transportation | ARLnow.com

Proposed bus service reductions in North Arlington draw mixed reactions as county looks to attract riders

Published March 13, 2024 at 3:55PM

An Arlington Transit (ART) bus outside the Ballston Metro station (staff photo)

To generate some savings in its new budget, Arlington County is targeting low-performing bus routes in North Arlington.

It proposes axing one route between Courthouse and Ballston, along Lorcom Lane, that saw just 2.1 passengers per hour in the 2023 fiscal year (ART 62) for a savings of $348,613. Two bus routes — ART 61 and 53, serving the Ft. Myer and Radnor Heights neighborhoods and the Ballston to East Falls Church Metro stations — saw just 3.4 and 4.3 passengers per hour, respectively could be combined for a savings of $316,940.

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Several Langston Blvd intersections could get $1.5M in traffic signal and safety upgrades

By Daniel Egitto

Published March 12, 2024 at 10:30AM

A map of the Langston Boulevard Intelligent Transportation Systems project (via Arlington County)

Traffic signal upgrades and more pedestrian-friendly crosswalks may be coming to several Langston Blvd intersections.

The Arlington County Board on Saturday is slated to consider a $1.5 million contract for improvements to the intersections of Langston Blvd at N. Adams Street, N. Cleveland Street and Spout Run Pkwy.

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County looks to curb crashes caused by fast left turns with new pilot program

By Jo DeVoe

Published March 6, 2024 at 3:55PM | Updated March 6, 2024 at 5:13PM

Renderings of hardened center lines (courtesy Arlington County)

This spring, drivers may notice the county testing out a new road treatment to reduce speeding through left turns.

In the next month or two, the county will start installing small raised bumps called hardened centerlines along the yellow centerline at five local intersections. That’s according to Christine Baker, who coordinates Arlington’s Vision Zero efforts, which aim to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

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Proposal to redevelop Goodwill on Glebe Road enters home stretch

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 22, 2024 at 10:45AM | Updated February 22, 2024 at 12:32PM

A rendering of the proposed Goodwill redevelopment (courtesy AHC)

(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) Arlington County is home to one of the busiest Goodwill donation centers in the country and this location, on S. Glebe Road, is now being teed up for redevelopment.

Last week, Planning Commission members recommended the Arlington County Board approve plans from Goodwill and affordable housing partner AHC to redevelop its storefront with a 6-story building consisting of a new retail and donation center, 128 units of affordable housing and space for a child care center.

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County Board slated to accept $7M grant to get people to consider driving alternatives

By Jo DeVoe

Published December 14, 2023 at 9:30AM

A cyclist rides in front of the under-demolition RCA building in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Arlington County Board will consider accepting a $7.1 million grant to encourage people to plan more trips without their cars.

Nearly $5.7 million of the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Program grant comes from federal funding, with $1.4 million coming from the state. Arlington County is not required to match funding.

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Costs go up for forthcoming traffic signals along Courthouse ‘Landmark block’

By Jo DeVoe

Published November 7, 2023 at 3:45PM

"The Commodore" apartments in Courthouse in September 2023 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Costs are rising for some traffic signal upgrades in Courthouse.

Developer Greystar is installing new traffic signals at three intersections near its new, 423-unit, 20-story building that replaced several restaurants, including Summers Restaurant, in an area known as the “Landmark block.”

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Arlington County buys electric buses for its fleet

By Jo DeVoe

Published August 17, 2023 at 11:30AM | Updated August 23, 2023 at 10:20AM

The Gillig bus rolls through Ballston (courtesy Dept. of Environmental Services)

(Updated at 9:30 a.m. on 8/23/23) Arlington County’s efforts to electrify transit just jolted forward.

Arlington’s transit system, ART, is getting its first batch of battery electric buses, or BEB, as it pursues carbon neutrality by 2050, according to a press release. The vehicles will be deployed in late 2024 after work wraps up on the new Operations and Maintenance Facility on Shirlington Road.

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County grants developer more time to finish public improvements in Courthouse

By Jo DeVoe

Published July 20, 2023 at 10:30AM

A reconfigured 15th Street N. in Courthouse along one edge of the "Landmark Block" development (staff photo)

A slate of public improvements associated with the construction of a new apartment building in Courthouse are experiencing slight delays.

A year and a half ago, developer Greystar agreed to take on public improvements on behalf of the county in exchange for more units at its redevelopment project. The 423-unit, 20-story residential building dubbed “The Commodore” also has 17,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and an underground parking garage.

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Drivers may be required to stop for longer while pedestrians cross the road

By Jo DeVoe

Published July 12, 2023 at 1:30PM

A runner uses a rapid flashing beacon to cross N. Park Drive (staff photo)

In a bid to increase pedestrian safety, Arlington County may require drivers stay stopped for longer at crosswalks.

The Arlington County Board is set to consider on Saturday changing its code so that drivers will have to stop when a pedestrian enters an adjacent travel lane and heads their way. Currently, drivers need only yield right of way when a pedestrian enters their lane.

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Bridge over I-395 in Fairlington to get structural repairs and new buffered bike lane

By Jo DeVoe

Published July 10, 2023 at 1:30PM

S. Abingdon Street bridge over I-395 (courtesy Virginia Dept. of Transportation)

Work is underway to make a 53-year-old bridge S. Abingdon Street bridge over I-395 safer and extend its overall life, per the Virginia Dept. of Transportation.

The 53-year-old bridge is located between the I-395 interchanges for King Street and Shirlington Circle in the Fairlington neighborhood. It was last rehabilitated in 1994 and is in need of attention, according to a press release from the state transportation department.

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New apartment tower proposed for Route 1 in Crystal City

By Jo DeVoe

Published May 19, 2023 at 9:30AM

Renderings of the proposed apartment at 2111 and 2101 Richmond Highway (via Arlington County)

A sliver of an apartment building is being proposed for Crystal City along Route 1.

Developer Dweck Properties proposes to construct a new, 412,975-square-foot building with 403 residential units and additional mixed-use space near the existing Crystal Plaza Apartments (2111 Richmond Hwy), according to an application filed with Arlington County on May 3.