The Montgomery County Planning Board voted today to send to the County Council a recommendation that the Metropolitan Branch Trail project be accelerated to begin in FY11, and that the trail bridge over Georgia Avenue be restored to the first phase of the project. The basis for the recommendation is outlined in the M-NCPPC staff report:
“The Metropolitan Branch Trail is a vital component of the regional bikeway network and the multimillion dollar investment in the revitalization of Silver Spring. It is expected to rival the Capital Crescent Trail in usage, with 300-500 trail users per hour on weekends and 50-150 users per hour on weekdays, after the Silver Spring Transit Center opens.”
and …
“The proposed interim project does not include a new bridge across Georgia Ave. however, but would use the existing WMATA/CSX bridge that is only six feet wide. AASHTO guidance for shared use path bridge design indicates that the width should be a minimum of 14 feet.”“We believe the existing WMATA/CSX bridge cannot accommodate the high volume of trail users that are expected; it would become a choke point for trail users and a significant safety concern because of conflicts between bicyclists and pedestrians. We recommend that the Board restate your recommendation for a new bridge over Georgia Avenue.”
“This project is one of the top priorities in the Growth Policy. It connects the Silver Spring Transit Center (expected to open in 2011) with the District of Columbia portion of the trail (with the Takoma portion expected to open by 2012). We recommend that design of the Metropolitan Branch Trail start in FY11 and that land acquisition and construction be accelerated so that the project schedule more closely follows the completion of adjacent facilities”
The staff report also addresses other important bikeway projects in the proposed FY11-16 CIP budget, including the Capital Crescent Trail, Silver Spring Green Trail, and MacArthur Blvd. upgrades.
Today’s vote in support of accelerating the Met Branch Trail is most welcome. The transportation planners at M-NCPPC called out the problem with the MCDOT opposition to the new trail bridge over Georgia Ave. See Met Branch remains stalled in Mont. Co. to see the existing bridge, less than 6′ wide, that MCDOT thinks is good enough for this regional trail.
The Planning Board recommendation is only advisory, however. The Montgomery County Council has the power to make changes to the proposed CIP budget. The Council T&E Committee will begin deliberations on the budget on February 11.