On Monday, Montgomery Parks announced the National Capital Planning Commission’s (NCPC) approval of the latest version of Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue in Bethesda.
After years of controversy over previous configurations, the Parkway will change from the current four lanes of traffic to two lanes with the previous median strip restored between the two intersections. Other measures will include a buffer zone to and from the Capital Crescent bike trail and nearby recreation areas.
Sumner Citizens Association representative Carl Becker finds the whole process flawed.
“The current Parkway design was implemented unannounced by Montgomery Parks as a pilot program to create a Linear Park while simultaneously eliminating the previous “road diet” trail crossing which was successfully implemented in 2019. Ironically the current supposed temporary condition will have exposed bicyclists and pedestrians for almost three years to a trail crossing which is less Vision Zero than the previous design, yet we are returning to a trail crossing which is almost identical to what we had with the previous “road diet”. Parks can’t even maintain a continuous painted center stripe on the Capital Crescent Trail.”
Miti Figueredo, director of Montgomery Parks said, “We are eager to permanently implement these important traffic calming and mobility improvements to ensure the safety of all parkway users—pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers.”
The Vision Zero improvements for the Parkway will begin in January of 2025, according to Montgomery Parks.
