Quick-Build Safety Projects
View the Quick-Build Safety Project Map
Arlington County’s Vision Zero transportation safety program aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. "Quick-build" small-scale safety improvement projects are a part of the Vision Zero program effort. Quick-build safety projects may be constructed using either: "tactical" materials (flex posts, bollards, pavement markings) or permanent materials (concrete, asphalt, beacons, etc.). Quick-build safety projects are funded by a mix of state and local sources through the Arlington County Capital Improvement Plan (typically via the Vision Zero Street Safety Improvements fund).
Identifying Projects
Arlington identifies quick-build safety projects through:
- Crash Analysis: Staff review safety data through annual crash analysis, critical crash reviews, crash hot spot reviews, systemic safety reviews, and other ad-hoc analysis efforts.
- High-Injury Network Safety Audits: Staff perform walking/biking safety audits of corridors that have been identified for having a higher concentration of injury crashes.
- Community-Reported Crash Analysis: Projects may be prompted following investigations of safety reports from transportation staff, Arlington Public Schools, Arlington Police, civic/advocacy groups, or community members.
Prioritizing Projects
Quick-build projects built with tactical materials (flex posts, bollards, pavement markings) do not require prioritization because of their low cost. Quick-build construction projects, which involve higher cost materials and installations, undergo the following prioritization process.
Once a quick-build construction project candidate is identified, staff assess and rank it's feasibility alongside other candidate projects based on several prioritization criteria (including crash history or risk, proximity to a school, location within an equity emphasis area, and the complexity of the construction). Next, staff order land survey to confirm whether the project is feasible within the quick-build timeframe and budget (typically under $250,000 and within 1-3 years from conception). Last, prioritized/selected projects are communicated to the community via the website and civic messaging channels and then enter the construction pipeline. (Note, projects involving Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) may be identified/prioritized using the RRFB-specific prioritization process.)
View image as a PDF.(PDF, 247KB)
Timelines & Communication
Quick-build projects built using tactical materials (flex posts, bollards, pavement markings) are typically built within several months. These tactical projects are posted on this page and in the project map once plans are finalized. We do not send installation notices due to the quick turnaround on these projects, with the exception of projects that will permanently change traffic patterns. Following installation, we post before/after photos on this webpage.
Quick-build construction projects are typically built within two years and follow the process shown in the graphic below. As soon as the County confirms the project builder and timeline, we post the project on this page and in the project map. We will post project updates as available. Adjacent homeowners will receive mailed letters about two weeks in advance of construction. We will also send messages to the local civic associations, community groups, nearby businesses or gathering places, and via NextDoor. Following construction, we post before/after photos on this webpage.
View image as a PDF.(PDF, 104KB)
Project Tracking
In the tabs below, you can find information on upcoming or recently completed quick-build projects across the county. Upcoming projects below are those currently in design or preparing for construction in the coming months. The completed quick-build projects are organized by the order in which they were completed. We also have a link that maps our Quick-Build projects below.
View the Quick-Build Safety Project Map
Upcoming Quick-Build Safety Projects
Wilson Blvd & N Oak St (Tactical Improvements)
- Project Description: Improvements at the intersection include tactical, marked curb extensions with bollards at the NE, NW, and SW corners to shorten crossing distances for pedestrians and slow vehicle turning speeds. View the plan: Wilson-Blvd-and-N-Oak-St.jpg(JPG, 117KB)
- Safety Need: Identified through crash hot spot analysis.
- Timeline: 2025
Wilson Blvd & N Danville St (Tactical Improvements)
- Project Description: This project will install tactical curb extensions to the eastern corners of the intersection, add a high-visibility crosswalk over Wilson Blvd with advanced signage, relocate the bus stop to the far side of the intersection, and adjust parking signs to improve sight lines at the intersection.
- Safety Need: Identified through the Wilson High-Injury Network Safety audit and through community-reported concerns.
- Timeline: 2025
N Williamsburg Blvd & N Harrison St (Tactical Improvements)
- Project Description: The project will add hardened centerlines. Hardened centerlines are small, raised bumps placed along the yellow centerline at an intersection. They are designed to make intersections safer by encouraging drivers to make left turns at slower speeds, which improves yielding and reduces crash risk.
- Safety Need: Identified through a systemic speed safety analysis and this location is near a school.
- Timeline: 2025
Military Rd & Lorcom Ln (Tactical Improvements)
- Project Description: The project will add hardened centerlines. Hardened centerlines are small, raised bumps placed along the yellow centerline at an intersection. They are designed to make intersections safer by encouraging drivers to make left turns at slower speeds, which improves yielding and reduces crash risk.
