City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 18, 2022
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Endorse the Completion of the Capital Trails Coalition Network. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Should the City Council endorse the completion of the Capital Trails Coalition Network to provide equitable multi-use trails throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region?
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve the attached resolution (Attachment 1) to endorse the completion of the Capital Trails Coalition Network.
BACKGROUND: The Capital Trails Coalition (CTC) is a collaboration of public and private organizations, agencies, and citizen volunteers working to advance the completion of an interconnected network of multi-use trails for the Washington, D.C.,
metropolitan area. The CTC convenes and coordinates among the public and private stakeholders who are critical to accomplishing the vision of an interconnected network. The geographic footprint of the network is the District of Columbia, City of Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax counties in Virginia, and Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in Maryland.
Several sources show support for expanded trail access. A recent “Voices of the Region” survey conducted by MWCOG, which asked over 2,400 Washington Region residents about their travel before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, show that residents’ travel patterns have changed as a result of the pandemic and that they would like to continue to walk (53%) and bike (26%) more and drive less post-pandemic. Additionally, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has found that 65% of over 800 participants surveyed in the Washington Region consider trails and open space to be important to them. Nationally, according to the 2020 Menino Survey of Mayors, three out of four mayors expect residents to spend more time visiting parks and greenspace than they did before the pandemic, and roughly two-thirds expect residents will spend more time biking or walking.
DISCUSSION: The CTC seeks to create a world-class network of multi-use trails that are equitably distributed throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region. The regional trails network will transform public life by providing healthy, low-stress access to open space and reliable transportation for people of all ages and abilities.
With input from affected jurisdictions, the CTC has established a number of priority projects that contribute to a regionally connected trail network. Priority projects in Alexandria include Backlick Run Trail from Armistead Boothe Park to the City boundary and the North Beauregard Street Multi-Use Trail. Both projects are part of the City’s adopted Alexandria Mobility Plan (AMP). The City has been awarded nearly $3.8 million in grant funding for the Beauregard Trail, and it is currently in design.
In 2021, the District of Columbia, Arlington County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County endorsed the Capital Trails Coalition Network and committed to completing the regional trail network.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City Council has already endorsed these projects through the adoption of the AMP. There is no fiscal impact to adopting this resolution to reaffirm the City’s commitment and support to improving the regional trail network.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Priority Trail Projects
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Joanna Anderson, City Attorney
Christina Zechman-Brown, Deputy City Attorney
Yon Lambert, Director, T&ES
Hillary Orr, Deputy Director, T&ES, Transportation
Christopher Ziemann, Division Chief, T&ES, Transportation Planning
James Spengler, Director, RPCA
Jack Browand, Acting Deputy Director, RPCA