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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Division of Transportation

Planning 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22201


TEL 703-228-3681 FAX 703-228-7548 www.arlingtonva.us

July 21, 2017

Christa Abbott
President, Lyon Park Citizens Association (LPCA)

Dear Christa,

Thank you for your letter, dated June 28, 2017, that compiled the comments of the LPCA regarding the
revised concept plans for the Pershing Drive Complete Streets Project. It is understood that the LPCA
concurs with the majority of the improvements proposed as long as the current grant funding is utilized
only for the non-signal related improvements. This is to confirm that the projects current funding plan
does not use grant funding for the signal work.

The Countys response to other items included in the message is below along with additional project
information. Please share this information with your membership.

N. Nelson Street
The improvements proposed at Nelson would increase planting opportunities, but focus on
improving the alignment and pedestrian operations at the intersection with Pershing, which is the
goal of the project. However, improvements at this intersection are a lower priority due to low
crossing volumes as compared to the other intersections included in Phase I. The Nelson
intersection improvements can be implemented in subsequent phases of this project if future
funding is dedicated.

N. Irving Street
Engineering staff studied this intersection in response to the public concerns expressed during the
early scoping phase of this project. The intersection easily met the warrants for a four way stop.
Staff additionally studied the impacts on traffic flow on Pershing and determined that the level of
service with the four-way stop is acceptable. Since the County now has the data and results of the
warrant analysis, it is the Countys obligation and responsibility to take action to improve the safety
at this intersection. The installation of a four-way stop is the quickest and most cost effective
method to improve safety at the Irving/Pershing intersection. It will be installed with this summers
micro-sealing project on Pershing Drive. A new plaque with a flag will be included to increase
awareness of the new condition. Though cut-through traffic is not anticipated as a result of the four-
way stop, staff will monitor traffic volumes after installation.

Staff recently studied the intersection sight lines at the Irving/Pershing and Highland/Pershing
intersections and has worked with nearby property owners to clear and improve them. Due to the
accident volume, the more significant safety improvement of the four-way stop is still needed at
the Irving/Pershing intersection.

N. Highland Street
Staff agree with the LPCA that Highland is an important pedestrian connection. The Highland
Street improvements will now be designed with the Phase I intersections, however funding for
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construction of this intersection is not currently available or identified. Additional funding will
be sought with the goal of implementing the improvements with the Phase I construction.

Protected Bicycle Lanes (PBLs) on Pershing Dr. between Washington Blvd. and N. Barton Street
It is understood from the letter that the LPCA does not agree with proposed PBLs and prefers the
central planted median that was presented with the initial concepts.

As was noted at the May 31 community meeting, during the staff review of the preliminary
concepts after receipt of the right-of-way and property lines survey, and turning and sight
analyses for these intersections, the conceptually proposed tree median required alteration and
then would not be as effective as previously expected. It would have to be more narrow,
providing less width for a pedestrian refuge, and the number of trees would have to be reduced to
keep clear sight lines at intersections. Additionally, the median would be shortened between
Danville and Cleveland to provide access to commercial properties on the south side of Pershing.

Around the same time, several residents proposed protected bicycle lanes (PBLs) in this area, and
a feasibility review was conducted. Based on the results, it was discovered that the protected
bicycle lanes were not only feasible, but they could also improve conditions for pedestrians as
well, which is a major staff and community goal. The PBLs enable the creation of larger refuge
islands at intersections and would prevent right-turning automobiles from mixing with the bicycle
lanes at the intersection. This means that pedestrians would cross only the bicycle lane, then have
refuge before crossing the automobile lanes, so pedestrians are less exposed to automobiles
overall.

The existing right-of-way is not wide enough to accommodate a solution that combines a
protected bicycle lane and a central planted median that would be wide enough to plant trees and
serve as an effective pedestrian refuge. The pedestrian crossing improvements are needed at
Cleveland and Barton intersections, and the protected bicycle lanes would greatly improve safety
for and encourage more cyclists in this section. However, the Oakland, Garfield, Fillmore, and
Highland intersections are higher safety priorities due to crossing volumes, so they are included
in Phase I of this project.

Installing the pilot for the protected bicycle lanes is an inexpensive way of testing this relatively
new innovation and quickly getting some improvements on Pershing between Washington Blvd.
and N. Barton. In the short term during the testing phase, the County can locate planted
containers at the intersections to draw attention to the pedestrian crossing areas and create a more
neighborhood-like character on this stretch of Pershing. Appropriate signage would be included
to communicate the lane shifts in advance, and residents would be encouraged to share their
experiences with the pilot installation during the test period. In the long term, based on the results
of the pilot and if the PBLs are built out, larger planting areas can be created at the Cleveland
intersection that will accommodate trees at the crossing points.

The County would like to pilot the PBLs on this section of Pershing to create a safer environment
for cyclists and pedestrians sooner rather than later and to field test the design. However, we have
heard community concerns regarding the testing of the PBLs from both residents and businesses.
Business owners on Pershing near Washington Blvd. have expressed concerns about the loss of
parking associated the protected bicycle lanes. So, the County has deferred the micro-seal
improvements on Pershing from Washington Blvd. east to Arlington Blvd. to the 2018 paving
season in order to address these parking concerns and to allow more time to answer community
questions about the protected bicycle lanes.
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Bus Stops
The first phase of the bus stop consolidation plan will be implemented in coordination with the
micro-seal treatment and will include the removal of the stops on Pershing at N. Edgewood
Street, N. Irving Street, and N. Oakland Street. Notices will be posted at these bus stops for a
period of time prior to their removal. Note that removal of the N. Edgewood Street bus stops will
create new on-street parking spaces on the south side of Pershing between Edgewood and
Fillmore. Removal of the Danville ART bus stops will be coordinated with the PBL pilot
installation in summer 2018.

Schedule
Pershing Drive between Washington Boulevard and N. Glebe Road will receive a micro-seal
pavement treatment this summer as scheduled and as indicated in the notices residents received
last month. The four-way stop at N. Irving Street will be installed with the micro-seal treatment.

The design phase will begin this year on the Pershing Drive Phase I intersections: N. Oakland &
Oxford, N. Highland, N. Garfield, and N. Fillmore Streets. Construction is anticipated to begin in
2019.

The pilot striping of the PBLs on Pershing Drive between Washington Blvd. and N. Barton St.
has been deferred to the 2018 paving season, as explained above.

Stakeholders will be notified if there are any significant design changes as we move through the Phase I
design process. Staff would like to offer meeting with LPCA representatives this fall in the field where
the improvements are proposed to further discuss the PBL pilot and to answer any additional questions.
Lets coordinate this meeting once past the summer travel season.

Thank you for your time and commitment to this project. Please contact me with any further questions at
703-228-4938 or mvmosley@arlingtonva.us.

Sincerely yours,

M. Valerie Mosley
Capital Projects Manager

CC: John Goldener


Aaron Schultz

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