Little Falls Parkway will become a much more dangerous road to travel by the end of this month. The Montgomery Parks department's ongoing changes to the busy public road continue without any public process or input, or legal funding mechanism. Without even providing data results to the public regarding Phase 1, the department has announced it is moving to "Phase 2" of its "pilot project" to reduce the road's capacity by 50%, even as Montgomery County has approved thousands of new housing units in communities on both ends of the parkway.
Beginning Monday, October 17, 2022, the department plans to shift all traffic to one side of the parkway between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road. That section has been operating for several months as one lane in each direction, through a crude "road diet" created by installing bollards. That diet ironically made the road more dangerous, by creating visual chaos that blocks the view of cyclists and pedestrians crossing the parkway.
Little Falls Parkway is about to get even more dangerous in "Phase 2." The road will not only have but one lane operating in each direction, but both lanes will be crammed onto the northbound side of the parkway. There will be no median or barrier. This will place drivers in position for a head-on crash. It will also completely shut down the entire parkway if there is a crash or vehicle breakdown. These are two reasons why 2-lane roads are rarely built these days.
Since the parkway is the sole major vehicular connection between downtown Bethesda and River Road, the dangerous new configuration poses a major threat to safety. Drunk drivers coming from downtown Bethesda at night will now be coming head-on into your lane, thanks to this crazy plan. Of course, placing speed bumps on the lower stretch of the parkway this summer showed that crazy is the County's M.O.
The southbound lanes of the parkway will be closed between Arlington and Dorset. Next spring, the Parks department says it will set up space for "walking and biking" on those lanes, even though there was virtually no one using the road for those purposes when it was entirely closed on weekends during the height of the pandemic. Of course, the pandemic was merely an excuse to implement the department and Montgomery County Council's semi-secret goal of closing the road entirely in the future. The Council even ordered the Planning Board to reverse its initial decision to end the road diet, despite many documented complaints of cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods.
Spring will also bring "games, events, and tables with seating" to the shuttered southbound lanes of the parkway, the construction of which was funded by taxpayers decades ago for automobile use. The Parks department has not announced whether it plans to issue refund checks to County residents for seizing half of their roadway.
The Parks website states that traffic data that "provided the basis for moving to Phase 2...will be shared with the community on the project webpage." That data is nowhere to be found on the project page as of this writing - yet we are moving to Phase 2! No County official with oversight responsibility has objected to this lack of transparency and accountability.
Who benefits from this parkway plan? The public never asked for it. It's merely for ideological, political and profit purposes. We'll see the latter come into play when the Washington Episcopal School is someday redeveloped - likely after the Purple Line is extended to Westbard.
"Games and events" in the southbound lanes will then be replaced either with buildings, or the setback zone for the new buildings, increasing the amount of buildable space for the developer - a developer who may be secretly pulling the strings for this parkway shrinkage right now. When the whole parkway is eventually closed, it may all become buildable space, since the County set the precedent of selling a piece of Little Falls Stream Valley Park to a private developer in 2011.
The cacophony of signs and bollards added to the parkway violates best practices of traffic engineering, which put limits on the number of signs and visual distractions that can be placed along a roadway. That's not surprising, as the changes are being driven by a handful of radical, "War on Cars" transportation deniers within the County Council, Planning Board and Parks department, not traffic engineers. Your elected officials don't care about you. They're implementing their agenda, not yours.
We, the public, are being put at risk, so that radicals and developers can use an expensive piece of taxpayer-funded infrastructure as their toddler tantrum sandbox. Forget the traffic engineers. Where are the adults in the room?
46 comments:
Tables for games and such? What ever happened to the backyards of the homes in surrounding neighborhoods? You could have a barbecue and game night and invite neighbors. I don't see the purpose of this.
There's been more change to Little Falls in the past year than in it's entire life. Who is the developer behind the curtain?
It's their world. We just live in it.
Who can we complain to? I use Little Falls all the time and find this really upsetting.
7:56: Complain to the District 1 and At-Large County Council members, and to the Parks department contact for the project, Kyle Lukacs: Kyle.Lukacs@montgomeryparks.org
I'm sure that there are reasonable arguments on both sides of this issue, but this post is bordering on delusional. I lost count of the many wild false statements:
“2-lane roads are rarely built these days.”
What!?! What the heck are you talking about? This is completely false.
“the pandemic was merely an excuse to implement the department and Montgomery County Council's semi-secret goal of closing the road entirely in the future.”
This is a totally made-up conspiracy theory. You provide no evidence for it.
