Of Possible Interest

Cyclist gets ticket dismissed-

http://fabb-bikes.blogspot.com/2012/11/w-stop-sign-ticket-dismissed.html

Safety Improvements on the W&OD

From the NVRPA:

http://northernvirginiaregionalparkauthority.cmail2.com/t/ViewEmail/y/6CDAD390E101251D/53FA168802C1B50E74AF8F7A76570606

From The WashCycle:

"Here's more good news. $2.3 million has been allocated to build a W&OD Trail
overpass at Wiehle Avenue. It was funded as part of improvements identified in
the Reston Metro Access Group study, in which FABB participated several years
ago. "In the interim, $46,000 was allocated for installing a raised median and
additional signage there. This is a relatively low cost measure that would help
slow motorist at the crosswalk, especially those using the left turn lane."

http://www.thewashcycle.com/
 

New parking at Belmont Ridge Road

The parking area where the Trail crosses Belmont Ridge Road (mile marker 29.5) has been moved further north. The picture below looks northwesterly across Belmont Ridge Road showing both the old area -- now fenced off -- and the new area a few yards away.

Trail Mix--Saturday October 20

Looking for a fun, non-competitive and untimed running and biking event? The Great Skedaddle is a 3.1 mile distance run for runners, joggers, and walkers and a 5 mile and 10 mile route for bikers on the historic W&OD trail. The Great Skedaddle will start at 10:30 a.m. at Farmwell Middle School in Ashburn, VA on Saturday, October 20th. Train for an upcoming race or just enjoy a day on the trail with your family and friends. Like our page for a chance to win 3 1-Month Fitness Memberships at Equinox Fitness Club in Tyson's Corner and 3 FREE Trail Mix T-Shirts! Volunteers Needed: We would like to get a team of 10 together as course marshals, but we can also use extra hands at a water stop or with the start/finish line. More information about getting involved can be found here: http://www.dominiontrailmix.com/volunteer.htm Amy Gardner Director of Volunteers for Dominion Trail Mix Greater Washington Sports Alliance T: 917-623-2828 (Direct) E: agardner@gwsportsalliance.com

Reston station at the Duck Pond

It has been reported that the Park Authority will be awarding a contract in the next few days to jack up the Reston station, install a foundation and new floor, and repair the deteriorated lower walls and door. The contractor will need to obtain a building permit, so it may take a little while before you see activity on the site.

W&OD Closure in Leesburg

The W&OD Trail will be closed from Catoctin Circle to Wage Drive beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday for President Barak Obama’s campaign rally at the Loudoun County High School. The trail normally closes at dusk. See http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/article_7362630c-db56-11e1-975b-0019bb2963f4.html for further details.

Vienna Safety Campaign- Channel 7 Report

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/06/washington-and-old-dominion-trail-to-become-subject-of-new-campaign-77378.html

FOW&OD 10K

Date: Saturday July 28, 2012 Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Location: Vienna Notes: Friends of the W&OD 10K (6.2 miles) Saturday, July 28, 2012 " 6:30 pm On the W&OD Trail from Old Vienna Train Station to Hunter Mill Road & back The Washington area's only green race -- on a unique flat shady course

Sharing the Trails- things to consider.

A few things to consider about trail use:

http://fabb-bikes.blogspot.com/2012/07/sharing-our-trails-and-avoiding.html

Dirck

June 23 trail event

There is a race staging from the Reston Y that is adjacent to the trail on June 23rd. It's the Reston Runners annual Women's Distance Festival. As is tradition, this is a ladies-only race and you will probably see lots of male volunteers/cheerleaders/course marshals, some of whom will be in Hawaiin shirts and hula skirts. It is a 5K and, if it is the same course they've been using for years now, it uses a combination of the W&OD and other side/neighborhood trails. I believe it is an 8:30 a.m. start. It does not start on the trail; in effort to thin out traffic, the race typically starts in a parking lot and the runners are sent around a couple buildings first. Expect more pedestrian traffic in the vicinity of the Y from about 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Wiehle Avenue Serious Accident

http://fabb-bikes.blogspot.com/2012/05/crash-on-w-trail-at-wiehle-ave.html

Trail Erosion Control Work End Date?

Talked to the folks working along the trail between Vienna and Hunter Mill Road today. They expect to be finished with the bank restoration work at the end of June.

Bike to Work Day - Detour delayed

NVRPA has agreed to delay the closing of the trail between Hunter Mill Rd and Clarks Crossing Rd on Bike to Work  Day so that cyclists passing through the area before 9am will not have to detour along the unpaved sidepath. Normally the trail is closed much earlier. Thanks to NVRPA for helping Bike to Work Day cyclists. As Jeff mentioned in the previous post, there should be an increase in the number of bike commuters on that day (and hopefully in days following BTWD).

Bike to Work Day--Friday, May 18

Expect heavier than normal bike commuter travel on Friday because of the Bike To Work event. The Trail is a main commuter route and the number of cyclist will significantly increase during the hours of 6 a.m to 9 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

VDOT Public Hearing and Comment on Project Affecting W&OD Trail

The proposed project is called “Route 7 Truck-Climbing Lane and Operational Improvements” and it includes two roundabouts at the Rt.7 and Rt. 9 intersection near Clarks Gap west of Leesburg. The W&OD Trail crosses Rt. 9 at this location and Trail users would have to cross multiple lanes of the proposed roundabouts. Instead, VDOT is proposing a realignment of the Trail including underpasses to minimize trail user/automobile conflicts. Go to this link to get details and a map. The W&OD realignment is shown on the left side of the map. http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/route_7_truck-climbing_lane.asp Stop by the public hearing for this project between 6 and 8 p.m. on May 9, 2012 at Loudoun County High School, 415 Dry Mill Road, SW in Leesburg, or comments may be emailed or sent to James C. Zeller, P.E. at 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, 22030 by May 19, 2012.

