MEM

MORANDUM
M
Date:

No
ovember17,2
2014

To:

DavidAnspache
er,AICP

Organiza
ation:

Mo
ontgomeryCo
ountyPlanninngDepartmen
nt

From:

Lau
urenKaufman
nn
BillSchultheiss,PE
Too
oleDesignGrroup

Re:

ConnecticutAve
enueCycleTrrackConceptu
ualDesign

TooleDessignGroup(TDG)hasdeve
elopedtwoco
onceptualdessignsfortheC
ConnecticutA
AvenueCycle
Trackbetw
weenManorRoadandChevyChaseLakeDrive.

StudyAre
ea
ConnecticcutAvenuew
willbeamajorrconnectionp
pointtotheffutureCapitallCrescentTraail.To
accommo
odatethisnew
wconnectionpoint,aswellastoserve thedemandforbicycleacccesstothe
ConnecticcutAvenuePu
urpleLinestaationandthenewdeveloppmentanticip
patedasaresultofthestattion,
the2013ChevyChaseLakeSectorP
Planrecommendsashareddusepathon
ntheeastsideofConnecticut
AvenuetrransitioningtoaseparatesidewalkandcycletrackinnthevicinityoftheConneecticutAvenue
PurpleLin
neStation(be
etweenChevyyChaseLakeDriveandMaanorRoad).Separatingbiccyclesand
pedestriansinthisareaaisimportantduetothessubstantialacctivitythatisanticipated.

CycleTraccks
Acycletraackisabicyclleonlyfacilityywithphysicaalseparation fromvehicullarandpedesstriantraffic.The
physicalseparationgre
eatlyincrease
esthecomforrtandsafetyfforbicyclistscomparedto
oabicyclelaneor
sharedtraavellane.Cyccletrackscanoperateinon
neortwodir ectionsandccanbeatstreeetlevel,sidew
walk
level,oraatalevelinbe
etweenthesttreetandside
ewalk.Verticaalseparationcanincludeaacurb,treeb
buffer,
vegetated
dbuffer,parkkinglane,oro
otherformofverticalbuffeer.Cycletrackksarepreferrredoversharred
usepathssatlocationswithhighped
destrianvolum
mestoensurrebicyclistandpedestriansafety.The
proposedConnecticutAvenuefaciliityisatwow
waycycletrackkontheeastsideofthero
oadwayat
sidewalkllevel,similartothoseshow
wnbelow.

olis,Indiana(ffromlefttoriight):travella
anes,vegetattedstreetbufffer,twowayycycletrack,
Indianapo
landscapeedbuffer,sideewalk

m,Netherland
ds(fromleftttoright):travvellanes,treeeandparkingstreetbuffer,
r,twowaycyccle
Rotterdam
track,treeeorfencesidewalkbuffer,sidewalk

dAlternativess
Proposed
Theconce
eptualdesignsincludeaprreferredalterrnativeanda constrainedalternativefo
orthecycletrrack
andbuffe
ers.Thedesignsdonotillustratesidewaalkwidths.

BothAlterrnatives
Thefollow
wingfeaturesapplytobothoftheprop
posedalternattives:
Atthemajori
A
ntersectionsofManorRoaadandChevyyChaseLakeDrive,whichboundthestudy
areatotheno
a
orthandsouth,thecycletrrackcrossesaattheroadwaayelevation.
Onthefarside
O
eofthemajo
orintersection
nswithManoorRoadandC
ChevyChaseLLakeDrive,th
he
cycletrackand
c
dsidewalkmergeatawayysidetoconn ecttothepro
oposedshareedusepathstto
thenorthandsouthofthestudyarea.

NewlyConstru
N
uctedWaysidee;Columbia,M
Maryland

Attheminori
A
ntersectionswiththeprop
posedredeveelopment,theedrivewaysh
havearaised
crosswalkwith
c
hthecycletrackandsidew
walkatsidew
walklevel.

RaisedCrosswalkatCycleTTrackandSideewalkCrossinngofMinorRooadway;Amssterdam,
Netherlands
N

Apedestrianc
A
crossingofCo
onnecticutAvvenueonthe southsideoffLairdPlacew
withapedesttrian
signal,subjectttoapprovalbytheMarylandStateHigghwayAdmin
nistration.Am
medianrefugee
allowsusersto
a
ocrossthesttreetintwosttages.

