Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project

Little Falls Parkway Open Parkways Little Falls Parkway with cars

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project

Montgomery Parks launched the Little Falls Parkway pilot project in June 2022, to address concerns with cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods associated with the weekend closures of Little Falls Parkway while retaining space for recreation on the parkway. As part of the pilot, Montgomery Parks initiated a study to determine whether two lanes between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road could adequately accommodate vehicle traffic. The current configuration serves as a 24/7 open parkway, with two of the four lanes open for recreation and the other two lanes open to vehicular traffic.

On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, the parks department hosted a public meeting to present the traffic studies and supporting data, which was followed by public testimony.

Project Timeline:

April 2020: Montgomery Parks launches an Open Parkway along Little Falls Pkwy between Massachusetts Ave and Arlington Rd.
July 2020: Raised crosswalk installed at Capital Crescent Trail crossing.
December 2020: Montgomery Parks suspends Open Parkway for winter months.
March 2021: Montgomery Parks reinstates Open Parkway based on community requests with reduced speed limits between River Rd and Arlington Rd.
Spring – Fall 2022: Traffic studies (pdf) are initiated along Little Falls Parkway, between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue, and streets in adjacent neighborhoods to confirm the impacts of Pilot project phases.
Spring 2022: Phase 1 of the Pilot project (pdf) was initiated along Little Falls Parkway, between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue, which provided 24/7 separated one-lane roadway configuration, but suspended Open Parkways.
November 2022: Phase 2 of the Pilot project (pdf) was initiated, which provided 24/7 opposing two-lane roadway configuration, and reopened two lanes of the roadway to pedestrians and bicycle traffic 24/7, with the other two lanes open to vehicles.
Winter 2022: Results of multiple traffic studies show that the reconfigured lane set-up reduces cut-through traffic in neighborhoods surrounding Little Falls Parkway, maintains a safe CCT crossing, and safely accommodates vehicle traffic.
February 15, 2023: Montgomery Parks public meeting on Little Falls Parkway pilot project traffic studies.
March 30, 2023: Montgomery Planning Board hearing on Little Falls Parkway pilot project. The public will have an opportunity to testify.
April 13, 2023: Montgomery Planning Board meeting to provide feedback on public testimony and parks presentation and decide whether to maintain the lane reduction and proceed with the Little Falls Parkway pilot project.
April 27, 2023: Montgomery Planning Board approves the Little Falls Parkway pilot project as a permanent road diet.
May 8, 2023: Montgomery County Council voted to require that any realignment of the remaining two lanes between Dorset and Arlington on Little Falls Parkway must be reviewed by the Council before any funds can be used for that purpose.

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 maintaining a safe and functioning road that is aligned with vision zero principles, reducing neighborhood cut-through traffic, and preserving recreational and open space. 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. Since April 2020, more than 300,000 users have taken advantage of the Little Falls Parkway Open Parkway program.

The pilot project is intended 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 Dorset 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. 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. press release about phase 1 of the pilot project was issued on June 10, 2022.

During phase 2, all vehicular traffic was shifted to the east side of Little Falls Parkway with the remaining two lanes on the west side available for walking and bicycling. The Parks Department will present the results of the traffic studies at a public meeting on February 15, 2023. The results will then be presented to the Planning Board at a public hearing and the Planning Board will subsequently make a decision on whether to maintain a two-lane configuration and proceed with the Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project. Details are provided in a press release about phase 2

Montgomery Parks and MCDOT will continue to monitor and analyze vehicular traffic flow impacts throughout the ongoing pilot project. If the Planning Board recommends continuing the pilot project, the additional lanes will be used to create a new temporary linear park with recreational amenities, which will be accessible to park users seven days a week. Montgomery Parks will also engage the community in determining the permanent use of the space.

