Master Transportation Plan Bicycle Element Working Group

About the Project

In April 2019 Arlington County completed an update to the Bicycle Element of its Master Transportation Plan. The County Manager appointed a working group of community members to assist County staff in outreach, draft plan review and other aspects of updating the plan.

The previous Master Transportation Plan Bicycle Element was adopted in July 2008. While many of the goals and policies of the plan remain relevant, there have been significant changes in technologies, facilities and best practices that warranted a comprehensive update of the plan. The plan update incorporated input from people with a wide range of abilities and backgrounds from civic and business organizations.

Input from the public was accepted at various times throughout the plan’s development. Time for public comment was also incorporated into all working group meetings.

Engagement opportunities

County staff and working group members have been out in the community gathering input since early 2017. Through the first two phases of community engagement, County staff were able to gather approximately 2,000 comments through online and in-person engagement activities. Community input influenced every aspect of the draft update, and involved a three-phase engagement process.

Phase I Community Engagement

Engagement during phase one began during the summer/fall 2017 and focused on gathering input for the development of the plan’s overall goals and policies. Outreach included pop-up events at various locations across the County including Metrorail stations and farmers markets.

Between Aug. 19 and Sept. 22, 2017, a survey was posted online and was available at community events. More than 1,200 completed surveys were collected. View the survey responses

In addition to the multi-question survey, participants could express preferences for various forms of bicycle facilities by voting with dot stickers. More than 500 people participated in this exercise. Style board

Phase II Community Engagement

The second phase of community engagement began in the spring of 2018. Engagement activities focused on gathering community input as to where bicycle facilities are needed, what types of facilities are most desired and how to prioritize the planned bikeway network improvements. Staff and working group members were in the community at pop-ups at farmers markets and events like Bike to Work Day. Two public workshops were held in June 2018 at Arlington Mill Community Center and the Navy League Building.

Summary of Spring 2018 Community Engagement

County staff and working group members reviewed results of the two survey exercises when developing the updated Bicycle Element plan.

Between May 24 and June 29, 2018, a second comment form was posted online and was available at community events. This form asked for feedback on where bicycle improvements are needed and what types of bike facilities residents want to see. Data analysis of feedback provided at the community events and online can be found below in the Working Group Meeting 12 materials.

Phase III Community Engagement

Phase three community engagement process kicked off in fall 2018. During this phase, engagement activities focused efforts on gathering feedback on the draft Master Transportation Plan Bicycle Element Update. County staff have made presentations of the draft plan to the following stakeholders:

Long Range Planning Committee
Bicycle Advisory Committee
Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission
Parks & Recreation Commission
Bike Element Update Working Group
Arlington Chamber of Commerce
Pop-up presentation at the December Civic Federation meeting

Through January 2019 County staff have been out in the community seeking input on the draft proposal. In addition to presenting to approximately 14 stakeholder groups and organizations, County staff organized two open houses – one on Jan. 22, 2019 at the Westover Branch Library and another held on Jan. 28, 2019 in partnership with Phoenix Bikes. The open houses were attended by approximately 120 residents. Additionally members of the community could also participate in an online feedback form which received input from over 650 respondents as well as an online webinar.

View a Summary of Public Comment on Phase III community engagement online.

Working Group

Having a working group made up of community members allowed staff to involve, and work directly with, the public throughout the process to ensure public concerns and aspirations were consistently understood, considered and reflected in the recommended plan update.

The working group was involved throughout development of the plan update. In its work with staff, the working group:

Explored the current state of bicycling in Arlington County
Reviewed analyses of best practices
Provided advice on new and updated policies and specific implementation strategies for the MTP Bicycle Element
Acted as liaisons to the broader community
Provided strategic guidance on community process
Was a forum for community engagement
Reviewed and provided comments on draft and final documents and plans developed by staff

The working group generally met on a monthly basis for approximately 10-15 months.

