October 19, 2012 Edgar Gonzales, Deputy Director for Transportation Policy Montgomery County Department of Transportation 101

Monroe Street Rockville, MD 20850 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL RE: Metropolitan Branch Trail Design & Completion

Deputy Director Gonzalez: First, thank you for the opportunity to come together with representatives of MCDOT, the County Executive, the Council, and MPI to work toward tangible progress on the completion of the Metropolitan Branch Trail. WABA and the bicycling community are gratified to hear that the County Executive and County Council have provided direction to move forward on the trail, and that MCDOT intends to follow the alignment as included in the master plan. We look forward to a future Met Branch Trail that will provide a safe and convenient transportation corridor for bicyclists, as well as a recreational amenity to be paired with the offerings at the historic train station to create a more visible and accessible destination for those seeking to enjoy its historic character. We know from numerous examples throughout the country that multi-use trails and historic train stations are truly complementary amenities and uses. As MPI mentions in its letter to you, several issues remain unresolved. As our interest is solely on the trails quality as a safe means of transportation and recreation for the bicycling community I do not address the issues related to Progress Place or to MPIs organizational interest in parking spaces, its operating budget request, or its real estate transactions. However, it is of critical importance that MCDOT and the County not compromise away the attributes that will make this trail succeed in an effort to appease other interests. Fundamentally, this project is within the portfolio of MDCOT because it seeks to confront a transportation need, and the design must primarily address that need. While reasonable and considered adjustments can be made in design to accommodate legitimate concerns of impacts to the historical character of the area, the ability of the project to meet its purpose cannot be compromised. In the past, there has been confusion when preliminary concepts have been treated as design options without a full vetting. I hope to avoid that here, and to avoid having MCDOTs willingness to consider the full scope of stakeholder input as a substitute for careful design protective of the trails transportation purpose and its users safety. Recognizing MPIs interest in hosting events within the rear platform and canopy area, WABA remains open to a solution that allows for detouring around that space during such events. However, that detour cannot be simply to tell bicyclists: Dismount and walk around the building. Any detour that would be sufficient to allow for closure of the trail should be designed to allow for safe through-biking.

An unimproved route requiring cyclists to push their bikes will not meaningfully address the transportation need at hand or meet minimum standards for trail design. The expectation is higher and the need greater for the design of the trailwhich would include an intended detour and the bridge. We are open to considering all options for bridge design that would continue to meet the bridges transportation and safety purpose. However, those purposes must remain paramount, and the bridge should me designed to meet or exceed the recognized, adopted, nationwide AASHTO engineering standards for trail design. Such standards exist for the purpose of ensuring that projects function safely. On the specific question of a split pair of narrow one-way bridges, such a solution is unlikely to be designed to meet the necessary standards and to adequately provide safe crossing for the anticipated volumes of bi-directional bicyclist and pedestrian travel, especially as this bridge becomes a vital eastern access point to the Silver Spring Transit Center. Again, thank you for the opportunity to join with the County and with MPI to work toward a completed Metropolitan Branch Trail. We look forward to continuing to work together throughout this process to create a safe, attractive trail connection that benefits the residents of Montgomery County both by improving mobility and by providing greater access and increased attention to MPIs work at the historic train station. Sincerely, Shane Farthing Executive Director