VDOT Route 1 Multimodal Improvements.

[Anonymous]

I just saw VDOT appears to be moving ahead with the at grade “multimodal” improvements along Route 1 in Crystal City. This appears to be despite protests from area residents about the safety concerns involved. I realize this is probably being pushed primarily by developers, but is there anyone out there in favor of this project? I just don’t see how it improvements the walking or biking situation on Route 1. The very fact that they seem to be considered a raised pedestrian bridge in the future in and of itself tells me this isn’t being done to benefit cyclists or pedestrians.

https://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/route_1_multimodal_improvements_study.asp?fbclid=IwAR1oxHTX3YXRti3nOjvGmfyT6xYkQMjN-XB3ms3enhdIRa4ypnawTOHCkkw_aem_Ae4COOlyzpiXM_hfpCOVNMcA82f7KGtrDBCda6bOtDMj5uRk43BvxZ-OlkaKub1WLe6_-zLNAZxiU7OGGHylqy4lKb5R7oWRQ21MXTQ7WHVy7moacJC1deFgwo9AoFd0knM

[Anonymous]

Which parts of the project concern you? I’m not very familiar with it but looked at the presentation and the improvements are typical for projects around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which parts of the project concern you? I’m not very familiar with it but looked at the presentation and the improvements are typical for projects around here.

Spending astronomical amounts to bring the overpasses down to street level when very few local residents support that and believe it is less safe. I mean think about it; if you are gonna from pentagon city to crystal city on a bike or car, would you rather pass under Rte 1 or through Rte 1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which parts of the project concern you? I’m not very familiar with it but looked at the presentation and the improvements are typical for projects around here.

Spending astronomical amounts to bring the overpasses down to street level when very few local residents support that and believe it is less safe. I mean think about it; if you are gonna from pentagon city to crystal city on a bike or car, would you rather pass under Rte 1 or through Rte 1?

Makes sense that people don’t want to cross route 1 at grade now, but isn’t that the reason for the improvements? Slow traffic, create safer crossings, and connect the neighborhoods. I personally prefer at grade to tunnels under the road but don’t walk around crystal city much. Which residents are opposing this? My impression is that most people don’t currently cross route 1 on foot often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which parts of the project concern you? I’m not very familiar with it but looked at the presentation and the improvements are typical for projects around here.

Spending astronomical amounts to bring the overpasses down to street level when very few local residents support that and believe it is less safe. I mean think about it; if you are gonna from pentagon city to crystal city on a bike or car, would you rather pass under Rte 1 or through Rte 1?

Makes sense that people don’t want to cross route 1 at grade now, but isn’t that the reason for the improvements? Slow traffic, create safer crossings, and connect the neighborhoods. I personally prefer at grade to tunnels under the road but don’t walk around crystal city much. Which residents are opposing this? My impression is that most people don’t currently cross route 1 on foot often.

Well yes, they don't cross over it because they can cross under it.

The local residents are opposing it. Arlington surveyed them and there were a high number of safety concerns reported. So many that VDOT is looking to add a pedestrian bridge over route 1 in the future. So basically they are spending millions to bring the road down to grade for developers, and then spending additional millions to potentially create a pedestrian bridge. This is a developer project that is being marketed as a multimodal safety project. It is much safer to go back and forth to two shopping districts in both areas by going under Route 1.