Proposed 22nd Street N. Greenway Project
March 24th, 2010 Posted in Neighborhood ProjectsThe Tara Leeway Heights Civic Association has recommended a project to the Neighborhood Conservation Program of Arlington County that will improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, reduce traffic noise, and enhance the green landscape of our neighborhood. The 22nd Street Greenway Project is a proposal to close a curved section of 22nd Street North to vehicular traffic and convert it to a pedestrian and cyclist pathway with enhanced landscaping. This is another step toward making Arlington a green and walkable community.
The Greenway would be contained in an area as long as a football field, but half as wide. It extends from the intersection of N. Lexington St and 22nd St N to the intersection of 22nd St. N and N. Kentucky. This is a curved connector road between the two parts of 22nd St. N divided by Lexington. Closure of this street to vehicular traffic will require approval by the Arlington County Board.
The project includes closing this one block long street, removal of the paved road, and installing a new walkway with lighting. Then the area on either side of the walkway would be landscaped to enhance natural beauty. This would include planting additional native trees and shrubs.
The civic association will be discussing the status of this project and will be accepting public comment at its April 12 meeting of the board at Westover Library.
2 Responses to “Proposed 22nd Street N. Greenway Project”
By Pat La Pella on Apr 15, 2010
I am against this project and encourage others to voice their opinions. As a driver who lives adjacent to 22nd St North, east of Lexington Street, I use 22nd Street on a daily basis to enter and leave the neighborhood. I use the curved part of 22nd street to make left turns onto Lexington and I use the straight part of 22nd Street to make right turns onto Lexington. I use the curved portion of 22nd Street for left turns because the intersection with Lexington at the straight portion of 22nd Street is a blind corner. Lexington rises to the right of that intersection and the house on the corner to the right further obstructs the view for left turns onto Lexington. This is a safety hazard and all vehicles making left turns here will be subject to the hazard if you eliminate the curved portion of 22nd Street. There are many of us who live on the side streets connecting to 22nd Street and those whose vehicles face 22nd Street normally use the street to get to Westover or to Lee Highway via Lexington Street. All of us will be affected by this change. I can’t judge whether pedestrians and cyclists would be safer with this project. It would depend upon how well behaved the cyclists are to the pedestrians and cyclists are not known for their courtesy on the road nor do they typically drive safely and legally. I also walk on the curved part of 22nd Street on a regular basis and have had no problems with safety from motorists either night or day. As for reducing road noise, all this project does is shift all traffic over to the straight portion of 22nd Street so one block of residents will gain while the other block receives additional traffic noise – perhaps at best a wash.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
By Dave Shepherd on Apr 22, 2010
Hello Ms. LaPella,
Thank you for expressing your views. We will take this opinion into account in our deliberations on the subject of the proposed greenway.
Best regards,
Dave Shepherd
President, TLH CA
2009-2010