The WABA Board of Directors is issuing the following statement of its position on the use of the Georgetown Branch Rail/Trail Corridor for the proposed Inner Purple Line.
Since conceiving of the Capital Crescent Trail in 1981, WABA has consistently recognized that the trail could co-exist with transit along the Georgetown Branch segment. WABA has already worked on such co-existence for the Metropolitan Branch Trail in the District of Columbia. WABA also has consistently supported the rail-banking program under which the Georgetown Branch right-of-way was acquired from the CSX Railroad. However, WABA has not advocated for or against rail transit development in the Georgetown Branch corridor.
Now that transit for the corridor is in the offing, it is important that WABA stay engaged to make sure that the rail line is built to co-exist with bicyclists. Over the past twenty years, WABA has done a considerable amount of analysis of the planning, designing and engineering that would be required to accommodate the trail and a transit facility. We know that a joint use of trail and transit is possible. We also know that making this happen won't be easy. WABA staff have walked the line with engineers designing the purple line and have identified some of the biggest challenges, as well as some solutions (see Ride-On, September-October 2002.)
Despite the difficulties, it is essential that the Inner Purple Line, if it is to be built, be designed in a way that serves transit users, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The Georgetown Branch corridor is an important part of the "bicycle beltway" that is to become the backbone of bicycle travel in this part of the Washington region. At the same time, the Inner Purple Line has collateral benefits important to bicycling because it will help reduce air pollution and traffic while enabling the type of compact development most friendly to cyclists. And if the rail line allows bicycles on board, it will extend the distances residents can reach while using a bike.
Polarizing the issue into a "if you are not with us you are against us" kind of debate hurts bicyclists because it diverts attention from the real challenge. A public right-of-way such as the Georgetown Branch is a community asset that should be designed to serve the broadest population possible. It will take commitment and creativity to make sure that this valuable transportation corridor will serve everyone: transit users, cyclists, and pedestrians. WABA is committed to making that happen.