and all I can say is that there are DC area bicyclists who just flat out make me feel ashamed. So I know it will do no good, but here are a few pointers for the Lance Armstrong wannabes.

1) The pedestrians have the right of way. Always. Yes, even if they are all over the path, or have stopped to chat with their friends going in the opposite direction. Sure, it’s a bit annoying, but the response you get to slowing down to a reasonable speed, and saying “Hi, I would like to pass on the left here” is really worth it. Basically, almost everybody is happy to oblige, and nobody ends up very much worse off. Contrast this with the usual behavior of wordlessly whipping by at 20 mph. Yes, that will earn you strong support in the next hearing to make trail improvements in the area, for sure.

2) When you pass another bicyclist, and if you are wrapped up in $3000 worth of gear you know you will want to do this, the correct plan is either to ring your bell or else say something synonymous with “on your left”. And for Pete’s sake, don’t just whip by because I have slowed down to yield the right of way to the peds 20 yards in front of us. That just labels you as a jerk.

3) Where the trail crosses a road, follow the traffic signals and/or yield the right of way when appropriate. If I see one more idiot testing his life insurance by trying to cross Connecticut Avenue against the light I may really lose my composure.

4) If I end up passing you on the Georgetown Branch trail despite the fact that your carbon frame bike costs ten times what my bike does, please note that it is just because I am likely running late for dinner and not because I am testing your manhood. Really, it’s not a big deal either way, and I really don’t care if you pass me back again a bit down the road, as long as you aren’t trying to run down pedestrians at the same time.

5) When you get to the city streets, obey all traffic rules and signals as if you were a car. Don’t blow off stop signs, run red lights, or engage in unpredictable weirdness. In particular, note that pedestrians still have the right of way.

Overall, please just follow the golden rule, and everything will be fine.

Comment on A bicycling raceway? by Another neighborhood against a “bicycle raceway”? « Silver Spring Trails

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:39:45 +0000

[...] Concerns for pedestrian safety, opposition to asphalt, fears of increased crime, concerns about losing the “natural” setting – we’ve heard this all before from residents opposed to proposed trails adjacent to other neighborhoods, including the Capital Crescent Trail. The pedestrian safety issue was recently raised by Meir Wolf of the Town of Chevy Chase at another Planning Board Hearing, see A bicycling Raceway?. [...]

Comment on A high profile CCT by Michael Drayne

Michael Drayne — Thu, 13 May 2010 01:57:33 +0000

Great analysis! You offer a very rational response to those who are calling for a trail on the south side of the tracks. I too have grown tired of the arguments of some of the folks in Chevy Chase regarding the Purple Line. I hope when construction does start they break ground in Chevy Chase first so we can have an end to the complaining.

Reading your blog makes me ever more hopeful that we will see the Purple Line and CCT running into Downtown Silver Spring. That day can’t come soon enough! Keep up the good work.