Columbia Pike Bike Boulevards

Location

Approximately 4.3 miles long, parallel to Columbia Pike along 9th Street South and 12th Street South.

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Status

Construction

Walter Reed Drive at 12th Street South Intersection Improvements

The construction contract for the Walter Reed Drive at 12th Street South intersection improvements project was awarded at the February 24, 2018 County Board meeting.
Construction is expected to begin in spring/summer 2018.
Presentation Exhibit. Final Construction Plan
The project will construct curb extensions, ADA curb ramps and enhanced crosswalks at the S. Walter Reed Drive/12th Street South intersection in order to improve pedestrian safety. The project will re-construct the three raised medians along S. Walter Reed Drive (between 13th Street South and 11th Street South) and plant eight new street trees.
Additionally, the project will relocate the existing bike boulevard from 12th Street South to 11th Street South (between South Highland Street and South Cleveland Street) which includes the addition of a contra-flow westbound bike lane along the one-way eastbound section of 11th Street South (between Walter Reed Drive and South Edgewood Street).

Completed

Improvements to four intersections along 9th Street South (South Highland, South Cleveland, South Adams and South Wayne Streets) were completed in January 2018 (photos in image gallery).
The HAWK beacon at the intersection of South George Mason Drive and 13th Street South was completed in November 2015.
Improvements to the intersection of South Quincy Street at 12th Street South were completed in October 2014 (photos below).
Improvements to the intersection of South George Mason Drive at 13th Street were completed in September 2014 (photos below).
A rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) and crosswalk were installed without turn restrictions at the South Glebe Road and 9th Street South intersection in May 2014.
The traffic analysis for the four proposed HAWK locations was completed in April 2014.
Signs and pavement markings were installed along 12th Street South and 9th Street South in September 2013.

: Photo of South Quincy Street intersection – Before improvements

: Photo of South Quincy Street intersection – After improvements

: Photo of South George Mason Drive intersection – Before improvements

: Photo of South George Mason Drive intersection – After improvements

About the Project

Due to limited space, traffic volume and transit operations, Columbia Pike cannot accommodate extensive biking facilities; therefore, convenient routes on parallel secondary streets are a safer, more practical alternative. Bike boulevards are:

Located on low-volume and low-speed streets (25 MPH)
Logical, direct and continuous routes
Marked with clear signage and street markings
Provide convenient access to desired destinations
Comfortable and safe crossings for bikers and pedestrians at intersections

The proposed projects should significantly improve pedestrian safety at four challenging intersections, including people walking to and from Randolph Elementary School, Patrick Henry Elementary School, Columbia Pike Library, Arlington Career Center, and Arlington Transit (ART) and Metrobus stops.

Features of the bike boulevards include:

Enhanced on‐street route, some new street and trail links
Improvements to street alignment
New signage, pavement markings and crosswalks

The following intersection won't be included in this project as noted in previous plans:

The intersection at Ninth Street South and South Walter Reed Drive will be improved as part of a separate project and will also install a traffic signal at this intersection.

Additional updates to the original concept plans:

9th Street South (between South Ivy Street and South Irving Street) currently has sharrows going westbound, while eastbound bikers use the interim route of South Ivy Street to 7th Street South to South Irving Street. Staff is exploring the feasibility of installing a contra-flow eastbound bike lane along the section of 9th Street South between South Ivy Street and South Irving Street.
From South Highland Street to South Cleveland Street, the bike boulevards are moving from 12th Street South to 11th Street South. This will allow for the use of the 11th Street South and South Walter Reed Drive intersection, which is signalized. The 12th Street South at South Walter Reed Drive intersection won't have a HAWK beacon or turn restrictions, but will still be improved for safer crossings.

Public Process

Initial community meetings were held with adjacent civic associations in summer 2012.

Additional community meetings were held in spring 2014 with the Bicycle Advisory Committee, Columbia Heights Executive Committee, and the Penrose, Alcova Heights, Arlington Heights, and Douglas Park civic associations.

Staff performed pre-construction coordination for the S. Walter Reed Drive/12^th Street S. project at the:

February 5, 2018 Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting
February 12, 2018 Columbia Heights civic association meeting
February 26, 2018 Douglas Park civic association meeting

Funding

The $1 million project is funded through local funds as part of the Columbia Pike Complete Streets Program.