MedianRefug
M
geIsland;Bou
ulder,Colorad
do

Apavedconne
A
ectioninthesidewalkbuffferoneachs ideofthestaationprovidessbicycleacceessto
thestation.Th
henortherncconnectionissharedwith pedestriansaatthecrosswalk.Inthe
preferredand
p
constrainedalternatives,theseconne ctionsprovid
despaceinthe6bufferfo
or
bicycliststow
b
waittomergetoorfromth
hesidewalk.
sidewalkbuffferimprovep
Fencesinthe
F
pedestriananndbicyclesafeetyatpotentialconflictpo
oints
bychannelizin
b
ngpedestriantrafficatped
destriancrosssings,bussto
ops,andattheePurpleLine
Stationwhere
S
epedestriansmightotherw
wiseoverflow
wintothecycletrack.
Avenuewillb
Thedecisiont
T
tolocateabu
usstoponthe
eeastsideof ConnecticutA
bemadebyth
he
busoperators
b
s.Adesignforratypicalbussstopisprovvidedintheevventthatabu
usstopisdessired.

BusStopwith
B
ShelterAdjaccenttoCycleTrack;Indiannapolis,Indianna

BusStopwith
B
ShelterandC
CycleTrackCrrosswalk;Rottterdam,Nethherlands

Greencolored
G
dpavementd
differentiates thecycletra ckfromthessidewalk.

GreenColored
G
dPavement;W
Washington,DC
PreferredAlternativeO
Only
Theprefe
erredalternativetypicalsectionincludesa6foottreeestreetbuffeer(betweentthestreetand
cycletrack),a12footttwowaycycletrack,andaa6foottree sidewalkbufffer(betweenthecycletrack
walk).Thetypicalbusstopincludesa34
4x10waitinggareaandab
busshelter.
andsidew

ConstrainedAlternativveOnly
Theprefe
erredalternativetypicalsectionincludesa3footveggetatedstreeetbuffer(betw
weenthestreeet
andcycletrack),an11foottwowaaycycletrack,,anda6footttreesidewallkbuffer(bettweenthecyccle
hetypicalbussstopinclude
esa28x8waaitingarea.Reeducingthetyypicaldimenssions
trackandsidewalk).Th
ofthecyccletrackbelow
wthisalternaativewillseve
erelylimitits functionality,,thoughredu
uctionsinthee
dimension
nsatthePurp
pleLineBridgge,asdiscusse
edbelow,areeacceptable.

neBridge
PurpleLin
AsthecyccletrackpassesunderneatththePurpleLinebridge, boththeprefferredandco
onstrained
alternativveswouldreq
quirechangestothestationdesignand bicycleparkiingasdetailedonthe
PreliminaryEngineerin
ngPlansforth
hePurpleLine
eLightRail,ddatedOctoberr2013.Given
ntheanticipated
highvolum
mesofbicycliistsandpede
estrians,itisrrecommendeddthestationberedesigneed,shiftingso
ome
elementstotheeast,ttoaccommod
datetheprefe
erredcycletraackalternativve.


Intheeve
entthestationdesigndoessnotchange,,aPurpleLinneBridgeVerryConstrainedoptionwaas
developed
dforbothalternativestoaaccommodateanarrowcyycletrackand
dsidewalkwithminimal
buffers.W
Whilethisdesignwouldsevverelylimitth
hefunctiono fthecycletraackifappliedalongtheen
ntire
alignmentt,fortheshortdistanceun
nderthePurp
pleLinebridg e,itisaccepttable.However,evenwith
hthe
PurpleLin
neBridgeVeryyConstrained
doption,som
meofthebicyycleparkingattthestationwouldneedttobe
relocated.

ThePurpleLineBridge
eVeryConstraainedoption narrowstheffacilitytoa3foothardscaapestreetbufffer,
an11foo
otcycletrackaanda3footh
hardscapesid
dewalkbufferrwithafenceetopreventp
pedestrian
overflowintothecycle
etrack.