Status/Project Update:

On May 8, 2023, The Montgomery County Council voted to require that any realignment of the remaining two lanes between Dorset and Arlington on Little Falls Parkway be reviewed by the Council before any funds can be used for that purpose. Montgomery Parks will coordinate with the County Council to when to bring the project to the Council for review.

In the interim, Montgomery Parks will maintain a 24/7  Open Parkway on the two lanes on the west side of the parkway. Parks will also continue monitoring the existing road diet along Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue and make minor repairs and adjustments as needed to enhance safety and traffic efficiency until the permanent improvements approved by the Planning Board can proceed.

**Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project**
Date	Details
Phase 1: Lane Configuration Begins
June 18, 2022	A single-lane road diet was implemented on Little Falls Parkway between Dorset Avenue and Arlington Road
Phase 2: Lane Configuration Begins
Fall 2022	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.
February 15, 2023	Public meeting to present Little Falls Parkway pilot project traffic studies View the Feb 15, 2023 meeting Q&A Transcripts (pdf)
March 30, 2023	Montgomery County Planning Board hearing on Little Falls Parkway pilot project traffic studies View the March 30, 2023 recording
April 27, 2023	Montgomery County Planning Board meeting work session during which the Little Falls Parkway pilot project was approved as a permanent road diet.
May 8, 2023	The Montgomery County Council voted to require that any realignment of the remaining two lanes between Dorset and Arlington on Little Falls Parkway must be reviewed by the Council before any funds can be used for that purpose.
Spring / Summer 2023	Montgomery Parks will maintain the 24/7 Open Parkway, continue monitoring the existing road diet, and make minor repairs and adjustments as needed to enhance safety and traffic efficiency.

Montgomery Parks Contact:
LFP@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 has implemented the Little Falls Parkway pilot project to study the potential to modify Little Falls Parkway to a two-lane road, like other park roads. The road is open to car traffic 24/7, with no more weekend-only closures. The road retains two opposing lanes (one each way) from Arlington Road to Dorset Avenue (the pilot area). 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.
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.
How is this different than the former four-lane road configuration?

In Phase 2 of the pilot project, both travel lanes were shifted to the east side of the median, and the travel lanes were separated by a double yellow line, much like Beach Drive or Sligo Creek Parkway. The former southbound lanes (west side) have been closed to motor vehicle traffic.
When did this change occur?

The realignment of the road began in 2022. During Phase 2, the former southbound lanes on the west side were opened to bicyclists and pedestrians.
What will happen to the unused travel lanes?

If the Planning Board approves maintaining a two-lane configuration, Montgomery Parks will implement a temporary linear park and initiate public outreach on permanent options for use of the space before bringing a project to the Planning Board for funding and approval.
Can pedestrians and cyclists use the parkway?

Yes, Phase 2 reopened the current southbound lanes of the pilot project for recreation.
What impact has the lane reduction had on traffic?

The result of traffic counts show that two lanes more than adequately accommodate traffic, and the road diet improves safety for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. Even during peak-hour traffic, travel times have been stable and traffic level of service (LOS) has remained at B (reasonable and stable free flow) and C (slightly restricted but stable). In urban areas, a LOS of “A” typically occurs only during off-peak hours.
What about cut-through traffic?

The set of traffic counts conducted throughout 2022, before and after implementation of the pilot project, show a similar or slightly decreased amount of traffic on the Parkway and neighboring roads, and a substantial reduction in weekend traffic on nearby residential streets. Approximately the same number of drivers are using the Parkway before and after the pilot project and are not “avoiding” the Parkway to use other roads.
How do the trail counters and vehicular counters count users and cars?

Both vehicular and trail counters count the number of instances that a person or vehicle passes a counter and do not filter out roundtrips or repeat trips. In this sense, a user walking from Hillandale Road to Dorset Avenue and back would be counted a total of two times, once for each leg of the trip as they pass the counter. This is the same for the vehicular counts making a roundtrip or a repeat trip along the same alignment. Detailed vehicle counts can be seen here.
The 3,000 users per weekend count seems high – does it include people making trips on the Capital Crescent Trail or going to the Bethesda Pool?