“Drunk drivers coming from downtown Bethesda at night will now be coming head-on into your lane, thanks to this crazy plan.”
Yes, it is very dangerous if there are drunk drivers speeding out of Bethesda. But this is a problem of drunk driving, which is very dangerous whatever the road configuration. Drunk driving is very bad, but this comment is fear-mongering.
8:18: No delusions, just facts.
1. Roads with just 1 lane in each direction are rarely built these days, for the two reasons I mentioned.
2. The Planning Board actually discussed the idea of closing Little Falls Parkway entirely during the Westbard sector plan process of 2014-2016.
3, Ask any traffic engineer, highway safety expert or paramedic which is more dangerous for drunk driving collisions, a 4-lane divided highway, or a 2-lane road with no median or barrier. This isn't even a question up for debate!
Robert, I am not even crystal clear on their crazy plan here but no doubt it will be awful.
This morning, there was a motorcycle incident at Battery Lane and Wisc. The traffic on Old Geo'twn Road, as a result of bail out around that incident, was backed up all the to Greentree Road solid heading downtown Bethesda. Recently, we were named among the worst traffic in the nation and they take an entire travel lane out on Old Geo'twn Road similar to what we have seen here at Little Falls. This is absolutely backwards. We have a vote coming up folks and it may be the most impactful vote in county history. When Dems run the table here and in Annapolis, we're beyond screwed.
Dyer - you're a bit obsessed with LFP. Are you worried about the sign bandit coming back?
Our councilman ran unopposed again so presumably residents are quite satisfied with our representatives.
9:31: I think the events of the last few years show that the Montgomery County cartel is obsessed with Little Falls Parkway. Never have so many solutions in search of problems been put forward, involving so much illegal use of public funds.
9:46 - Nice Kool-aide they must all be drinking. Talk about blind ideology.
Robert,
Yes, and it'll continue. Montgomery Lane in Bethesda, approaching Wisc Ave, has had an electronic arrow (now not even illuminated) and traffic cones reducing it to two lanes for nearly 3 years. Bethesda Ave Streetery about to open but not until major bike lanes are installed. This is just crazy. Whoever coined the term "bikeshare" should be fired and voted off the island.
Bikes are fine but roads were and are designed for motor vehicles. Gonna get worse. Let's add all this to the crime crisis and banning gas leaf blowers for all. They deserve 4 more years? I don't think we can take more ineptitude.
Who asked for this and through what public process was it received and acted on?
10:09: Literally nobody asked for this, and there was no public process whatsoever.
I'm all for adding community spaces in downtown areas where there are many apartments, homes, restaurants, condos and other businesses within walking distance...but who the heck is going to go sit at a picnic table on Little Falls Parkway that's not near anything?? And how do you get there? I guess you have to walk because where would you park?? I'm guessing the same genius came up with this plan that cut off a lane on Old Georgetown Road, one of the busiest roads around! Total stupidity!
Why isn't the Washington Post all over this?
Because it’s really not a big issue, it’s a local road that runs for half a mile.
Robert-
Your observations on many things are worthwhile, but your thoughts on LFP lack balance. LFP is one lane north of Arlington and south of River, so now it’s one lane the whole way. Your claims of increased danger and visual obstruction are presented without support and just as easily dismissed. Biker and pedestrian casualties at CCT are way down with what downside? A few seconds’ auto delay… maybe?
I agree that there wasn't a clear process made public, but the rationale started after the panic closures. Some thought allowing for a permenant place for recreation would be a benefit.
Yes, many people are opposed to this project, particularly those living nearby. But, there have been discussions between the county and the neighborhoods. It just seems the county is moving ahead with plans. Not sure there is an legal obligation to do what the neighbors want.
Will the prolific Little Falls deer population approve of humans edging into their space? With picnic tables and benches even!
12:06: There is a public process that is to be followed for projects like this; it was not followed in this case. I recognize some of the early pandemic rationale, but as was shown by video recorded on the parkway, there was actually very little demand for using the closed road for other purposes. The fact that the department persists in this crusade in the face of that evidence indicates they have another, hidden agenda.
11:41: If the "casualties" are indeed down, that was already accomplished by the changes at the crossing. We don't have to go further. Nobody walks on the parkway, and there are two parallel trails in use.
There's a reason the middle section of the parkway had 4 lanes, and the ends have 2 lanes: the middle section is the most-heavily traveled.
I never had any issue with the crossing prior to the changes there. But now, it is much more difficult to see people emerging to cross with all of the bollards and signs blocking the view.
The biggest downside isn't the additional delays, but the increased danger of head-on crashes.
