Guest post by Gavin Baker

Thanks to the 58 neighbors and bicyclists who responded to my survey between February 5 and 19, we now have more information about why and how to make the Fort Totten Metro station and the future Metropolitan Branch Trail more accessible to folks on bikes.

From the south: Galloway Street

Galloway Street is one of the most important access routes for bicyclists to Fort Totten Metro station and the future MBT trailhead, but also the route most in need of improvements, according to the survey results.

Galloway Street was the:

• Most preferred route if bike facilities were installed (51.8%, more than double the second-most preferred option);
• Least preferred route under current conditions (26.8%); and had the
• Lowest percentage of respondents who would be comfortable biking the route without new facilities (15.1%).

Several respondents identified the heavy vehicular traffic, the climb, or the combination of both as challenges with biking on Galloway:

• “I live at the Modern so I bike the hill up Galloway frequently. It is packed with cars especially during the morning rush hour so getting up the hill and under the tracks is very tricky on a bike. Usually I either have to wait in line with the cars, or resort to the sidewalk. It’s not fun.”
• “I bike from my home on Hamilton St NE to Ft Totten metro station. That hill is really tough, and is often a deterrent for me to bike.”
• “I bike it now and it sucks. I’ll still keep biking it, but it feels very unsafe at rush hour with buses coming up Galloway, delivery trucks idling outside the Modern, and commuter cars in a rush to drop people off.”

My recommendation: Separate bike facilities should be installed on Galloway. While only 15.1% of respondents would be comfortable biking the route today, 71.7% would be comfortable if bike lanes were installed.

While the survey did not ask about an off-street trail along Galloway, it would likely serve the same need as an on-street bike lane, and probably even better. The District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) 2014 moveDC plan includes a future trail along Galloway St. from the Fort Totten trailhead to South Dakota Avenue. Reportedly, DDOT is looking at options to make that happen. A trail alongside Galloway would not only significantly ease access to the Metro and MBT, it would also link to the future trail between Galloway and Gallatin Streets and the planned MBT segment continuing east to the planned Prince George’s County Connector.

From the north: Kennedy Street (or…)

Access routes north of Galloway Street are also important, according to the survey results, with a slight preference for Kennedy Street over Ingraham Street.

Kennedy Street was the:

• Most preferred route under current conditions (39.3%); had the
• Highest percentage of respondents who would be comfortable biking the route without new facilities (34%); and would be the
• Second-most preferred route if bike facilities were installed (25%), after Galloway Street

Ingraham Street was slightly behind Kennedy Street on all counts, with responses rating it in between Galloway and Kennedy.

Some respondents commented that the Kennedy route is too roundabout or too far out of their way, especially those coming from the south (Galloway to Kennedy is an additional quarter-mile up South Dakota Avenue). However, a few respondents indicated that they use Kennedy currently and prefer that route:

• “I’ve ridden Kennedy and 3rd to reach Fort Totten from Lamond-Riggs, and much prefer it to Galloway, even as is.”
• “This is the way I usually now access the Metro station on my bike. The incline is more spread out with a break between Kennedy and Galloway. The same issue applies, though, with traffic back ups at underpass and traffic circle.”
• “This is the way that I currently ride from my house (near Riggs and Eastern) to get across to NW. The ramp would be important, also the connection to the trail from the dead in at Kennedy St would need to be improved, it is always a big puddle and is getting worse. Also some lights on the trail would be a big safety improvement.”

My recommendation: Bicyclists should consider both Kennedy and Ingraham streets as potential options to access the Metro and MBT. Minor improvements could improve access, most importantly installing a curb ramp where 3rd Street ends and the asphalt trail begins. Signage could also be helpful. At the asphalt trail, drainage and security (lighting and visibility) should be addressed. Street adjustments to better accommodate bicyclists should be considered (such as a bike lane on Kennedy, traffic calming, and reduced speed limits).

Farther north

While this survey focused on the area between Kennedy and Galloway, access from farther north will also be an issue. Riggs Road, South Dakota Avenue, and the WMATA/CSX railroad tracks form considerable barriers for bicyclists.

DDOT’s 2014 moveDC plan includes protected bike lanes along Riggs Road and South Dakota Avenue, and in fact, one respondent indicated their preferred route with new bike facilities would be Riggs Road. But I don’t know if any progress has been made on those proposals. Additionally, the moveDC plan includes a new railroad crossing near Longfellow Street NE, which would connect to a future segment of the MBT. Those are improvements that would benefit our neighbors farther north in Lamond-Riggs and Manor Park, but their path forward is unclear.