10/25/14 facilites meeting minutes

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Oxon Run Trail

Attendance: Jeanie Osburn (BAC Facilities Committee Chair), Darren Buck (DDOT),

Ursula Sandstrom (BAC Support Services)

Date: October 25, 2014

Overview:We rode the Oxon Run Trail with mind to the current 30% plans foroverhauling the trail. The old trail is incomplete, worn down, inadequate in connecting

the local community and does not do justice to the potential of the park. The concept

plans go a long way to amending those faults, the key area of concern with regard to

developing the 65% plans are insuring that crossings are safe and protected.

The plans call for repaving the entire trail, which is badly needed. In addition to the

generally decayed state of the paving, there are a few areas of significant damage. These

include a large pile of gravel covering the entire trail and makes for a very good jump

(Figure 1.1), and large holes (Figure 1.2 and 1.3).

Figure 1.1. A large pile of gravel on the trail. Just west of the crossing at 4thSt.


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Figure 1.2. Falling apart trail bed, west of Wheeler Rd.

Figure 1.3. Large hole, west of 4thSt.

Areas of Concern:

Bridges:The plans call for not replacing the bridges. Many of them are narrower than

ideal and aesthetically unwelcoming, with overgrown vegetation and tall fence-type

railings. Two bridges resemble Metro escalators and are quite wide (Figure 2), while the

rest are a variety of narrower designs.


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Figure 2. A Metro style bridge. Note the large, very solid, concrete bollards.

But there are number of small elements that show up consistently that should be

addressed as part of the overhaul. The bridges were built before current trail standards,

with solid concrete bollards painted black marking either side of each bridge. Many of

them have metal attached to ensure they are especially unsafe. The Metro bridges

currently have two bollards on each end while the others have one. These bollards should

be replaced with reflective Flexposts for the smaller bridges and 1 concrete bollard for

the Metro bridges, which are wide enough for cars.

Figure 3.Narrow bridge design with black metal and concrete bollard. Note the large

dropoff between the trail bed and bridge surface.


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In addition, the connection between the bridge surface and the trail often has a

dramatic drop onto the trail (Figure 3). The new paving should go up to and touch the

bridges to ensure a smooth transition. Vegetation removal and general clean up should

also be done.

Intersections (working east to west along the trail):The main concern and opportunity with the trail is doing the road crossings well.

Mississippi and 13th

The entrance of Oxon Run is slated to be moved to meet with the intersection

better. Currently it starts awkwardly just off from the intersection (Figure 5). There is

another trail leg that almost goes to the intersection but bizarrely stops 50 feet from

sidewalk and becomes an odd jumble of Jersey barriers. The plan will remedy this.

Figure 5.The start of the trail. At the left is the current trail entrance, to the right is the

random trail spur that stops short of the intersection of Mississippi and 13th.

Wheeler Rd, Mississippi Ave and Valley Ave (Figure 6):

The plans call for the trail to cross Wheeler Rd on the north by going at the

existing signalized intersections at Mississippi (north side) or Valley (south side). The

north side trail pops onto Mississippi east of the intersection with Wheeler. Cyclists are


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likely going to take the sidewalk on the south side, cross the intersection, continue on the

sidewalk on the west side to continue on the trail. This route presents the least amount of

transitions and merges for trail users. The current sidewalk on the south side of

Mississippi is very narrow, at 6 feet. The sidewalk should be widened to the trail

standards of 10 feet, though a retaining wall will be necessary.

Additionally current MoveDC plans call for a cycletrack on Mississippi. Thisshould be built on the south side to create easy connections with the Oxon Run trail. The

cycletrack could also serve as way to cross Wheeler at this intersection. Additionally, bike

lanes on Wheeler would help with the connection.

The current trail end pops up in the middle of the block on Wheeler and seems to

suggest a mid-block crossing. But with the blind curve to the south and steep downhill to

the north, it makes sense that such a crossing is not in the plans. We rode from the north

side of the trail, went down Wheeler and continued on the south side of Oxon Run after

the intersection. The current trail does not continue to the intersection on the SE side of

Wheeler nor exist on the NW side. The plans will rectify both problems.

Figure 4. The intersection of Mississippi and Wheeler, from the SE corner. The stopped

car is on Mississippi Ave.