The 3,000 users per weekend count include every day the parkway was open from inception to the start of Phase I. The counts were highest over the first few months, but the parkway can still accommodate close to 1,000 users per day even during winter months. The trail counters were placed far enough away from the Capital Crescent Trail and Bethesda Pool, so they are only picking up users on Little Falls Parkway itself.
How accurate is the traffic data that was collected?

The traffic data presented in this report consists of vehicle counts that were collected in the field by certified and licensed traffic engineers or their authorized representatives at the dates and times indicated.
Has the impact of future development and growth in the area, including from the Westbard redevelopment, been factored into the traffic forecasts?

The 2018 Westwood Properties Traffic Impact Study (TIS) for the Westbard redevelopment indicated that the full build-out is expected to generate 26 new southbound and 35 new northbound peak hour Parkway trips in the morning, an increase of 3.3% and 6.6% from existing volumes, respectively. For the afternoon peak hour, it is expected to add 51 southbound and 36 northbound peak hour trips, an increase of 8% and 5%. The Parkway under pilot project conditions with two drive lanes, as well as existing nearby intersections, contains more than adequate capacity for this anticipated increase – in fact, Little Falls Parkway has enough capacity to carry almost twice as many vehicles as it does now. Additionally, the previous traffic study conducted for Little Falls Pkwy was conducted using inflated 2016 volumes which accommodate for traffic volumes returning to pre-pandemic numbers.
Why hasn’t the Parks Department realigned the trail crossing to Arlington Road as the Planning Board previously approved or designed a bridge crossing?

In the Facility Plan Recommendation for Capital Crescent Trail Crossing at Little Falls Parkway Safety Improvements Project, the Parks Department recommended making the interim road diet permanent (Alternative A). The Planning Board instead voted to endorse a modified Alternative B, which would realign the trail to Arlington Road, and chose not to endorse Alternative C, which would construct a bridge over Little Falls Parkway. Months later, the Planning Board shifted funding for the trail crossing project (modified Alternative B) to future years to fund other priorities and directed the Parks Department to maintain the interim safety improvements – including the road diet – and add a raised crosswalk at the trail crossing. During capital budget deliberations, the County Council later deleted the trail crossing project entirely from the six-year CIP.
Has the pilot project affected emergency vehicle response times and school bus travel times?

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue has stated that there are no concerns with emergency response times under the pilot project conditions. Additionally, Montgomery County Public Schools has stated that the transportation department has not documented any delays associated with the road diet.
Who has decision-making authority over Little Falls Parkway and does the Capper-Cramton Act apply?

Little Falls Parkway is owned and under the decision-making authority of Montgomery Parks and The Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Since the land surrounding Little Falls Parkway was acquired with Capper-Cramton Act funds, the project is subject to review by the National Capital Planning Commission for any development or management plan to ensure the protection and preservation of the region’s valuable watersheds and parkland. Montgomery Parks has coordinated with the National Capital Planning Commission, and NCPC staff have expressed initial support of the project. Montgomery Parks will continue to coordinate with NCPC as the project progresses and will submit any future project that would repurpose the lanes to the NCPC for review.
How much has been spent on the pilot road diet and linear park so far?

The implementation of the pilot project cost approximately $130,000, funded through a combination of operating and capital budget sources. The cost of a permanent linear park or other improvements will be determined through the planning and design process and will be funded through the Parks CIP. The cost of temporary activation of the unused travel lanes is expected to be minimal and would be funded through the operating budget.
What about parking for any future pilot or permanent linear park?

There is currently parking available at the Bethesda Pool and the existing Capital Crescent Trail Parking Lot north of Arlington Rd, and the linear park would be easily accessible via Little Falls and Capital Crescent Trails. Since parking was not an issue when the Open Parkway was in effect, we do not anticipate it would be an issue if a permanent park were built.