Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project

Division: Park Development Division

Little Falls Parkway Open Parkways Little Falls Parkway with cars

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project is underway! Currently, the open parkway is available 24/7. This spring, we will be launching a new linear park that will feature entertainment, food trucks, games, programs, and events. The timeline looks like this:

Fall 2022: we created the space for the park by reconfiguring the lanes of Little Falls Parkway.
November 2022: the Parkway is open to pedestrians and bicycle traffic 24/7.
Summer 2023: we will add amenities and host events in the reclaimed park space created by the lane reconfiguration.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Early summer 2023, once people have had a chance to use and experience the new park space, they can share their feedback with the parks department on what they like and what changes they want to see so that we can make the park the best it can be for everyone to enjoy. We will launch an open town hall topic in June for people to provide feedback.

This new park is a unique opportunity allowing us to maintain two travel lanes on Little Falls Parkway for vehicles AND develop a vibrant new park with much-needed recreational space, adjacent to the Capital Crescent Trail.

Linear parks are booming in cities all over the world where open space is limited and people crave urban greenery and recreation experiences. Consider New York City’s Highline, Atlanta’s Beltline, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston. These are just a few examples of linear parks that have transformed cities.

Project Description:

The purpose of this pilot project is to study the potential of permanently reducing Little Falls Parkway from four lanes to two (one in each direction) between River Road and Arlington Road (1.3 miles) with the goal of creating a linear park on the two lanes closed to vehicles. This portion of the parkway was previously part of Montgomery Parks’ Open Parkways program which was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide more outdoor space for recreation and exercise.

The pilot project aims to eliminate unintended traffic consequences in the surrounding neighborhoods while providing the long–term benefits of the popular Open Parkways program. The Open Parkways program for Little Falls Parkway was suspended on June 18, 2022, while Montgomery Parks and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) implemented phase 1 of the pilot project to conduct traffic studies. During phase 1, Little Falls Parkway was narrowed from two lanes in each direction separated by a median to one lane in each direction between Dorsett Avenue and Arlington Road. The initial traffic studies concluded in the fall of 2022 and confirmed that Little Falls Parkway functions well with two lanes. Montgomery Parks is now proceeding into Phase 2 of the pilot project.

During phase 2, two vehicular traffic lanes were shifted to the east side of Little Falls Parkway with the remaining two lanes on the west side available for walking and bicycling. In Spring 2023, the Parks Department will activate the west side of Little Falls Parkway with seating, games, and other social and recreational amenities.

Montgomery Parks and MCDOT will continue to monitor and analyze vehicular traffic flow impacts throughout the ongoing pilot project. If the pilot project continues to be successful, the excess space from the narrowed road will be used to create a new permanent linear park with recreational amenities, which will be accessible to park users seven days a week. Since April 2020, more than 300,000 park users have taken advantage of this additional recreational space.

Status/Project Update:

The pilot project entered phase 2 on October 10, 2022. Details are provided in a press release about phase 2. Phase 1 of the pilot project concluded in September 2022 after Montgomery Parks staff installed flex posts, signage and pavement markings on Little Falls Parkway between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road. A press release about phase 1 of the pilot project was issued on June 10, 2022.

Calendar and Meeting Notes:

Date/Time	Phase	Details
June 18, 2022	Phase 1: Lane Configuration Begins	A single-lane road diet was implemented on Little Falls Parkway between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road
Fall 2022	Phase 2: Lane Configuration Begins	All vehicular traffic will be shifted to the east side of Little Falls Parkway between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road with bicycle and pedestrian use on the west side.
Spring 2023	Pilot Linear Park Activation	Activation of the west side of Little Falls Parkway to include seating, games, and other placemaking elements.
Summer 2023	Pilot Park Evaluation & Public Engagement	Montgomery Parks will evaluate the success of the pilot park and provide opportunities for public input.

Montgomery Parks Staff Contact:
Kyle Lukacs
Kyle.Lukacs@montgomeryparks.org

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Little Falls Parkway 2022 Pilot Traffic Study Frequently Asked Questions

What is happening at Little Falls Parkway?

Montgomery Parks and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) are continuing the pilot project to study the potential to modify Little Falls Parkway to a two-lane road, like other park roads. The road will be open to car traffic 24/7, with no more weekend-only closures. The road will retain its current two lanes (one each way) from Arlington Road to Dorsett Avenue (the pilot area).
How is this different than the current layout?

Both travel lanes will be shifted to the east side of the median, and the travel lanes will be separated by a double yellow line, much like Beach Drive or Sligo Creek Parkway. The former southbound lanes (west side) will be closed to motor vehicle traffic and will become an activated space for recreation.
When will this change occur?

The realignment of the road will begin on or around October 17, 2022. The former southbound lanes on the west side will be opened to bicyclists and pedestrians several weeks later, once the reconfiguration is complete.
Will the parkway still be closed on weekends?

The entire length of Little Falls Parkway will be open to car traffic all day every day throughout the pilot project period. However, it will be in a two-lane configuration within the study area between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue.
How long will this last?

Phase 2 of the pilot project will run at least through summer 2023, at which time, the public will have an opportunity to provide input on the permanent park. The specific end date for the pilot project has not yet been determined.
Which part of the parkway will be affected?

The pilot project area of the parkway remains the portion between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road, approximately 2,000 feet end-to-end. The portion of the parkway between River Road and Dorset Avenue will remain unchanged.
Why is this being done?

Phase 1 of the pilot demonstrated that Little Falls Parkway can function adequately as a two-lane road with minimal impacts on car traffic. In Phase 2, the capacity of the road will remain as it is under the current pilot project, but the shifting of lanes will free up space to create a linear park.
Will the new linear park be permanent?

Montgomery Parks and MCDOT will continue to monitor and analyze vehicular traffic flow impacts throughout the ongoing pilot project. If the pilot project continues to be successful the space created by the lane reconfiguration will be used to build a new permanent linear park with recreational amenities, which will be accessible to park users seven days a week.
Can pedestrians and cyclists use the parkway during Phase 2 of the pilot project?

Yes, Phase 2 will reopen the current southbound lanes of the pilot project for recreation by creating a new temporary linear park. Montgomery Parks encourages pedestrians and cyclists to use the former southbound lanes once they are safely reopened for recreation. Parks will be activating this new space starting in spring 2023 to demonstrate its recreational benefits to the community.
What is the process for sharing the traffic data with the community?

Data collected in recent months provided the basis for moving to Phase 2 of the pilot project. The data show that traffic delays caused by reducing the parkway from four lanes to two were negligible. This data will be shared with the community on the project webpage.
Which agency or agencies are implementing this pilot?

The pilot project continues to be a collaborative effort between the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Montgomery Parks. As the owners of Little Falls Parkway, Montgomery Parks is the lead for coordinating this effort. MCDOT will be providing significant support in executing the traffic shift necessary for Phase 2 of the pilot project.
Will any more speed humps be added to the parkway as part of Phase 2?

No additional speed humps are currently planned during Phase 2 of the pilot.
Won't the closure of Ridgefield Road make traffic worse on Little Falls Parkway?

The closure of Ridgefield Road by MCDOT affects travel patterns south of River Road. The part of Little Falls Parkway pilot project is between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road, a segment that is well north of River Road. While diverted motorists from Ridgefield may likely use the southern part of Little Falls Pkwy between Massachusetts Ave and River Road more frequently during the Ridgefield closure, the portion of Little Falls Parkway north of River Road is unaffected by the pilot project.

Montgomery Parks

Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project

Division: Park Development Division

Project Description:

Status/Project Update:

Calendar and Meeting Notes:

Date/Time

Phase

Details