Arlington County and the Virginia state government jointly announced that they and WMATA may allow development in the air space over I-66 at Rosslyn and East Falls Church to generate additional revenue for transportation improvements. They have issued a Request for Information, with a Request for Proposal to follow in the fall, depending on interest from developers.
The Rosslyn location is adjacent to the problematic trail crossing at Lynn St. (Mt. Vernon Trail, Custis Trail). The money from granting development rights at Rosslyn should be significant, and it will go toward transportation improvements. So why not improve transportation by making the Lynn St. crossing safer? Perhaps the County and state could add a bike/pedestrian bridge over Lynn St., connecting the Mt. Vernon Trail with the Custis Trail on the west side of Ft. Myer Drive. This would remove the grade crossing that has caused so many incidents and accidents over the years. The Lynn St. crossing is one of the most dangerous in Arlington (along with the trail crossings on Columbia Island, just south of Memorial Bridge).
I hope WABA, Bike Arlington and other parties can get involved with the process, to ensure that some of the money is devoted to improving bike infrastructure at the Lynn St. crossing. And maybe an East Falls Church development could include a bike/pedestrian bridge over Lee Highway. That would benefit cyclists and walkers traveling along the W&OD Trail. In both Rosslyn and East Falls Church, the existing paths could remain, even if bike bridges were added, to allow cyclists to turn onto side paths and streets.
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Arlington and VA considering development over I-66 at Rosslyn, E. Falls Church
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