Stray dog near Hunter Mill Road

Keep your eyes out for a stray chocolate lab along the trail near Hunter Mill Road.  I saw him this morning around 8:30.  He's pretty old, with a grey muzzle, and seems very gentle, but wouldn't let me close enough to grab his collar and check his tags.  He ended up disappearing into the woods on the north side of the trail, near the backs of some houses, so hopefully he was on his way home.  I just want folks to keep an eye out just in case he's still lost.

Trail event Wednesday, April 27

The Reston Bicycle Club has gifted Fairfax County with a new automatic bicycle and pedestrian traffic counter for the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in REston

Officials from Fairfax County and the Reston Bicycle Club will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 27. The event will be held near the intersection of the W&OD and Old Reston Avenue at 10 a.m.

The counter, valued at $7,000, was purchased to help collect information about pedestrian and bicyclist traffic, Fairfax County officials said.

“The counter provides an opportunity to better document the usage of these modes of transportation, and will support the county’s planning and investment in future bicycle and pedestrian improvements,” said Adam Lind, Fairfax County Bicycle Program Manager.

“We really appreciate this generous donation and look forward to monitoring the growth in bicycle and pedestrian trips for years to come.”

The county is in the process of planning pedestrian and bike improvements for Reston as it morphs into a transit-oriented community. One of those improvements is to take the W&OD over the congested intersection at Wiehle Avenue via a bridge. The plan has been approved but will not open for about five years.

Reston will also welcome Fairfax County’s first bikeshare system later this year.

Tree Cutting along trail

From Paul Gilbert, Executive Director NVRPA

"Dominion Power is doing some cutting of vegetation along the W&OD in the area between Vienna and Reston. Some tail users have complained and some reporters have been asking some questions about this.

 

"This happens every few years. Dominion has the right to cut trees that are growing near their transmission lines. In 2005 we entered into a Vegetative Management Plan with Dominion related to the W&OD. The agreement is voluntary, but Dominion has honored it. Some of the main provisions is that we cannot plant trees that are expected to grow more than 15 feet tall directly under the lines, and they will consult with us before cutting. We are sharing the management plan with the report[er] who has asked some questions. I wanted to let you all know, since this is something you may hear about?"

 

Stoddard Offers W&OD Trail ‘Green Street’ Master Plan

See Falls Church News Press Article at http://fcnp.com/2015/12/29/stoddard-offers-wod-trail-green-street-master-plan/

From the archives: When the W&OD Trail was going to connect to the Appalachian Trail

The following appeared in the washcycle.com   It seems there were plans to extend the trail beyond Purcellville to Bluemont.  They were shelved and revived several times and are still on the books. 

From the archives: When the W&OD Trail was going to connect to the Appalachian Trail

The W&OD railroad used to run from Alexandria to Bluemont, Virginia; but the trail only runs from the Arlington/Alexandria boundary to Purcellville. At one point in the late 80's-early 90's it looked like the trail might extend along the remaining west end of the ROW all the way to Bluemont and the Appalachian Trail.

When the trail was "completed" in 1988, the park authority stated that they had "plans to extend the W&OD seven miles farther to Bluemont and the Appalachian Trail." The section from Purcellville to Bluemont was admittedly a bit different from the rest of the railroad, as it had been abandoned in 1938, 30 years before the rest of the line was. Nonetheless, in 1988 they stated that

The park authority plans to extend its W&OD Trail to Bluemont and the Appalachian Trail, which follows the border between Loudoun County and Clarke County.

Two years later, the Park Authority stated that they hoped to have the seven mile extension completed in 3 years.

Park Authority Executive Director Darrell Winslow said money may not be the biggest hurdle in making the plan a reality. Rather, finding land for the skinny extension -- an eight-foot-wide paved path and room on either side for drainage -- could be the toughest challenge, he said.

The Park Authority began trying to complete the W&OD trail by asking the Loudoun government to amend its Rural Land Management Plan to indicate that the extension might be built from Purcellville to the Clarke County line, west of Bluemont.

That request received unanimous approval from the Planning Commission on Oct. 24 and has been forwarded to the county Board of Supervisors. In addition, the Park Authority must submit detailed plans and receive a commission permit -- similar to a permit issued to a public utility -- along with any other permits required by the Loudoun zoning administrator, county officials said.