- Safety Need: Identified through a systemic speed safety analysis.
- Timeline: 2025
S Eads St & 23rd St S (Tactical Improvements)
- Project Description: The project will add hardened centerlines. Hardened centerlines are small, raised bumps placed along the yellow centerline at an intersection. They are designed to make intersections safer by encouraging drivers to make left turns at slower speeds, which improves yielding and reduces crash risk.
- Safety Need: Identified through a systemic speed safety analysis.
- Timeline: 2025
Wilson Blvd & N Highland St (Tactical Improvements)
- Project Description: The project will add hardened centerlines. Hardened centerlines are small, raised bumps placed along the yellow centerline at an intersection. They are designed to make intersections safer by encouraging drivers to make left turns at slower speeds, which improves yielding and reduces crash risk.
- Safety Need: Identified through the 2024 Wilson Boulevard High Injury Network Audit.
- Timeline: 2025
Wilson Blvd & N Barton St (Tactical Improvements)
- Project Description: The project will add hardened centerlines. Hardened centerlines are small, raised bumps placed along the yellow centerline at an intersection. They are designed to make intersections safer by encouraging drivers to make left turns at slower speeds, which improves yielding and reduces crash risk.
- Safety Need: Identified through the 2024 Wilson Boulevard High Injury Network Audit.
- Timeline: 2025
Wilson Blvd & N Nelson St (Tactical Measures)
Washington Blvd & N Frederick St
- Project Description: The project will deliver curb extensions on all four corners of the intersection of Washington Blvd & N Frederick St. The goal of this project is to improve intersection geometry, sight distance and improve ADA curb ramps. View the plan: Washington-Blvd-N-Frederick-St.png(PNG, 1MB)
- Safety Need: Identified through crash hot spot analysis.
- Timeline: 2025
Clarendon Blvd & N Queen St/N Pierce St
- Project Description: A floating bus stop serving WMATA Route 4B & 38B and ART Route 45 at Clarendon Blvd & N Queen/Pierce St. The floating bus stop design provides (1) a dedicated waiting and boarding area for passengers and (2) continuous separation for the protected bike lane on Clarendon Blvd. People using the bus stop will cross the bike lane and board the bus from the elevated bus platform. This new configuration allows buses to remain in the travel lane while picking up/dropping off passengers, which enhances bus travel time and reduces merging. Additional benefits include narrowing the roadway which helps to slow down through and turning vehicles. The project also involves raising the bike lane to a similar elevation as the floating bus stop platform. View the plan: Clarendon-Blvd-N-Pierce-St-Bus-Island.png(PNG, 1MB)
- Safety Need: ADA accessibility community report & located on the High-Injury Network.
- Timeline: 2025
N George Mason Dr & 9th St N
- Project Description: The project will provide Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFB), roadway markings and signage improvements at the existing school crossing to Escuela Key Elementary. View the plan.(PDF, 525KB)
- Safety Need: Identified through systemic analysis.
- Timeline: 2025
N Carlin Springs Rd & N Greenbrier St
- Project Description: Provides curb extensions, bus stop, and ADA curb ramp improvements. View the plan.(PDF, 928KB)
- Safety Need: Identified through a community report.
- Timeline: 2025
23rd St S mid-block crossing b/w S Fern St and S Eads St
- Project Description: The project provides a pedestrian crossing by adding curb extensions and installing roadway markings and signage. The curb extension reduces the distance for people walking, encourages safer vehicle speeds, and increases user visibility for people walking, biking and driving. View the plan: 23rd-St-S-Midblock.png(PNG, 382KB)
- Safety Need: Identified by County staff.
- Timeline: 2025
Clarendon Blvd & N Danville St
- Project Description: The project will replace the marked buffer area at the existing crosswalk with a concrete pedestrian island on either side with Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFB). View the plan: Clarendon-Blvd-N-Danville-St-Plan-RRFB.png(PNG, 709KB)
- Safety Need: Identified as a project in the High-Injury Network and through community reports.
- Timeline: 2025
S Walter Reed Dr & S Pollard St
- Project Description: Curb extensions, crossing improvements, and bus stop improvements currently in design with Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFB). View the plan.(PDF, 441KB)
- Safety Need: Identified through the 2021 S Walter Reed Dr HIN audit.
- Timeline: 2025
- Additional Notes: Improvements are currently in the design phase. Plans and timeline are in progress.
