As Metro prepares to open new rail stations, advocates want better bike-ped accessibility

As Metro prepares to open six new rail stations in Northern Virginia, some future passengers are expressing dismay over their restricted entry for pedestrians and cyclists.

Whereas they are saying they’re happy with station facilities together with bicycle racks, drop-off factors and entry to bus and automotive providers, they see room for extra enhancements that would present higher connections to the transit factors that don’t depend on autos.

“It’s actually unlucky as a result of we’ve recognized these stations had been going to be right here for a few years,” mentioned Bruce Wright, president of the Fairfax Alliance for Higher Bicycling. “They’ve completed numerous planning and so they’ve constructed numerous services, however there are nonetheless enormous gaps.”

With stations set to open Nov. 15, there’s little time for transit and native planners to deal with entry points earlier than trains begin operating. Nonetheless, localities and advocates mentioned they’re working to fulfill the calls for of future passengers. 

Reston City Middle, Herndon and Innovation Middle are the three new rail stations slated to open in Fairfax County as a part of the second section of the Silver Line extension. All of them are in a freeway median, with walkway entry on the north and south sides of the hall.

However Wright mentioned the rail station areas lack shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists, incomplete sidewalks and poorly maintained trails. Entry enhancements are additionally tied into future growth plans a minimum of a yr away from building. 

“We’d similar to to see them expedited as a result of as soon as the stations open, individuals are going to develop a option to get to them, and it will have been good to have the ability to do this on foot and on bike,” Wright mentioned.

Metro may even open three stations in Loudoun County, together with one at Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport. The rail station, which rests above the airport grounds, will present entry to the busiest airport in Virginia.

Few, if any, could contemplate biking or strolling to the Dulles station as a result of its distance from residential areas. Likewise, Loudoun Gateway Metrorail Station is surrounded by knowledge facilities and workplace buildings.  

Nonetheless, cyclists and pedestrians could think about using the Ashburn rail station as a result of its proximity to residential areas. Ashburn, which is the ultimate cease of the 23-mile extension, neighbors eating places and companies, together with the 600-acre mixed-use Moorefield Station growth that’s below approach. 

Andrea McGimsey, govt director of Religion Alliance for Local weather Options, mentioned Ashburn is likely one of the most accessible of the brand new stations for cyclists and pedestrians. Nonetheless, she mentioned even that entry is proscribed: Residents should cross main roadways to succeed in the station, bike rack house might show inadequate and buses will function solely on weekdays.

“Essentially the most beneficiant factor I can say about them is that they’re gonna get it completed, and so they’re simply tremendous late, however once more coloration me skeptical that they’re truly ever gonna prioritize us and actually do it,” McGimsey mentioned.

Complaints concerning the accessibility of Metro stations within the more and more dense Northern Virginia are nothing new. Fairfax leaders confronted heavy criticism after the primary section of the Silver Line opened in 2014. One of many causes was the dearth of entry, as documented by college students, for pedestrians and cyclists round Tysons Nook, one of many largest industrial facilities in Fairfax County. 

“I feel with Tysons all people realized fairly fast as soon as these stations opened how inaccessible they nonetheless had been for folks on foot or attempting to bike in that space,” mentioned Sonya Breehe, Northern Virginia advocacy supervisor for the Coalition for Smarter Progress. “These tasks are being accomplished and introduced on-line, however it’s years now that the stations had been truly open. So it’s a piece in progress — nonetheless making good progress — however nonetheless having some rising pains.”

The most important arterial roads and Interstate 495 that run between the rail stations created issues for native leaders, with multiple cases of walkers and cyclists being hit by automobiles within the neighborhood.

Breehe mentioned that if the intention is to maneuver folks by utilizing transit, leaders need to incentivize its use and encourage much less driving.

“You’ll be able to’t throw all of these items into the combo and assume our weak customers — the folks outdoors of automobiles that don’t include the airbags — might be protected. They’re those that pay the best consequence,” Breehe mentioned.

However there have been enhancements. A new pedestrian bridge has been constructed over I-495, in addition to a brand new shared-use path for strolling and bicycling that extends to the McLean rail station.

A number of house buildings and condos stand across the path outfitted with lights on the bridge’s east facet. On the west facet, an indication factors vacationers to the Tysons rail station.

Elsewhere alongside the Silver Line, a major pedestrian enchancment undertaking is underway on the Innovation Middle station, together with a pedestrian bridge resulting in a number of residential areas. 

 

And in Loudoun County, leaders have partnered with the Virginia Division of Transportation on a $39 million enchancment program for bicycle and pedestrian entry across the Metrorail stations. The partnership consists of creating shared-use paths, pedestrian sign upgrades and connections between the Washington & Previous Dominion Path and the stations. 

Breehe mentioned it’s “improbable” that Fairfax is making appreciable investments in increasing transit alongside the Silver Line, “however we have to actually double down on and ensure that folks can get to these Metro stations.” Officers, she mentioned, ought to give attention to creating “funding packages round these Metro stations to essentially ensure that the bike-ped connectivity is prioritized and applied as quickly as potential.”

Accessibility delays

Leaders in Fairfax and Loudoun mentioned they’re working to deal with accessibility across the new Metro stations however face hurdles linked to broader regional growth.

Fairfax County Supervisor Walter Alcorn, D, mentioned in an e mail to the Mercury that multiple transportation projects to deal with station entry are “positively” a precedence and are key to making sure protected and simple Metro entry for pedestrians and bicyclists. Nonetheless, Alcorn, the board’s transportation committee chair, additionally mentioned leaders face ongoing challenges as a result of the transportation infrastructure near rail stations is designed to prioritize cars over pedestrians and bicyclists.

For instance, at Reston City Middle, a small crosswalk traverses six lanes of site visitors between the rail station and a brand new high-rise workplace complicated for Fannie Mae and Volkswagen. 

Loudoun County Supervisor Sylvia Glass, D, admitted that accessibility across the Northern Virginia stations shouldn’t be the place it must be. Glass, whose district consists of all three of the brand new stations, mentioned she and others have talked with owners and their constituents about enhancements, however one of many causes for the delays is the necessity to relocate utilities to assemble sidewalks, which might take as much as two years.

“We simply need to ensure that we’ve these protected passages for those that need to take the Metro,” Glass mentioned. She’s additionally keen to make sure that youngsters can safely cross the prevailing sidewalks and pathways.

Loudoun supervisors have mentioned they may monitor the demand for extra bike racks and curiosity in buses working on weekends. At the moment, bus service to stations is just provided throughout weekdays.

“I truly would encourage folks to begin strolling and biking to the Metro and get in touch with my workplace in the event that they encounter any challenges,” mentioned Loudoun County Supervisor Mike Turner, D, who serves as chair of the board’s transportation committee. “I need to know particularly the place they encounter the challenges and what they’re in order that we will focus county and VDOT efforts on these choke factors.”

Editor’s observe: The Coalition for Smarter Progress is a donor to States Newsroom, the Mercury’s guardian group. Reader and group donations assist the Mercury cowl prices for workers and freelancers, however donors haven’t any enter on editorial selections. For extra info on States Newsroom’s funding click here. See right here for our ethics policy.