There's construction on the trail to the west of Leesburg; it's being widened between the Rt 7/15 overpass and where the underground power line begins.

New Member Orientation

The next new member orientation for the Trail Patrol will be held next to the W&OD trail at the intersection of the trail and Old Reston Avenue in Reston, at 9:00 on Saturday, May 19th. Bring a folding chair or something to sit on in case the benches are occupied. The session should last about an hour. New members who have already attended an orientation session do not need to attend.

If you haven't already, you can apply to the Trail Patrol here:

http://www.wodfriends.org/trail_patrol.html

Dirck Harris
Training Coordinator
Dirck_H55@verizon.net
(703) 698-88081

Bike Fest

Reston Bike Fest will be held Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Reston Town Center. Contact the Bike Lane for more information.

Paving Complete east of Vienna but construction continues along Difficult Run

Paving between 495 and Vienna appears to be completed. However, between Vienna and Hunter Mill Road bank stabilization work continues. Trail users are being diverted to the bridle trail. Use caution, the bridle trail is gravel and some sections are soft.

Trail Resurfacing

The trail is being resurfaced between Vienna and Route 495. Some sections of the trail are marked closed but it is unclear whether you can use the adjoining gravel path or need to use the streets to get around the construction. All the workers seem to be at one end so if you approach from the opposite end there will be no one to ask for clarification. Caution is mandatory!

Construction has begun along Difficult Run

Between Vienna and Hunter Mill Road, bank stabilization work has begun just east of Difficult Run where the trail was almost washed out last year. Trail users are being diverted to the bridle trail. Use caution, the bridle trail is gravel and some sections are soft.

Trail Patrol New Member Orientation

The next new member orientation for the Trail Patrol will be held next to the W&OD at the intersection of the trail and Old Reston Avenue in Reston, at 9:30 on Saturday, April 14th. Bring a folding chair or something to sit on in case the benches are occupied. The session should last about an hour.

If you haven't already, you can apply to the Trail Patrol here:

http://www.wodfriends.org/trail_patrol.html

Dirck Harris
Training Coordinator
Dirck_H55@verizon.net
(703) 698-88081

Doggone It

From the Vienna Patch:

A bicyclist reported he struck an unleashed dog around 2 p.m. March 16 while riding along the W & OD Trail at Maple Ave. The rider fell off his bicycle and sustained minor injuries. The dog’s owner collected the animal and ran away from the crash.

http://vienna.patch.com/articles/police-log-4e79414e

March 25th 5K run

Walter Mess Plaza Dedication and 5k Run

On Sunday March 25th at 3 PM there will be a dedication to Walter Mess, Chairman Emeritus of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA). The dedication will occur at American Legion Post 130 building located at 400 North Oak Street, Falls Church, Virginia. The program features Congressman James Moran, City of Falls Church Mayou Nader Baroukh, and NVRPA Chairman Brian Knapp, among other speakers. At 4 PM the "Walter Mess 5k" will begin. For more information please check out the link below:

http://www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/wod/

Construction Starting

Sometime in the next few months a contractor will be doing bank stabilization work just east of Difficult Run where the trail was almost washed out last year. Trail users will be diverted to the bridle trail. Also, Dominion Power will be doing some major regrading of a small hill next to the trail close to Northside Park.

FOWOD Walk/Run 5K

Date: Sunday March 25, 2012
Time: 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm

The Friends of the W&OD are involved in a 5K foot race and a ceremony in honor of Walter Mess, chairman emeritus of NVPA on Sunday, March 25, 2012. Info is here: http://www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/wod/

Northern Virginia Model Railroaders

The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders will be holding their next open house on March 17th from 1 to 5 pm at the train depot at Mile Marker 11.8 in Vienna (Ayr Hill crossing). See http://www.nvmr.org for further information and details.

Pauls Ride For Life

Pauls Ride For Life is advertising its fourth occurrence on the trail for this April 28th. See http://www.PaulsRideForLife.org for further details.

W&OD Trail from Reston to Vienna

The trail was mostly clear of snow and ice this morning between Reston at Sunrise Valley Dr and Vienna. I didn't see any other cyclists but there was only one stretch just east of Sunrise Valley where there was snow and some ice. However, there may not be some patches of ice where there's been melting and re-freezing.

Trail Patrol New Member Orientation

An orientation session for new members will be held Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 10:00am at the Reston Regional Library, 11925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston, VA 20190-3311

New members should attend to learn about what the Trail patrol does, requirements for becoming a member, and other information.

Contact:

Dirck Harris
Trail Patrol Training Coordinator
Dirck_H55@verizon.net
(703) 698-8808

Trail Patrol seeks new members

Responsible adult of any physical ability who walks, runs, skates, skis, cycles, rides a wheelchair, sits astride a horse, pushes a carriage, or just strolls on the trail is welcome to become a trail patrol member. The Patrol operates under the sponsorship of the Friends of the W&OD, whose purpose is to support and enhance the Trail. The basic responsibilities of a patrol member are to:

 Promote the safe use of the Trail
 Provide information about the Trail to the public
 Assist Trail users when help is needed

Volunteers should be willing to commit a few hours each month to the Patrol's on-going effort to keep the W&OD Trail safe, to maintain and, hopefully augment the luster of this bright jewel of the region.

Volunteers may choose to serve on the trail or behind the scenes in support of the patrol -- or both. Even a small contribution of your flexibly arranged time will be helpful, and the experience should be both rewarding and fun. If you wish to help in these capacities there is a role you can perform.

For further information please contact the W&OD Trail Office at (703) 729-0596 or WOD@nvrpa.org. To apply on line go to www.wodfriends.org and go to the trail patrol tab.