July 12, 2012

Adapted with permission from a longer email. The writer is referring to the Rosslyn Gateway redevelopment that the county board will consider next weekend. --Editor

Steve,

I lived in the Rosslyn area for 10 years, and I can attest to the fact that crossing Lee Highway at that juncture [Lee Highway at N. Ft. Myer Drive] is hazardous, and it makes no sense to remove the pedestrian/bike overpass/bridge that gets folks safely across to the [Rosslyn Gateway] park.

The Rosslyn Gateway Park Conceptual Alternatives plan provided a number of options, at least one of which retained the pedestrian bridge.  With the added emphasis on pedestrian safety and making public spaces easily accessible to all Arlington residents (including those with disabilities) in the county's 2008 Master Transportation Plan, the decision to eliminate pedestrian bridges appears to be in direct conflict with Arlington's stated walkability and accessibility goals.

Again, I appreciate your covering this very intriguing project. Too bad no one else has picked up on it!

Suzanne Sundburg

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July 12, 2012

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Fair Enough Scott

Scott B,
I should have found your story and linked to it. I just thought Suzanne was referring to how we covered it, not just that we were the only people to cover it, which we're not. I could have cut that line, though.
--Steve Thurston

Steve Thurston 315 days ago

Pedestrian Bridge in Rosslyn

Scott, sorry I missed your 2010 article. Thanks for the link; I'd love to read it. As for the removal of pedestrian bridges, I continue to believe that their removal, particularly in this case, does not further the goal of pedestrian safety. According to a 2009 cost-benefit analysis of road safety measures—produced by the European Commission, Directorate-General Transport and Energy (see http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/specialist/knowledge/pdf/cost_benefit_analysis.pdf, p.17)—pedestrian bridges or tunnels are estimated to prevent 3.3 deaths and 10.6 serious injuries and thus were deemed "cost-effective."

Suzanne Sundburg 315 days ago

Master Transportation Plan

Elimination of those pedestrian bridges is 100% in harmony with the Master Transportation Plan:

Policy 8 (9): Reconstruct arterial roadways to manage travel speeds, expand sidewalk area, and improve the safety and accessibility of pedestrian crossings where appropriate. At‐grade crossings are preferred over grade‐separated crossings except at limited‐access highways or where extreme topography exists.

Chris Slatt 315 days ago

For the record

If you're going to print that "no one else has picked up on it," it's worth noting that we reported on this in 2010. http://www.arlnow.com/2010/11/12/proposed-designs-for-a-revamped-rosslyn-gateway-park/

Scott Brodbeck 315 days ago

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