Twice as many highway fatalities occur on two-lane roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 75% of two-vehicle, head-on collisions take place on undivided two-lane roads.
I don't know who looks at those statistics, and says, "You know what we need here that would really improve safety? A 2-lane road!"
Between the Planning Board and this announcement, Montgomery County government is Clowntown USA right now.
There are public park spaces along the actual Trail. What is the purpose of this new "space" on the actual Parkway?
Robert, I made mention of Montgomery Lane earlier in these comments. There's a new illuminated sign announcing a new traffic pattern as of 1024. This is a really important thoroughfare that a lot of people use. Would you kindly investigate and report back? I predict a big screw up here just like you've talked about with Little falls parkway.
How come the part of LFP south of River Road has somehow escaped this scourge of drunks driving on the wrong side of the road all these decades?
This rant is a Straw Man running down an insanely slippery slope. Take a deep breath in. Hold it. Let it out. Repeat a few times.
As a community member who both relies on the CCT and Little Falls Parkway to travel to and from Downtown Bethesda, the Parkway travel times have not been drastically impacted by the road diet. And those lanes didn't become bike lanes either and weren't maintained as such, so you shouldn't have really seen them used for that purpose. The CCT on the other hand, is CROWDED. More space for pedestrian and cycling is needed through that corridor and it makes sense to use space that is already paved and appropriate for that type of travel.
Your point about the safety of 2-lane roads is a stretch. The stats you are citing are about more rural roads where the mph average is 50 mph—more like what River Road is past Potomac, NOT the 25 mph through parkland. And distracted driving from phones and car screens is just as dangerous as drunk driving.
You know what's really dangerous? Inattentive drivers hitting cyclists and pedestrians. Far more dangerous than two cars hitting each other.
And just maybe, it will be awesome. Chill out. Have some faith. Try to shake off the blinders of the car-consumed culture we are all forced to endure for a little while.
4:28: Given that no legal public process was followed for this project, or the earlier road diet, speaking out online is the only way a resident can be heard at this point.
The CCT is crowded, but few people took advantage of the closed parkway on weekends to walk or ride on it.
Drunk drivers don't often obey speed limits, so a 25 mph limit is moot in those cases.
There's certainly plenty of room to turn the current closed lanes into protected bike lanes, without putting the auto travel lanes on the same side. The fact that they aren't doing that suggests safety is not their agenda here, and I'm very comfortable calling them out on that.
4:18: First, we don't even have stats to confirm it hasn't. Second, it is not as heavily traveled as the middle stretch, as more people are trying to reach River Road or the Beltway than Massachusetts Avenue.
In case someone wants to read it from the source;
https://montgomeryparks.org/projects/directory/little-falls-2022-traffic-study/
This is insane you all realize that right? I'll say it again, these are called roads not parks and not pedestrian plazas. Roads were and are designed to carry vehicular traffic period. This is nothing more that enviro nuttiness. Anti-car or whatever you want to call it. All this stuff is being couched as safety when it really is about removing cars permanently. You can't move in Bethesda as it is. They are going to put benches, etc right in the middle of the roadway? So, move the streeteries (never meant to last this long) and construct something similar right in the middle of LFP? Yeah, that's insane. Votes matter.
Don't vote for anyone on the ballot this Fall who supports or is in charge of this madness.
We are screwed.
When is the purple line coming to Westbard? Will they build a ride on bus depot too? I plan to work there and will need transportation. Thanks!
Just adding another nearby issue. Westbard is open only for local traffic and best accessed via Massachusetts Ave. River Road and Ridgefield corner is being reworked
I guess I never knew that Developers and Radicals are hand-in-glove (aren't they natural enemies?). Next thing you know is that anarchists and globalists will try to add a protected bike lane to River Road.
The entire Montgomery Planning Board has been fired as of 10/14/22. So maybe now something can be done to reverse these horrible changes.
Wow I've rarely read something where the author's attitude and the actual content were so at odds. All these changes sound great!
You do realize the road is 2 lanes (1 in each direction) without a barrier south of River Road? I would be interested in you providing statistics on how many accidents have occurred on this portion of the road vs the 4 lane portion to back-up the claim that making the entire stretch of roadway 2 lanes is more dangerous. As it stands this article is simply your opinion, not factual in any manner.
11:52: The current 2-lane portion south of River is wider, and less traveled than the northern segment, which is why it is only 2 lanes.
It's a fact that 2-lane, undivided roads are more dangerous than divided highways. The statistics, and common sense, make this clear. To claim otherwise is simply gaslighting.