Treatmen
ntsBenefitssandLimitatiions
Asdescrib
bedabove,th
heproposedaalternativescombinenum eroustreatm
ments,eachw
withtheirown
n
benefitsaandlimitation
ns.Theattach
hedTreatmen
ntsMatrixdesscribesseveraalofthetreattmentsinclud
dedin
thisconce
eptualdesign,includingthebenefitsan
ndlimitations ofeachasth
heypertainto
othislocation
n.
Theseben
nefitsandlim
mitationsshou
uldbeconside
eredwhenevvaluatingthealternatives.

TwoWayyCycleTrackssMinimumWidths
Limitedgu
uidanceexistsintheUnite
edStatespressentlyregard ingcycletracckdesign;how
wever,related
guidanceexistsdomessticallyforshaaredusepath
hsaswellassstrongcyclettrackdesigngguidancefrom
mthe
Netherlan
ndsfoundinttheCROWMaanual.Thefollowingguidaancewasused
dtodetermin
nepreferredaand
constraine
edwidths:
Th
he2012AmeericanAssocia
ationofStateHighwayanddTransportattionOfficialsG
Guideforthee
Developmento
ofBicycleFaccilitiesrecommendsamin imum11foo
otwidebidireectionalshareed
ussepathtoallowbicycliststopassoneaanotherwhileeabicyclistisstravelinginttheopposite
direction.
heNationalA
AssociationoffCityTranspo
ortationOfficiialsUrbanBikkewayDesign
nGuide
Th
re
ecommendsaadesirablewidthof12an
ndaminimum
mwidthof8inconstrainedconditions..
Th
heDutchCRO
OWManualre
ecommendstthefollowinggwidthsbasedonanticipatedvolume
th
hresholds:
o >150b
bicyclists/hou
ur=12twow
waycycletracck
o 50150
0bicyclists/ho
our=10two
owaycycletrrack
o <50bicyclists/hour=8twowayycycletrack

Theplann
nedurbancon
ntextofthesttudyareaind
dicatesthatb icycletrafficiislikelytoexcceed150bicyyclists
perhouraaftercomplettionofthePu
urpleLineand
dCapitalCresscentTrail,fullbuildoutoftheSectorP
Plan
area,theproximitytoDowntownBethesda,theNationalInsttitutesofHeaalthandtheW
WalterReed
NationalM
MilitaryMediicalCenter,andthecomplletionofthebbikewaynetw
workinthevicinityofChevvy
ChaseLakke.Basedontthesurroundinglanduse,networkcon nections,and
dexistingand
dfutureridersship
ontheadjacenttrail,the12widthispreferred.

Assuchhighbicycletraafficisanticip
pated,the11cycletracki stheminimu
umrecommen
ndedwidthin
nthe
constraine
edalternative
esothatpasssingispossible.

Formoreinformationonthebenefitsandlimitationsofvarioouscycletrackwidths,seetheattached
d
Treatmen
ntsMatrix.

PREFERRED TYPICAL SECTION

PURPLE LINE BRIDGE CONSTRAINED OPTION

NOT TO SCALE

NOT TO SCALE (TYP)

TYPICAL BUS STOP DETAIL

NOT TO SCALE

3 SIDEWALK BUFFER
FENCE
10 SIDEWALK

6 STREET BUFFER

+- 34x10 WAITING
AREA
SHELTER

FENCE

11 CYCLE TRACK

STREET BUFFER

PURPLE LINE BRIDGE VERY CONSTRAINED OPTION

NOT TO SCALE
CYCLE TRACK
SIDEWALK BUFFER
6
TREE
STREET
BUFFER

12
TWO-WAY
CYCLE TRACK

6
TREE
SIDEWALK
BUFFER

SIDEWALK

TBD
SIDEWALK/CAFE AREA

FENCE

3 SIDEWALK BUFFER
FENCE
8 SIDEWALK

3 STREET BUFFER
11 CYCLE TRACK

PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE
PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

