transportation planning | ARLnow.com

County’s Bike Plan Getting a Refresh

Published August 30, 2017 at 12:00PM

Arlington County is updating the section on bicycling in its Master Transportation Plan, and is asking residents to help shape how it should now look.

The Bicycle Element of the plan last received an update in 2008, and now staff from the county’s Department of Environmental Services said the time is right for a revamp given the new “technologies, facilities and best practices” around bicycling. Staff said they will get feedback from a wide range of people, including those in civic associations and business organizations.

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Cristol: Pedestrian-Only Street Can Help Make Rosslyn a Destination

By Chris Teale

Published August 10, 2017 at 3:45PM

County Board member Katie Cristol

The county’s long-term plan for Rosslyn includes a multi-block, pedestrian-only stretch of 18th Street N. to replace the skywalk system that extends east to N. Arlington Ridge Road.

The Board laid the foundations for that plan last year when it approved adding pedestrian-only streets and low-speed “shared streets” for bicycles, pedestrians and other transit options to its transportation repertoire.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published August 9, 2017 at 9:00AM | Updated August 9, 2017 at 9:17AM

Man Struck By Car Near Ballston Metro — A man was struck by a vehicle on Fairfax Drive near the Ballston Metro station yesterday. The incident happened between 5-5:30 p.m. Numerous witnesses immediately called 911 or rushed to the man’s aid. His injuries were reported to be not life threatening. [Twitter, Twitter]

Driverless Car Research Is Legal in Va. — Virginia law does not explicitly ban the kind of “driverless” car research conducted by Virginia Tech on the streets of Clarendon and Courthouse. While the Virginia Tech van was driven by a man in a seat costume, it is also legal to test legitimately self-driving cars in the Commonwealth. [NBC Washington]

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Board Approves New Crystal City Apartment Building

By Chris Teale

Published July 17, 2017 at 11:45AM

The County Board approved a 22-story apartment building (image via Lowe Enterprises)

A 22-story apartment building has the go-ahead to start construction in Crystal City after the Arlington County Board unanimously approved the project at its Saturday meeting.

The building, with the address of 2351 Jefferson Davis Highway but located at the intersection of Crystal Drive and 23rd Street S., is set for 302 apartments on top of a podium of the existing two-story retail space. The building is part of the larger Century Center office and retail complex.

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Columbia Pike ‘Premium Transit Network’ Gets Cautious Approval

By Chris Teale

Published July 12, 2017 at 4:35PM

Planned bus stops for the Premium Transit Network (via Arlington County)

The new “Premium Transit Network” on Columbia Pike is being greeted with cautious optimism by some community members after years of discussion and delays.

But some raised questions about what will mark the new bus system as “premium,” considering it will not run in dedicated lanes due to the layout of Columbia Pike and will have a fleet of standard buses, at least for now.

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Board Mulls Reducing Parking Requirements Near Metro

By Chris Teale

Published July 12, 2017 at 11:15AM

The policy would affect new developments near Metro stations (via county presentation)

Arlington County Board members wrestled last night with a plan to substitute car parking spaces for spots for bike and car-sharing at new apartment and condo buildings near Metro stations.

The proposal, put together by county staff as part of a number of changes to parking policy under discussion at a Tuesday work session, is meant to encourage developers to contribute to other transit options.

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County to Consolidate Metrobus Routes Under ‘Premium Transit Network’

By Chris Teale

Published July 7, 2017 at 10:00AM | Updated July 7, 2017 at 2:04PM

(Updated 2 p.m.) Some changes are coming to several Metrobus routes through Arlington County next year, as the county prepares for the Columbia Pike “Premium Transit Network.”

At a work session with the Arlington County Board on Thursday, county staff put forward a plan that would end seven lines that run through Arlington in FY 2019, which begins on July 1, 2018, and save the county $5.8 million:

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Dedicated Lanes Unlikely for Columbia Pike ‘Premium Transit Network’

By Chris Teale

Published June 28, 2017 at 10:00AM | Updated June 28, 2017 at 12:14PM

County Board chair Jay Fisette

(Updated at 11:25 a.m.) Dedicated lanes look unlikely for the proposed “Premium Transit Network” along Columbia Pike, which is set to open next summer after delays.

Staff from the county’s Department of Environmental Services studied the feasibility of dedicated lanes along the Pike, but at a work session on Tuesday said they would likely not work.

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Columbia Pike ‘Premium Transit Network’ Delayed

By ARLnow.com

Published March 20, 2017 at 10:15AM | Updated March 20, 2017 at 12:03PM

(Updated at 11:50 a.m.) Those who live and work along Columbia Pike will have to wait another year for the implementation of a “Premium Transit Network” along the corridor.

ARLnow.com has learned that the plan for enhanced bus service along the Pike has been pushed back from 2018 to 2019 due to “WMATA’s focus on SafeTrack and core operations.”

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published December 5, 2016 at 8:30AM

County to Continue Westover Study — Arlington County’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board has asked county staff to study garden apartments in the Westover neighborhood. The study is expected to take 6-12 months, after which the board will consider whether to recommend a historic designation. Some residents want Westover designated as historic in order to prevent redevelopment. The study limits the historic designation to the garden apartments and not to other parts of Westover. [InsideNova, Arlington County]

Donations Needed for ANC Wreaths — The nonprofit Wreaths Across America is seeking donations to help sponsor wreaths for the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. Without additional donations, nearly half of the graves at the cemetery may be bare for the holidays. [Washington Examiner, WTOP]

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County Board Approves Pedestrian-Only Streets in Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Published October 17, 2016 at 11:00AM

Pedestrian-only street in Boulder, Colorado (photo courtesy Arlington County)

The Arlington County Board has approved adding pedestrian-only streets and low-speed “shared streets” to its transportation repertoire.

The amendments to the county’s Master Transportation Plan were approved unanimously at the Board’s meeting on Saturday.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 11, 2016 at 9:15AM | Updated November 18, 2016 at 2:37PM

Lyon Park Community Center in 2016 (Flickr pool photo by Alan Kotok)

Balcony Fire in Arlington View — Arlington County firefighters battled a small fire on an apartment balcony in the Arlington View neighborhood yesterday afternoon, following reports of an “explosion” sound. The fire was quickly extinguished and no injuries were reported. [Twitter]

Carpool’s New Owner Trying to Sell — The fate of Carpool is once again uncertain. The Ballston-area bar was supposed to close later this fall to make way for a new high-rise residential development. Despite County Board approval of the project, and the just-completed sale of the bar, developer Penzance is now reportedly trying to sell the site. [Washington Business Journal]