Park Authority officials first must decide where they want the trail extension to go. The linear park follows the right of way of the defunct Washington & Old Dominion Railway between Shirlington, near Interstate 395, and Purcellville. But the portion of the train line's old path that is west of Purcellville is privately owned and probably unavailable for the trail extension, park officials said.

The agency said it may try to find a new path through the rolling hills or, more likely, it may try to persuade the Virginia Department of Transportation to let it use part of the right of way along Route 7, which connects Purcellville and Bluemont.

The Park Authority has budgeted about $168,000 to acquire land and has pegged roughly $300,000 to build the extension over several years.

The agency hopes to extend the paved trail from its current terminus in the center of Purcellville through the village of Bluemont and to the top of the Blue Ridge at Route 601. Winslow said a short unpaved footpath would extend from that point to the Appalachian Trail

It's not clear what happened but obviously the W&OD was never extended. Still, there is reason to keep hope alive. The extension made it into Loudoun County's 2003 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and Virginia's 2007 Outoors Plan was mentioned as recently as 2012 by the County's Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Board .

Trail Event, Sunday, August 23

Sunday August 23rd Reston Century Event from 6:30 AM to 5 PM. Approximately 1200 riders start at Reston Town Center. The portion of the W&OD used for this event is from Grace Street in Herndon to Ashburn Road (westbound leg) and returning from Leesburg to Reston Town Center via trail in its entirety (eastbound leg). 

The W&OD trail was noted as 1 of 7 great urban escapes by National Geographic.  See

http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/15/rails-to-trails-america-7-urban-escapes/

Trail Event- Sunday, June 28th

Woman's Run

Sunday, 28 June 2015

08:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Reston-Herndon

Notes

Womens’ Run will be using the trail between the Reston Y and Herndon.  There is a possibility of up to 400 participants

Trail Events July 4 & 5

1. On July 4th, PVTC will have a foot race in Vienna.  Expect people on trail, Vienna heading west towards Hunter Mill Road and back between approx 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. Caboose area is start/finish/gather point.

2. There will be a brief (approx 1 hour, approx 1 mile) trail closure on the morning of July 5 in Reston because of the World Police Games half marathon.  Event starting 8 a.m. No detour!

Ashburn Bicyclist Injured In W&OD Trail Crash Dies

"A bicyclist who was seriously injured while riding on the WO&D Trail last week died Monday, June 15. William S. Dudgeon, of Ashburn, was 55.  According to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, he was traveling on his bike at about 4:30 p.m. on June 9 when he attempted to pass a juvenile on the W&OD Trail just west of Ashburn Village Boulevard.  At that time the juvenile attempted to take a side path, and the juvenile’s bike clipped Dudgeon's bike, causing him to fall. Dudgeon was wearing a helmet.  He was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he died Monday. The younger bicyclist was not injured."

CASES - ATHLETIC, SPORTS & MEDICINE

WOMAN SENTENCED FOR DRIVING CAR ON W&OD TRAIL

SEPTEMBER 29, 2014 LAW SHOP

"Last year, we wrote about a woman who drove her car on the W&OD trail, hitting a cyclist and sending other trail users diving into the bushes for safety.  Click here to read the full post.

At the time the driver was charged with driving while intoxicated and felony hit-and-run.

We have just learned that the driver reached a deal with Fairfax County prosecutors and avoided the felony charge.  She pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and hit-and-run, and was sentenced to six months in prison.

Disappointing Outcome

Is six months in prison and a misdemeanor charge really the appropriate punishment for a woman who drives her car at speeds close to 50 mph for close to 5 miles on a trail designed for and used by bikers, walkers, strollers, rollerbladers, etc.?

The driver, who was drinking before getting behind the wheel, endangered the lives of many trail users, and raised fear in the local community about the safety of the trail.

According to Herndon injury lawyer Doug Landau, the outcome is disappointing.  Not only does the woman in this particular case get off somewhat easily with a misdemeanor charge, the message is sent that driving while intoxicated and causing injury is not serious enough to warrant felony charges."