LE

RP

PU

ER

AL

RE

TU

WD

LAIRD PL

NE

FU

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

LIN
EB
SEE CONSTRAINED OPTIONS
FOR PURPLE LINE BRIDGE

GE

RID

PREFERRED FUTURE
SHARED USE PATH
WAYSIDE
MERGE AREA

SIGNALIZED PEDESTRIAN
CROSSING

15 MIN

CYCLE TRACK EXIT/ENTRANCE

TO PURPLE LINE STATION
SIDEWALK

CONNECTICUT AVENUE

PREFERRED FUTURE
SHARED USE PATH

RAISED CROSSING
TWO-WAY CYCLE TRACK
RAISED CROSSING

WAYSIDE
MERGE AREA

FENCE

FENCE

FUTURE PURPLE LINE

STATION PLAZA
(BRIDGE LEVEL)
PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

PROPOSED
REDEVELOPMENT

MANOR ROA

CHEVY CHASE LAKE DR

FENCE

CONCEPT: NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION

PREFERRED
ALTERNATIVE

OCTOBER 31, 2014

01

CONSTRAINED TYPICAL SECTION

PURPLE LINE BRIDGE VERY CONSTRAINED OPTION

TYPICAL BUS STOP DETAIL

NOT TO SCALE

NOT TO SCALE

NOT TO SCALE

28x8 WAITING
AREA
STREET BUFFER
3 SIDEWALK BUFFER
3 STREET BUFFER
11 CYCLE TRACK
3
11
VEGETATED TWO-WAY
STREET
CYCLE
BUFFER
TRACK

6
TREE
SIDEWALK
BUFFER

CYCLE TRACK

FENCE
FENCE

8 SIDEWALK

SIDEWALK BUFFER

TBD
SIDEWALK

SIDEWALK

CONSTRAINED ALTERNATIVE
WD

LAIRD PL

NE

LE

RP

PU

CYCLE TRACK EXIT/ENTRANCE

TO PURPLE LINE STATION

GE

RID

SEE VERY CONSTRAINED OPTION

FOR PURPLE LINE BRIDGE

CONNECTICUT AVENUE

FUTURE SHARED
USE PATH

RAISED CROSSING

EB

WAYSIDE
MERGE AREA

SIGNALIZED PEDESTRIAN
CROSSING

LIN

FUTURE SHARED
USE PATH

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

RE

ER

TU

AL

FU

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

15 MIN

SIDEWALK

TWO-WAY CYCLE TRACK

RAISED CROSSING

WAYSIDE
MERGE AREA

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

FENCE

FUTURE PURPLE LINE

STATION PLAZA
(BRIDGE LEVEL)

PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT

FENCE

PROPOSED
REDEVELOPMENT

MANOR ROA

CHEVY CHASE LAKE DR

FENCE

CONCEPT: NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRAINED
ALTERNATIVE
OCTOBER 31, 2014

02

CycleTrackDesignTreatmentsMatrix
CycleTrackWidths
Treatment

12'TwoWayCycleTrack

Description
Benefits
Limitations
PertheDutchCROWManual,12'widthissuitablewherebicycletraffic
exceeds150bicyclesperhouronatwowayfacility.
PertheNACTOUrbanBikewayDesignGuide,12'isthedesirablewidthofa Increasescomfortforbicyclists,particularlyinlocationswithhigh
twowaycycletrack.
bicycletraffic.
A12'twowaycycletrackissuitable(preferredwidth)foranewfacility
Allowscycliststopassoneanotherwhileonecyclististravelingin Requiresadditionalwidth.
withmoderatetohighanticipatedbicycletraffic.
theoppositedirection.
Maynotbefeasibleforretrofitsinveryconstrainedconditions.

11'TwoWayCycleTrack

Requiresadditionalwidth.
PertheAASHTOGuidefortheDevelopmentofBicycleFacilities,11'isthe
Maynotbefeasibleforretrofitsinveryconstrainedconditions.
recommendedminimumwidthofasharedusepathtoallowpassing.
An11'twowaycycletrackisasuitableminimum(constrainedwidth)fora Allowscycliststopassoneanotherwhileonecyclististravelingin Lesscomfortablethana12'twowaycycletrack,particularlyin
newfacilitywithlowtomoderateanticipatedbicycletraffic.
theoppositedirection.
locationswithhighbicycletraffic.