Robert I tend to read your work but this is a completely unhinged post. The road is already 2 lanes at the CCT, also 2 lanes would have the effect of slowing drivers down which is much needed on this stretch. The straw man argument about “drunk drivers” is insane. By that logic every other 2 lane arterial like fernwood or Bradley would have constant “head-on crashes” as you insinuate. Little falls park is a park first not a highway for drivers racing through Bethesda. Your idea about developers somehow being complicit in this plan borders on conspiracy and delusion. Little falls is a Montgomery parkland, I am not sure where you got such an unsubstantiated insane theory from. Overall as a driver in the area and runner on the CCT, this will be a good traffic calmer and much safer for pedestrians in the area worth an extra 20 seconds (if even) of traffic delay
8:40: I think my arguments are very solid. We know undivided, 2-lane roads are inherently more dangerous. Fernwood and Bradley are significantly wider 2-lane roads than what will be here. Parks stated that there will be no shoulders. That is going to be ridiculously tight.
Little Falls Parkway is actually a highway facility established by the federal government back during the FDR administration, if I recall correctly.
Is developer involvement an "unsubstantiated, insane" theory? Absolutely not.
Where did I "get that from?"
From Montgomery Parks selling a piece of Little Falls Stream Valley Park to a private-profit developer in 2011 for $500,000. In other words, it's already happened. It can easily happen again.
By the way, did you know Parks had to get a sign-off for that land sale from the National Capital Planning Commission? They had to, because Little Falls Parkway is a...federal highway facility.
The WES campus will surely redevelop someday. New County rules say that housing must be considered when the Bethesda Pool is renovated or replaced. There's a parking lot site on the next block up from the pool. Less parkway = more buildable space for more profit for more County officials' sugar daddies.
Suddenly, it all makes sense. I can understand the politicians who get the big bucks under the table to ram stuff through like this get annoyed when I report what their schemes are.
I dont agree eith everything but i do agree wholeheartedly about "who asked for this" no one...
Sounds like another perverted dream of our drunk Planning Board dear leader Casey Anderson. Enough treating us like lemmings who subscribe to this master state command and control social experiment. Rise up!
Until someone dies they won’t give a darn
Will the changes make the road more dangerous? Probably, but arguing over that is missing the point(s).
If we assume this change does not reduce the volume of traffic on LFP, but simply consolidates it down to one lane, now we're looking at 2 lanes of traffic that have constant congestion, but this will not be smoothly flowing traffic, as cars are constantly turning, so you'll have constant, braking, and accelerating, and likely honking all of which cause more air and noise pollution. This does not make for a pleasant environment to sit alongside in a narrow park. And it's certainly not a safe environment to have dogs or children playing.
Alternatively, if it DOES reduce the volume of traffic, where is that traffic going? It's going onto neighborhood streets. It has to. Where else can it go.
MD Parks & MDOT can produce as many graphs as they want, but this work is a lose lose for all local residents. Park space is great, but this isn't where it's needed. There's already an abundance of parks and trails in this immediate vicinity. Our politicians would know this if they ever left Rockville...
Why don't we have a discussion about just putting a traffic light on the intersection of LFP and CCT and opening all lanes? Then everyone - drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists will have to obey the rules? It is also possible to redirect CCT to the existing traffic lights. It's just ridiculous that the cars are waiting for everyone to cross LFP while there is a stop sign on the trail, which means the rules are the same as on every four way intersection. Drivers have to stop and bicyclists and pedestrians also have to stop.
We have plenty of park space in the area, and I was also wondering who is going to use sitting and tables facing the traffic? This park space will be the same as a rest area on the intersection or River Road and CCT where they built metal benches that are too hot in summer, and there is also some kind of a construction without a roof that does not provide any shade or shelter. Did the taxpayers pay for it?
Sometimes it feels like our government comes up with all these ideas solely with a purpose of justifying their existence.
This reminds me of Communist USSR Paradise planning geniuses. We are quickly catching up... VOTE THEM ALL OUT before they do any more damage !!!
Plans for LFP are insane. WHY ? Progress is a fourlane highway. Why this setback ?? It is matter of safety and convenience. It will encourage drivers to use alternate routes on neighborhood streets….where children play.
How do we know who to vote for?
I totally agree with R. Dyer about the safety issue with only 2 lanes and no divider. It feels truly destabilizing and unsafe. Besides, having driven LFP for the past 35 years to get to work inDC I have always considered it the most beautiful road in MC. Why destroy its beauty? There is no reason for it except to keep spending the taxpayers money.
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