Trail Event-Sunday, June 7th

The American Diabetes Association's Northern Virginia Tour de Cure (www.diabetes.org/novatourdecure) will be held on June 7th beginning and ending at the Reston Town Center.  The charity ride hopes to once again have 1200 participants take part.

The segmented portions of our routes that are on the W&OD trail between Vienna and Purcellville will be especially busy.  Times range from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Trail Event on Friday, May 15th.

On Friday May 15, 2015 Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association invite you to join over 10,000 area commuters for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun, and healthy way to get to work. Attend one of 79 pit stops throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to receive refreshments, and be entered into a raffle for  bicycles being given away.

Trail Event 0n Saturday, April 18th

The Ride to Provide will be taking place on the trail from 9:00am to 1:00pm on 4/18/15. Start is at Reston Town Center and riders can do a 10, 20, 35, or 53 mile ride. Riders head west. Start times are staggered for different ride lengths.

Trail Event--Sunday, April 25

Paul’s Ride for Life – a fun bike ride for everyone!

WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 2015

7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.   Registration open (packet and bib pick-up, onsite registration)
7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.   Ride (rolling start)
11:30 a.m.   Closing ceremony & raffle drawing

Rain or shine!

Download the RIDE DAY FACT SHEET and get all the information you need for the ride!

WHERE: Registration, ride start and finish, closing ceremony, and raffle drawing are all at the Reston Town Centeron Democracy Street between Library and Explorer in front of The Bike Lane (bike shop) in Reston, VA. Download a pdf map of the Reston Town Center for location and parking garages.

ROUTE: Start at Reston Town Center on Democracy Street. All rides are out and back heading west along theWashington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail. The route is paved asphalt. The ride includes 10, 20, and 1/2 Century +2 mile options. Volunteers will be at several rest stops along the way to cheer you on and nourish you with goodies. We’ve even heard a rumor that cookies might be at every rest stop this year!

Trail Event--Sunday March 29th

^{7th annual} Walter L. Mess
W&OD TRAIL 5K
Sunday, March 29, 2015 - 4:00 pm
On Washington & Old Dominion Trail from Oak Street to Shreve Road to Little Falls Street and back Start & finish at American Legion Post 130, 400 North Oak Street, Falls Church, Virginia. In memory of Walter L. Mess, chairman emeritus of Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority 
www.SafetyAndHealthFoundation.org/wod

Trail to be cleared of Snow this winter

According to the FALLS CHURCH NEWS PRESS "The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority will clear the Washington & Old Dominion Trail of snow this winter, says Chris Pauley, the director of park operations. The trail, owned and operated by the park authority, runs through Falls Church and is widely used by bikers, runners, walkers, skaters, and dog walkers."  See complete story at

http://fcnp.com/2014/12/23/in-case-of-snow-45-mile-wod-trail-will-be-cleared-f/

Trail Event November 27

The Giving Thanks 5K is on Thanksgiving morning. Expect more trail traffic in Vienna trail area (west of Ayr Hill) between about 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Most of the course is on the trail, although it starts on hilly neighborhood streets.  Race supports wounded warriors. 

Trail improvements at Vienna Community Center

As reported in the November 20, 2014 Sun Gazette, ...
"Trail Upgrades:  Salgado [Vienna Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Salgado] also updated the Council regarding plans to shift the location of the Washington & Old Dominion Regional Trail near the community center.  The  trail will be widened to 18 feet near the center and will have a 1.5-foot-wide gravel shoulder in some areas.  Officials hope to add an S-curve to the trail shortly before it intersects with busy Park Street an add 6-inch-tall 'teardrop' islands in the middle of the trail on either side of the street."

Connector Trail to open Oct 25

The Meadow Lark Garden Connector Trail is scheduled to open the weekend of October 25. This connector trail is near mile marker 14.5; between Vienna and Hunter Mill Road. 1.5 miles long, the Meadowlark Connector Trail provides a link to the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. This trail section is paved. Getting to the Gardens from the connector requires using a short road ssection. The 95-acre Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, open daily year-round. Walking paths wind around ponds, native trees, wildflowers, a butterfly garden, a Korean cultural garden, and many other visual sites.