10'TwoWayCycleTrack

PertheDutchCROWManual,10'widthissuitablewherebicycletrafficis
50to150bicyclesperhouronatwowayfacility.
PertheAASHTOGuidefortheDevelopmentofBicycleFacilities,10'isthe Mostsuitableforretrofitswhereavailablewidthisminimal.
Increasescomfortforbicyclistscomparedtoan8'cycletrack,
recommendedminimumwidthofasharedusepath.
A10'twowaycycletrackissuitableforaretrofit.
particularlyinlocationswithmoderatebicycletraffic.

Maynotbefeasibleforretrofitsinveryconstrainedconditions.
Doesnotallowcycliststopassoneanotherwhileonecyclistis
travelingintheoppositedirection.
Lesscomfortablethanan11'or12'twowaycycletrack,
particularlyinlocationswithhighbicycletraffic.

8'TwoWayCycleTrack

PertheDutchCROWManual,8'widthissuitablewherebicycletrafficis
lessthan50bicyclesperhouronatwowayfacility.
PertheNACTOUrbanBikewayDesignGuide,8'istherecommended
minimumwidthofatwowaycycletrackinconstrainedconditions.
An8'twowaycycletrackisasuitableminimumforaretrofitin
constrainedconditionsorwithverylowanticipatedbicycletrafficbasedon
surroundinglanduse,alternatebicyclefacilities,andexistingandfuture
Canbeaccommodatedinveryconstrainedconditions.
bicycleconnections.
Issuitableinlocationswithverylowbicycletraffic.

Doesnotallowcycliststopassoneanotherwhileonecyclistis
travelingintheoppositedirection.
Significantlylesscomfortablethanawidercycletrack,particularly
inconditionswithmoderatetohighbicycletraffic.

11/17/2014

CycleTrackDesignTreatmentsMatrix
Buffers
Treatment

Description

Benefits
Limitations
Providesadditionalshadeforcycletrackandsidewalk.
Asasidewalkbuffer,reduceslikelihoodthatpedestrianswill
overflowontocycletrack,reducingpotentialconflictsbetween
modes.
Asasidewalkbuffer,increasespedestriancomfortwithadditional
separationfromfastermovingcyclists.
Asastreetbuffer,treescanvisuallyreducethewidthofthestreet,
whichmayslowvehicularspeeds.
Asastreetbuffer,increasesbicyclecomfortwithadditional
separationfromfastermovingmotorvehicles.
A6'widebuffercancontainornamentalstreettreesintreeboxes.Laterally, Asastreetbufferwherethereisaparkinglane,reduceslikelihood
6'TreeBuffer(Sidewalkor betweentrees,thebuffermaybevegetatedwithalowgrowingvegetation. of"dooring"incidents,whereaparkedcardooropensintothecycle
trackandconflictswithcyclists.
Requiresadditionalwidth.
Street)
Thiscanserveasastreetbufferorasidewalkbufferorboth.

A3'widebuffercancontainlowgrowingvegetation.Thiscanserveasa
streetbufferorasidewalkbufferorboth.

Asasidewalkbuffer,reduceslikelihoodthatpedestrianswill
overflowontocycletrackcomparedtoanarrowerbuffer,reducing
potentialconflictsbetweenmodes.
Asasidewalkbuffer,increasespedestriancomfortwithadditional
separationfromfastermovingcyclistscomparedtoanarrower
buffer.
Asastreetbuffer,increasesbicyclecomfortwithadditional
separationfromfastermovingmotorvehiclescomparedtoa
narrowerbuffer.
Asastreetbufferwherethereisaparkinglane,3'istheminimum
bufferwidthtoreduce"dooring"incidents.

Thecycletrackmaybesetatanintermediatelevelbetweentheroadway
andthesidewalktoimprovecomfortandtominimizepedestrianactivity
withinthecycletrackwithanarrowbuffer,oratstreetlevelwitharaised
streetbuffer.A6"bufferistheminimumwidthforacurbbufferingthe
streetorsidewalkfromthecycletrack.

Reducesthenecessarywidthofthebufferinconstrained
locations.

