DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION MUNICIPAL CENTER 

757-385-1100 BUILDING 21 
FAX (757) 385-1130 2408 COURTHOUSE DRIVE 
TDD (757) 471-5836 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23456­9016 
Date  

July 6, 2009

Mr. Jason E. Cosby, P.E.

Director, Public Works Department

RE: Inclusion of On-Road Bike Accommodations for Shore Drive Improvement Plans, Phases II, III and IV

Dear Mr. Cosby,

In the 2004 Bikeway and Trail Plan adopted by City Council, Shore Drive was identified as the top ranking
route for on-road biking (page 16). The 2004 Bike Plan also includes detailed recommendations for on-road
facilities on Shore Drive (page 32). On Shore Drive from the Norfolk boundary to Jade Street, including the
Lesner Bridge, the recommendation calls for a proposed shared use path and a wide outside lane (14’).
When Shore Drive Phase One (also known as Shore Drive Demonstration Project) was designed and
constructed only the shared use pathway was installed. There was no wide outside lane provided with
those improvements. The Bikeway and Trail Advisory Committee (BTAC) was advised by Public Works staff
at that time that there was not enough right of way to provide a wide outside lane.

We are now requesting that Public Works make a commitment to include on-road bike accommodations as
well as the shared use pathway with all future phases of Shore Drive as well as the Lesner Bridge. This
was obviously a strong citizen desire in 2004 and has only become more so since that time. Citizens will
continue to use Shore Drive as an on-road bike route whether or not accommodations are provided. It is our
collective opinion that providing on-road accommodations will improve the interaction of bikes and vehicles
on this roadway, thereby improving safety on both the road and the shared use pathway for all users.

The BTAC has reviewed the current status of the road plans for Shore Drive Phases II, III and IV. All of
these future road phases are within the area of Shore Drive that is recommended for a shared use pathway
and a wide outside lane. It is noted that Phases II, III and IV have only a 30% design completed. The
committee is advocating that the design plans be modified to include a wide outside lane for on-road bike
accommodation with each of these future phases as the design moves forward. We believe that the space
for the wide outside lane could possibly be found by reducing the proposed landscape buffer on either side
of the roadway. If the reduced landscape buffer is not feasible, then there may be other ways to
accommodate on-road biking that can be considered (i.e. paved shoulder, reducing the width of the shared
use path, sharrow markings, etc.). Our committee would like the opportunity to provide input regarding the
on-road bike accommodations throughout the entire design process of each of the future phases of Shore
Drive improvements.

Through continuing dialog with your staff on various projects, we have come to understand some of the
complexity and constraints that come with reconstructing and widening an existing roadway like Shore
Drive. We appreciate your support and willingness to share information on road construction and
Mr. Jason Cosby
Director, Public Works Department
Page 2

maintenance projects as well as traffic safety improvements. Public Works staff members William Morgan,
Mike Shahsiah, Christopher Wojtowicz and David Jarman have educated and assisted the committee
greatly.

Please feel free to contact me by email at Christopher.Felton@VBSchools.com if you have questions or

concerns about this request. You can also contact Barbara Duke with Parks and Recreation, liaison to the
Bikeways and Trails Advisory Committee, at bduke@vbgov.com or phone 385-4310. As citizens dedicated
to the cause of expanding biking/pedestrian opportunities and improving biking/pedestrian safety, we look
forward to more positive and productive rapport with your department on the Shore Drive plans and other
road improvement plans as well the update to the 2004 Bike Plan we will be working on over the next year.

Sincerely,

Christopher D. Felton, Chairman

Virginia Beach Bikeways and Trails Advisory Committee

c: Barbara M. Henley, City Council

Bill DeSteph, City Council
Eugene Crabtree, Planning Commission
Bob Barnaby, Parks and Recreation Commission
Bikeway and Trail Advisory Committee Members
Bayfront Advisory Committee Members
Cindy Curtis, Director, Parks and Recreation
Brian Solis, Parks and Recreation
Mark Schnaufer, Planning Department
John Fowler, Public Works Engineering
Mike Shahsiah, Public Works Traffic Engineering
William Morgan, Public Works Traffic Engineering
Christopher Wojtowicz, Public Works Engineering
David Jarman, Public Works Engineering
Clay Bernick, Planning Department