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Figure 5. Wheeler Rd, midblock looking south towards Valley. Note the blind corner.

Figure 6.The intersection of Wheeler, Valley and Mississippi. Note the lack of trail south

of the baseball field and the tennis courts, remedied by the current plans.


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Fourth St SE:

Current plans do call for warning signs on the south side of the intersection but

not for drivers coming for the north. These should be included. The current intersection is

controlled by crosswalks and stop signs. Adding the planned crosswalk on the south side

of Wayne Pl Se will provide a safer crossing than currently exists.

Figure 7. Intersection at 4th

St, the current trail crossing is at the top of the photo, abovethe large dirt patch.

Yuma St SE:

This dead end currently does not have a sidewalk connection to the trail 20 feet

from it (Figure 8). The current plans call for trail connections but fail to provide ramps

from the road. The curbs are very tall and there are no curb cuts for at least a half block.

Curb cuts to help bicyclists access the trail should be included. The dead end is cut into

the landscape, ramps just before the roundabout would be an acceptable place without a

substantial incline.


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Figure 8. Yuma St with no connection to the trail passing on the right.

Atlantic St, Valley and Livingstone:This is the intersection that is the most concerning. On the east intersection of

Valley, there is a badly placed pole that makes accessing the curb cut unacceptably

narrow at ~2.5 feet (Figure 10).

Figure 9. The badly placed pole is in the NW corner, blocking traffic from north to south

of the trail side.


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Figure 10.Jeanie between the bridge fence and the pole.


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Figure 11. Looking south from Valley across the intersection towards Livingstone. The

pole of interest is behind the bicyclist.

Figure 12. The cycletrack would follow from the curve of the trail.

Instead a short cycletrack should be built to funnel cyclists through the intersection. A

ramp should be cut where the trail meets the sidewalk on Valley, and continue through

until the trail picks up on the other side at Livingstone from the sidewalk. It is

particularly necessary for cyclists coming south to north and therefore should two way.

Without a cycletrack, north bound traffic would have to hop the curb, join trafficmidblock, cross Atlantic at the intersection, cross the north crosswalk and then ride the

sidewalk to join the trail, in order to avoid the pole.

South Capitol Street:

The plan calls for an unsignalized crossing of South Capitol. Given the traffic

volume on South Capitol and its status as a major thoroughfare from Maryland, this is

worrisome.


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Figure 13. Oxon Run meeting South Capitol.

The plans call for widening the sidewalk on South Capitol. There is substantial

foot traffic in the area and this is an excellent improvement. However, the widening stops

just short of the District border. On the east side, the widening stops just short of a major

pedestrian crossing. The sidewalk should be widened all the way to the District line.

Additionally, there is a strong desire line from Livingston through the island and acrossSouth Capitol, this should be formally built.


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Figure 14. The intersection of South Capitol and Livingstone, where the plans call for the

sidewalk widening to end, falling just short of Southern Avenue.

Additional notes:

We rode through DC Village and continued on the Maryland section of Oxen Run

via Oxen Run Drive to access Shepherd Parkway, Overlook and DC Village Lane SW.

DC Village is unpainted and has substantial industrial traffic from the bus parking lot, fire

training facilities amongst other operations, as well as substantial bicycle traffic from the

trail. There is plenty of roadway, it should have lane markings as well as a bicycle lane.

Shepherds Parkway is the major concern of this connector route. A narrow road funneling

bicycling and buses, the lane is too narrow to share and the sidewalk is falling apart.

Additionally, the intersection of Shepherds and offramp of 295 is unsignalized. With the

heavy commuter traffic coming off 295 to Overlook in the morning, it is hard for traffic

coming off Shepherds to go through the intersection. This is particularly of note for

cyclists who cannot merge with as much speed and have a slower response time to

opportunities as motorized vehicles. As noted in last meetings ride notes, the shoulder on

Overlook Ave would be perfect, and an almost no cost investment, to transform into a

bike lane. We finished the ride being escorted through Bolling, the view is stunning.

Image Credits: Satellite imagery from Google Maps. Street level imagery by Ursula

Sandstrom, except for the street pole photo by Darren Buck.

10/25/14 facilites meeting minutes

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