Provideslesscomfortablebufferthan6'treebuffer.
Reducesshade,particularlyasasidewalkbuffer.
Asastreetbuffer,doesnotvisuallyreducethewidthofthestreet
toslowvehicularspeeds.
Providesasignificantlylesscomfortablebuffer.
Reducesshade,particularlyasasidewalkbuffer.
Asasidewalkbuffer,pedestriansmaybemorelikelytooverflow
intothecycletrackifthesidewalkiscrowded,increasingconflicts
betweenbicyclistsandpedestrians.
Asastreetbuffer,doesnotvisuallyreducethewidthofthestreet
toslowvehicularspeeds.
Asastreetbufferwherethereisaparkinglane,canincrease
"dooring"incidents.

Description

Benefits

Limitations

LargerBusStop

Includestwolandingareasforfrontandrearbusdoorsandbusshelter.

Providesincreasedareafortransitriderstowaitandmaneuver
reduceslikelihoodofpedestriansoverflowingintocycletrack.
Busshelterprovidesprotectionfromwindandrain.

SmallerBusStop

Includestwolandingareasforfrontandrearbusdoors.

Requiresminimalwidth.

3'VegetatedBuffer
(SidewalkorStreet)

6"to2'Bufferwith
ElevationDifference
BusStops
Treatment

Requiresadditionalwidth.
Limitedareafortransitriderstowaitandcirculate,potentially
causingpedestrianoverflowontocycletrackandconflictsbetween
pedestriansandbicyclists.
Sizeisnotadequatetoprovidebusshelter.

11/17/2014

CycleTrackDesignTreatmentsMatrix
CrossingTreatments
Treatment

RaisedCrossing

PedestrianSignal

MedianRefugeIsland
OtherTreatments
Treatment

Description

Benefits

Limitations

Reducesvehicularspeedsatthecrossingwhichcanreduce
numberandseverityofcrashesandincreasecomfortforbicyclists
andpedestrians.
Improvesaccessibilityforpedestriansandcomfortforcyclistsby
avoidingtheneedforacurbramp.
Prioritizespedestriansandbicyclistsatminorroadwaycrossings.
Maycuemotoriststolookforbicyclistsinbothdirections.

Notfeasibleonarterialorcollectorstreetswithhighvolumesor
postedspeedsgreaterthan30mph.

Thistrafficcalmingdeviceextendsthesidewalkandcycletrackacrossthe
roadwayatsidewalklevelatanintersection.
Apedestriansignal,orhalfsignal,signalizesthemajorroadwaybutnotthe
Providesacontrolledpedestriancrossingtoreducepotential
minorroadwayatanintersectionormidblocktofacilitatepedestrian
conflictsorrisktakingbehaviorwhereatrafficsignalisnot
crossings.Bothapedestriansignalheadandbicyclesignalheadis
recommended.Thiscanbedesignedtobevisibleatlocationsadjacenttoa warrantedbasedonvehicularvolumes.
Canbecoordinatedwithnearbysignalsandonlyoperatewhen
bridgebymountingsignalataheightof7to10feetorplacementofan
actuatedREDSIGNALAHEADwarningsigninadvanceoftheapproachwitha actuatedbyapedestrianorbicyclist(passivedetectionpreferred)to
limitedview.
reduceimpactstovehiculartrafficflowonthemajorroadway.
Shortenscrossingdistanceforbicyclistsandpedestriansand
allowstheseuserstocrossintwostages.
Increasescomfortforbicyclistsandpedestrianswhencrossing
Thisraisedmedianislandprovidesarefugeforpedestriansandbicyclists
multilaneroadways.
crossingConnecticutAvenue.
Description

GreenPavement

Greenpavementhighlightsconflictzonesbetweenbicyclistsandmotorists.

Fences

Fencescanbeusedinbuffersasaverticalbarrier.

Benefits

Maycauseconfusionformotoristsonsidestreet.

Requiresadditionalwidthintheroadway.
Limitations

Increasesvisibilityofthefacilityandreinforcesprioritytocyclists.
Highlightsconflictareasbetweenbicyclistsandmotorists.
Mayrequireadditionalmaintenance.
Inconstrainedconditions,fencingcanbeaverticalobstructionto
bicyclists.Aminimumofa1footshydistanceisrequired,with2feet
Limitspedestrianoverflowontocycletrack.
clearzonerecommended.

11/17/2014