transportation planning | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published May 7, 2020 at 7:30AM

Amazon Orders Thousands of Meals from Freddie’s — “Amazon has hired Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant, which is widely known as an LGBT establishment, to prepare and deliver 10,000 meals in the month of May for front line healthcare workers and first responders in Arlington and nearby Alexandria who are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement released to the Washington Blade, Amazon said it was investing $200,000 to pay for the 10,000 meals.” [Washington Blade]

VRE Ridership Down 97% — “First, the good news, such as it is: Ridership on Virginia Railway Express stabilized in April as the public-health pandemic rolled on. The bad news: The ridership decline is now averaging 97% compared to normal times.” [InsideNova]

News

VDOT and Arlington County Considering Medians and Turn Restrictions for Route 50

By Vernon Miles

Published May 4, 2020 at 3:05PM

Median on Route 50 in Alternative 1 (image via VDOT)

Arlington and the Virginia Department of Transportation are looking at how to improve the situation along the notably crash prone stretch of Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) between Glebe Road and Fillmore Street.

Between 2014 and 2018, VDOT said there were 247 total crashes with 61 crashes resulting in injuries, a few severe but none resulting in fatalities. Most of these crashes were concentrated around intersections.

News

County to Endorse Columbia Pike Realignment Plan, Fund Design of New Trail Segment

By ARLnow.com

Published April 20, 2020 at 11:15AM

Columbia Pike realignment and Arlington National Cemetery expansion plan (via Arlington County)

The Arlington County Board is set to vote this weekend on the federal government’s plan to realign Columbia Pike to facilitate the southern expansion of Arlington National Cemetery.

Under the plan, Southgate Road, which runs from the entrance to Henderson Hall to the intersection of the Pike and S. Joyce Street, would be removed to make way for new cemetery grounds and interment spaces. Columbia Pike would be realigned near the Air Force Memorial to run directly down to Joyce Street rather than curving around the memorial.

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Five Roads Eyed for Complete Streets Changes

By Vernon Miles

Published April 2, 2020 at 11:45AM | Updated April 2, 2020 at 12:25PM

Wilson Blvd and N. Larrimore Street (photo via Google Maps)

(Updated at 12:25 p.m.) Five arterial streets in Arlington are being considered as candidates for a Complete Streets overhaul.

The county’s Complete Streets program adds safety features to roadways that improve the experience of road users other than drivers, including pedestrians and cyclists. The changes are usually made in conjunction with repaving projects.

News

Lyft, Spin Scooters to Be Removed After Being Denied Permit in Arlington

By Vernon Miles

Published March 10, 2020 at 3:35PM | Updated March 10, 2020 at 5:16PM

(Updated at 5:15 p.m.) Five e-scooter firms won approval to operate in Arlington County, but others currently operating in Arlington were told until they have until this Sunday to clear out.

Lyft and Spin, which as of Tuesday still have scooters on Arlington streets, had their permit applications denied, Arlington Department of Environmental Services spokesman Eric Balliet said in an email.

News

Long-Ignored Crystal City Bike Lanes Could Get Upgrade with New Development

By Vernon Miles

Published March 9, 2020 at 10:40AM

Cars blocking a bike lane in Crystal City (photo by Chris Slatt)

Thanks to some push from local advocates and the county’s Transportation Commission, a new mixed-use development at 1900 Crystal Drive could be required to include protected bike lanes on Crystal Drive, a long time sore spot for bicyclists in the area.

There are bicycle lanes on Crystal Drive, but motorists notoriously ignore the lane markers and drive or park in the lanes designated for bicycle traffic.

News

Lawmaker Who Wants to Return Arlington to D.C. has I-66 Reverse Toll Bill Rejected

By Vernon Miles

Published January 30, 2020 at 9:15AM | Updated January 30, 2020 at 4:04PM

A proposal to add new “reverse tolling” on to I-66, put forward by a delegate who suggested that Arlington should be returned to D.C., has been struck down in the House of Delegates.

The goal of HB 677, the bill proposed by Del. Dave LaRock (R), was to toll rush hour traffic heading both eastbound and westbound on I-66, instead of just tolling those heading in the peak direction.

News

County Seeking Funding to Make One Lane of Lee Highway Near Rosslyn Bus-Only

By Vernon Miles

Published January 17, 2020 at 1:30PM

Langston Blvd at N. Veitch Street (via Google Maps)

Arlington is once again planning to convert an outside lane on Lee Highway to bus and HOV only.

The Transportation Commission unanimously approved staff’s request to seek $1 million in funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission for pavement treatment, restriping, and signage for a new bus lanes.

News

Arlington County Moving Forward With Pedestrian Bridge Near Shirlington

By Vernon Miles

Published January 16, 2020 at 3:30PM

Arlington could finally make progress on a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Four Mile Run near Shirlington that’s been under discussion for nearly two decades, according to county staff.

Staff told the Transportation Commission at a Jan. 9 meeting that the current bridge, which carries two lanes of vehicular traffic in each direction on Shirlington Road, has inadequate bicycle-pedestrian facilities, with only a 3-5 foot sidewalk available.

News

New Turn Lanes to Be Added to Glebe at Lee Highway Intersection

By ARLnow.com

Published December 11, 2019 at 10:10AM | Updated December 11, 2019 at 10:38AM

Plan for changes to the intersection of N. Glebe Road and Lee Highway

(Updated at 10:40 a.m.) Big changes are finally coming to the intersection of N. Glebe Road and Lee Highway.

The Arlington County Board will consider a project to add left turn lanes to Glebe approaching the busy intersection. Also part of the project: undergrounding utilities, upgrading bus stops and streetlights, and replacing an old water main.

News

Metro Envisions New Rosslyn Station, Silver Line Down Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published December 6, 2019 at 10:35AM | Updated December 6, 2019 at 2:45PM

Crowding at the Ballston Metro station (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Metro has released the results of a pivotal study of options for increasing capacity of the Metrorail system, and the preliminary conceptual designs suggest big transit changes might eventually be coming to Arlington.

Among the ideas floated by the transit agency are a second Rosslyn Metro station, a new tunnel under the Potomac, and an new stretch of the Silver Line to either run down Columbia Pike or through North Arlington.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published November 13, 2019 at 7:30AM | Updated November 13, 2019 at 8:55AM

A VRE train near Crystal City (Staff photo by Jay Westcott)

HQ2 Business Boom Strains County — “A full year after Amazon.com Inc. announced that it would set up shop in Arlington, there’s little doubt the company has drawn the sort of surge in business and development interest that local leaders promised as they pursued HQ2 — but all of that activity has also put a strain on the local government as it prepares for the tech giant’s arrival.” [Washington Business Journal]

Tour of Amazon’s Temporary Crystal City Office — “Amazon almost has 200 employees working in leased space in @ArlingtonVA, with more on the way.” [WJLA, Twitter]