Working Group members

	Name	Affiliation
Chair	Mr. Chris Slatt	Transportation Commission
	Ms. Gillian Burgess	Bicycle Advisory Committee
	Mr. Steve Finn	Parks and Recreation Commission
	Ms. Erin Freas-Smith	County Council of PTAs
	Mr. Eric Goodman	Pedestrian Advisory Committee
	Mr. Mike Hanna	Energy & Environmental Conservation Commission
	Mr. William (Chips) Johnson	Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission
	Mr. Marcus Jolley	Resident-at-Large
	Ms. Lindsay Marfurt	Resident-at-Large
	Mr. James Schroll	Planning Commission
	Ms. Leean Sinapatanasakul	Resident-at-Large

Past members: Edgar Gil Rico, Yvonne Norton

Working Group meeting dates and materials

Event	Date	Time	Location
Meeting One Meeting One Agenda Meeting One Presentation MTP Bicycle Element 2008 Baseline Report Proposed Update Process - draft Working Group Charge	May 9, 2017	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting Two Meeting Two Agenda Public Engagement Comparison Working Group Proposed Public Engagement Plan State of Biking in Arlington Presentation	June 12, 2017	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Conference Room 311
Meeting Three Meeting Three Agenda Draft Framework Public Outreach Items Draft card Multiple Choice Questions Phase I Outreach Events Bike Plan Update Survey	July 27, 2017	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting Four Meeting Four Agenda Revised Draft Framework Outreach Check-In	Aug. 30, 2017	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting Five Meeting Five Agenda Revised Draft Framework Summary of September 28 meeting Bike Plan Update e-mail correspondence Survey Responses	Sept. 28, 2017	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting Six Meeting Six Agenda Revised Draft Framework	Oct. 26, 2017	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting Seven Meeting Seven Agenda Revised Draft Framework 11.20.17 Summary of November 29 meeting Survey of Performance Measures	Nov. 29, 2017	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting Eight Meeting Eight Agenda Revised Draft Framework 11.30.17 Survey of Performance Measures 1.3.18 Summary of County Board and Commission comments (Watch the County Board work session) Summary of January 3 Meeting	Jan. 3, 2018	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Conference Room 913
Meeting Nine Meeting Nine Agenda Revised Draft Framework 1.18.18 Projected Schedule Summary of January 25 Meeting Possible Available Data & Map Resources for Phase 2 of Planning Effort	Jan. 25, 2018	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting Ten Revised Draft Framework 2.21.18	March 22, 2018	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting 11 DRAFT Possible 2A Survey Questions DRAFT Possible Spring Outreach Events & Dates Meeting 11 Agenda Potential Spring Outreach Dates 4.23.18 Revised Draft Framework 5.7.18	April 25, 2018	7 to 9 pm	Courthouse Plaza, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting 12 Meeting Agenda Prioritization Menu Public comments collected at Pop-Ups and Workshops Spring 2018 Public Engagement Summary Comments Provided Through Online Form Comment Form Responses	July 9, 2018	7 to 9 pm	Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting 13 Meeting Agenda Summary of Common Recommendations from Spring Public Outreach Appendix P - Bikeway Projects in Currently Approved Plans Appendix S - Currently Funded Bikeway Improvement Projects as per Adopted FY 2019-2028 Capital Improvement Program	July 26, 2018	7 to 9 pm	Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting 14 Meeting Agenda Map combining work of three breakout groups from the last meeting Illustration of proposed bikeway network additions and improvements Appendix P - Version 2 Proposed New Trail Projects	Sept. 4, 2018	7 to 9 pm	Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting 15 Meeting Agenda Project prioritization process Map of existing bikeway network and proposed projects Appendix P - Version 3.4	Sept. 27, 2018	7 to 9 pm	Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting 16 Draft MTP Bike Element Update - Oct. 24, 2018 Meeting summary Schedule of public presentations	Oct. 25, 2018	7 to 9 pm	Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, Azalea Room (lobby level)
Meeting 17 Meeting Agenda	Feb. 20, 2019	7 to 9 pm	Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, Birch Room (lobby level)
Meeting 18 Meeting Agenda MTP Bike Element Update - March 6 Draft Summary of all responses to online survey Commission/committee comments on draft Bike Element update Audubon Society Northern Virginia comments on draft Bike Element update	March 7, 2019	7 to 9 pm	Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, Azalea Room (lobby level)