Bike Lanes Approved For Gap In Mount Vernon Trail In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A conversion of a roadway lane to bike lanes to fill a missing gap of the Mount Vernon Trail in Alexandria was approved Monday.

The Alexandria Traffic and Parking Board approved the measure to allow the city to remove one of two vehicular lanes on East Abingdon Drive between part of Slaters Lane and Basford Drive. That lane would be converted to a buffered two-way bike track connecting to the Mount Vernon Trail.

The approval will give bicyclists a protected space on East Abingdon Drive where a gap between Mount Vernon Trail segments exists.

"This also is very consistent with our Vision Zero policy and plans to promote safety and reduce serious injury crashes," said Chris Ziemann, transportation division planning chief for the city.

East Abingdon Drive is a one-way street connecting to the George Washington Memorial Parkway, a key route for commuters heading to and from DC. The vehicular lane being removed on East Abingdon Drive between Slaters Lane and Basford Drive is an HOV lane during the peak a.m. travel time.

Currently, the Mount Vernon Trail splits on the George Washington Memorial Parkway where East Abingdon Drive begins. One way runs along the waterfront. The other way runs along part of East Abingdon Drive, but the trail has a gap between Slaters Lane and the train tracks. On the part where the trail doesn't exist, bicyclists must either ride in the street or the narrow sidewalk on East Abingdon Drive.

The new bike track will end at the access points to the existing Mount Vernon Trail. South of the new bike track, East Abingdon Drive at Bashford Lane will have the right lane converted to a right-turn-only lane. In the area of East Abingdon Drive next to residential parking spaces, roadway access from the adjacent residential parking spaces would remain.

Before the board approved the change, residents on both sides testified about safety concerns.

"I'm concerned if you take one of the lanes away, the people who are trying to pull in and out and the delivery people and the bus are going to cause more congestion and the people trying to get around, people trying to cross the street, a lot of dog walkers there," one unidentified resident testified. "I'm not sure removing that lane is a safe thing."

On the other side, bicyclist advocates believe the proposal will improve bicyclist safety.

Kevin O’Brien, an organizer with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association who uses the Mount Vernon Trail, said it is a "complicated dance" to navigate the missing trail link.

"This is a major noted gap, and [we're] just really excited that the city is going to address this in a way that hopefully minimizes impacts for the community, the surrounding community," said O'Brien. "But I can tell you Any trail user who has gone down this is definitely going to appreciate fixing this little hiccup."

The timing of the change is estimated between fall 2023 and spring 2024, but timing is dependent on project coordination and permitting with the National Park Service. The city has a web page for the project.