Columbia Pike Bike Boulevards

Location

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

Status

Complete

Note: The intersection at Ninth Street South and South Walter Reed Drive will not be included in this project, as noted in previous plans. This intersection will be improved as part of a separate project and will install a traffic signal at the intersection.

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

These 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
Video: Columbia Pike’s 9th Street contraflow bike lane

Completed improvements:

Improvements to the intersection at Walter Reed Drive and 12th Street South completed in February 2019.
Improvements to four intersections along 9th Street South (South Highland, South Cleveland, South Adams and South Wayne Streets) completed in January 2018 (photos in image gallery).
HAWK beacon at the intersection of South George Mason Drive and 13th Street South completed in November 2015.
Improvements to the intersection of South Quincy Street at 12th Street South completed in October 2014 (photos below).
Improvements to the intersection of South George Mason Drive at 13th Street completed in September 2014 (photos below).
Rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RFB) and crosswalk installed without turn restrictions at the South Glebe Road and 9th Street South intersection in May 2014.
Signs and pavement markings 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

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.

In February 2018, staff performed pre-construction coordination for the South Walter Reed Drive/12th Street South project at meetings for the Bicycle Advisory Committee, Columbia Heights Civic Association and Douglas Park Civic Association.

In August 2018, staff gave an update on the 9th Street South bike boulevard project to the Arlington Heights Civic Association: View the presentation

Funding

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