Arlington Boulevard Trail Study

About the Study 

The Arlington Boulevard Trail is a regional, primarily off-street multi-use trail that parallels Arlington Boulevard. Sections of the route are comprised of several elements including: existing off-street trails, on-street planned bike lanes, existing on-street bike lanes, and an existing on-street bikeway.  Some of the segments have uneven pavement and narrow passageways adjacent to Arlington Blvd.  

Planning Guidance

The 2019 Master Transportation Plan (MTP) – Bicycle Element identified the Arlington Blvd Trail in Appendix D, Bikeway Facility Projects, Section 2-14 as a recommended trail improvement. The recommendation states the project should “reconstruct portions of the Arlington Boulevard Trail, between Rosslyn and the Seven Corners area, to enhance user safety and usability. Reconstruction should include:

• Resurfacing to achieve a minimum 10-foot paved width
• Enhancing the crossings of highway ramps
• Providing contra-flow facilities for those sections of one-way service road that constitute parts of the trail
• Evaluate installation of trail lighting.

The Arlington Boulevard Trail is also identified in the Fort Myer Heights North Plan. (VDOT, Arlington) (2.0 miles)”  

This Study

As part of the Adopted Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Fiscal Years 2022 – 2024, the County Board provided guidance to the County Manager to conduct an engineering / feasibility study for the Arlington Boulevard Multi-Use Trail from Jackson Street to George Mason Drive, inclusive of Glebe Road, to inform a future CIP. The scope of this study would include a feasibility analysis, field survey, traffic data collection, coordination with VDOT, and a preliminary horizontal layout. The study is estimated to take 12 months. 

Goals

This study: 

• Developed design concepts for improving existing sections of the trail, such as widening key pinch points and removing barriers and obstructions and
• Identified the preferred routing and associated improvements at intersections and crossings, including but not limited to:
  • Curb ramps at intersections where currently deficient
  • Widening key pinch points to meet County trail width standards (10-12' preferred, 8’ minimum)
  • Removing barriers and obstructions along the trail
  • Providing direct path access and connections where feasible

Public Process 

Spring/Summer 2023 – Final Concept Designs

Community engagement for this final phase of the Arlington Boulevard Trail Study involved sharing the feedback gathered during previous engagement opportunities, illustrating the design concepts developed and refined during the study. The recording below highlights the study process and shares details of the final concept designs for each segment of the study area.

Video: Review the Final Concept Designs

Additionally, the project team presented the final design concepts from the study at the following Commission meetings in Spring 2023:

• Park and Recreation Commission - April 18
  • Recording | Presentation Slides
• Transportation Commission - April 27   

  • Recording | Presentation Slides

Next steps include a comprehensive operational and safety analysis review by the Virginia Department of Transportation and a request for funds for design and construction during the next Capital Improvement Program process led by the County Manager’s Office starting in Fall 2023.

Fall 2022 - Preliminary Concept Designs

The second phase of community engagement for the Arlington Boulevard Trail provided a variety of ways to learn more about the study, see the preliminary design concepts and share your feedback. This public engagement opportunity was open from November 17 through the end of the day on December 11, 2022. Following a review of the input received, the project team shared a summary of what we heard during this phase of public engagement, linked below.

The Capital Improvement Program adopted by the County Board for Fiscal Years 2022-24 allocated $200,000 for an engineering feasibility study for the Arlington Boulevard Multi-Use Trail.