Arlington Unveils Pentagon City Multimodal Improvements

Arlington County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for its multimodal improvement project in Pentagon City.

The two-year, $9 million project resulted in improved sidewalks, road crossings, bike lanes, street trees, drainage and landscaping along S. Hayes Street in front of Pentagon City mall. The project was completed nearly 6 percent under budget, with the state and federal government paying 80 percent of the final cost, according to the county.

“This project is key to Arlington’s efforts to make it easier to travel to, around or through Pentagon City, whether you are traveling by car, bus, bike or Metro,” Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette said in a statement. “South Hayes is now a more complete, welcoming, accessible and safe corridor.”

Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and County Board members Walter Tejada and Libby Garvey were on hand for the unveiling on Thursday.

The county’s press release about the project’s completion is below, after the jump.

Arlington County unveiled the Pentagon City Multimodal Project today in a ceremony highlighting the key safety and access improvements in the heavily traveled corridor.

The project revitalizes the busy South Hayes Street corridor between 15th Street South and Army Navy Drive. With more than 30,000 metro travelers, 2,800 bus riders and nearly 600 estimated Capital Bikeshare trips per day, the area’s improvements enhance the access, safety and experience for all transportation users. The new facilities include traffic signals, designated crossing areas, “green street” environmental features and landscaping enhancements, creating a sense of place for the gateway to Pentagon City.

“This project is key to Arlington’s efforts to make it easier to travel to, around or through Pentagon City, whether you are traveling by car, bus, bike or Metro,” said Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette. “South Hayes is now a more complete, welcoming, accessible and safe corridor.”

The County Board was represented at the ceremony by Board Members J. Walter Tejada and Libby Garvey.

New features enhance safety and minimize environmental impact

Construction on the Pentagon City Multimodal Project started in 2012. Now that the project is completed, the South Hayes Street area features:

• Upgraded traffic signals with improved timing at each intersection
• Designated mid-block crossing areas, sidewalks, crosswalks and lane markings
• Upgraded street furniture, street lighting and accent lighting
• Improved amenities for bicyclists, transit riders and pedestrians in the Pentagon City area
• Bioretention and rain garden landscape features to manage stormwater runoff
• New street trees
• Landscape enhancements designed by Höweler + Yoon Architecture, including mini-plazas, pre-cast benches and retaining walls

Private and public collaboration

The Pentagon City Multimodal Project is an example of how effective collaboration between private and public partners and input from federal, state and local agencies can lead to the successful completion of an important project. Arlington County’s Department of Environmental Services worked with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA), federal agencies, the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Pentagon Centre, Archstone and members of the community to develop the project’s design.

The project was funded by a Federal Aid Secondary agreement with VDOT on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration; with the County funding 20 percent. The project was completed 5.7 percent under the authorized budget of $9.1 million.