S Walter Reed Dr & S Kenmore St
- Project Description: Curb extensions and crossing improvements in design. View the plan: Walter-Reed-Dr-S-Kenmore-St.png(PNG, 821KB)
- Safety Need: Identified through the 2021 S Walter Reed Dr HIN audit.
- Timeline: 2025
- Additional Notes: Improvements are currently in the design phase. Plans and timeline are in progress.
S Walter Reed Dr & S Lorton St
- Project Description: Crossing improvements in design. View the plan.(PDF, 399KB)
- Safety Need: Identified through the 2021 S Walter Reed Dr HIN audit.
- Timeline: 2025
- Additional Notes: Improvements are currently in the design phase. Plans and timeline are in progress.
Spout Run Pkwy Midblock RRFB
- Project Description: The project will provide Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at a multi-lane crossing.
- Safety Need: Identified through a systemic analysis of multilane crossings.
- Timeline: 2025
Wilson Blvd & N Nash St
- Project Description: The project will build a pedestrian refuge island on the western leg of the intersection.
- Safety Need: Identified through the 2024 Wilson Boulevard High Injury Network Audit
- Timeline: 2025
Langston Blvd & John Marshall Dr
- Project Description: This project builds out a marked curb extensions at the NE corner, provides an additional curb extension at the NW corner, and add median cut through improvements. All improvements will meet ADA standards. View the plan.(PDF, 1001KB)
- Safety Need: Identified through a community report.
- Timeline: 2025
Fairfax Dr & N Pollard St
- Project Description: This project will build out a curb extension on the southeast corner and build out the median to provide a crossing for an RRFB.
- Safety Need: Identified through a systemic analysis of multilane crossings.
- Timeline: 2025
Langston Blvd & N Kensington St
- Project Description: This project will extend and widen the existing median to provide a crossing for an RRFB. View the plan.(PDF, 2MB)
- Safety Need: Identified through a systemic analysis of multilane crossings.
- Timeline: 2025
6th St S & S Wakefield St
- Project Description: The project will deliver a curb extension on the southeast corner to provide ADA compliant curb ramps. View the plan.(PDF, 2MB)
- Safety Need: Identified through a community report.
- Timeline: 2025
Washington Blvd & 4th St N (Tactical Buildout)
- Project Description: The project will build out the existing tactical pavement markings with concrete sidewalks and curb ramps.
- Safety Need: Identified through the 2023 Washington Boulevard High Injury Network Audit
- Timeline: 2025
1535 Wilson Blvd
- Project Description: The project will provide a concrete island to enhance the existing protected bike lane. View the plan.(PDF, 5MB)
- Safety Need: Identified through the 2024 Wilson Boulevard High Injury Network Audit
- Timeline: 2025
Key Blvd b/w N Quinn St & N Ode St
- Project Description: The project will build out a concrete midblock curb extension at the existing crosswalk.
- Safety Need: Identified through a community report.
- Timeline: 2025
S Walter Reed Dr & 19th St S
- Project Description: Curb extensions and crossing improvements in design.
- Safety Need: Identified through the 2021 S Walter Reed Dr HIN audit.
- Timeline: 2025
- Additional Notes: Improvements are currently in the design phase. Plans and timeline are in progress.
S Walter Reed Dr & S Monroe St
- Project Description: Curb extensions and crossing improvements in design.
- Safety Need: Identified through the 2021 S Walter Reed Dr HIN audit.
- Timeline: 2025
- Additional Notes: Improvements are currently in the design phase. Plans and timeline are in progress.
George Mason Drive and 22nd St N
- Project Description: This project will provide three Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at the existing crosswalk.
- Safety Need: Identified through a systemic analysis of multilane crossings.
- Timeline: 2025
Little Falls Rd & N Ohio St
- Project Description: This project builds out the marked curb extensions and existing marked medians. These changes will reduce crossing distances for people walking, encourage safer vehicle speeds, and increase user visibility for people walking, biking, and driving.
- Safety Need: Identified through a community report.
- Timeline: 2026
N Henderson Rd & 3rd St S/N Upton St
N Quincy St b/w Glebe Rd and 9th St N
- Project Description: This project will provide a new concrete island to enhance the existing protected bike lane.
- Safety Need: Identified through a systemic analysis.
- Timeline: TBD
Project Completed in 2025
View Quick-Build Projects Completed Before 2025
DES Transportation staff have been implementing small projects across the county for many years before the County Board adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan and these projects were consolidated into the Vision Zero program. If you are looking for other similar small-scale projects that predate this list, please check with Arlington Neighborhoods program (formerly Neighborhood Conservation) and the Neighborhood Complete Streets program web pages.