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Did you know that Arlington typically experiences more crashes involving pedestrians in fall and early winter months? It’s getting darker earlier and with schools back in session, more people are out and about. Because crashes involving a pedestrian are much more likely to result in a severe injury or death, it’s especially important to watch for and yield to pedestrians. Learn more about Arlington’s Vision Zero Critical Crash Campaign here.
In winter/spring 2022, we installed school slow zone demonstrations at 13 schools. These Phase 1 demonstrations are new, permanent 20MPH speed limits on neighborhood streets within 600 ft of a school access point. The demonstrations also included retrofitting the entire school zone to ensure high visibility crossings and school zone signage within the school zone, as well as confirming appropriate speed limits on the school’s beaconed arterial roadways.
Community feedback from May 2022 indicated that many people felt safer walking, biking, and driving because of the new school slow zones. Unfortunately, before / after speed data was inconclusive due to data collection errors. We are collecting a new set of speed data at the Phase 1 locations this winter to confirm if/how speeds have changed as a result of the demonstrations.
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In addition, the County will increase enforcement, add signage, and share more communications in our demonstration school slow zones. DES, APS, and Police will continue to evaluate results and refine the program as the County implements additional school slow zone demonstrations / school zone retrofits in winter and spring 2023 at the following 12 schools:
- Barrett Elementary School
- Campbell Elementary School, Carlin Springs Elementary School, Kenmore Middle School (combined school zone)
- Alice West Fleet Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School (combined school zone)
- Montessori Public School of Arlington, Arlington Community High School, Arlington Career Center (combined school zone)
- Swanson Middle School
- Williamsburg Middle School, Discovery Elementary School (combined school zone)
Visit the Vision Zero Tools & Guidelines page to learn more about school slow zones and stay tuned for updates in upcoming newsletters.
The Vision Zero Team addressed the County Board at their recessed meeting on Tuesday, October 18, following recent pedestrian-involved crashes in Arlington. Staff from Transportation Engineering & Operations and Police explained the process for following up on a critical crash , and added additional context about the responsive and proactive engineering work underway as part of the Vision Zero safety program.
The presentation also reviewed crash trends and a call to action for all people in Arlington – we all play a role in making our transportation system safer. You can view the recording here.
The Vision Zero Lorcom Lane Pilot Project safety improvements are here to stay! Currently in the pre-concept phase, this capital project was added to the CIP in June and will extend the multimodal improvements from 24th Rd North / North Quebec Street to Nelly Custis Drive.
The project will address the following improvements:
- Continuity of sidewalks on both sides of Lorcom Lane
- Widening existing sidewalks to conform with Americans with Disabilities Act standards
- Resolving alignment issues with the intersection of N. Quebec Street and Lorcom Lane
- Reducing pedestrian crossing distances throughout the corridor
- Addressing documented safety issues at the intersection of Lorcom Lane and Nelly Custis Drive
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The pilot program was first implemented in March 2021 and offered temporary parking restrictions on Lorcom Lane between N Oakland Street and N Quebec Street to provide a walking path for pedestrians and kids traveling to and from school. While the pilot was implemented due to increased pedestrians on the path during the Covid-19 pandemic, the improvements were well received by community members in the feedback gathered in the summer of 2021 and showed significant walkability improvements.
Follow along on the Project Page for news about upcoming engagement opportunities.
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The County Board continues to reduce speed limits throughout the county. In September, speeds were lowered from 30 to 25 mph on Fairfax Drive, from Arlington Boulevard to North Barton Street and from 35 to 25 mph on 5th Road South between South Carlin Springs Road and the Fairfax County line. On October 15, the Arlington County Board continued this safety trend by voting to reduce speeds along the following four segments.
35 to 30 MPH Reductions:
- Washington Boulevard from Arlington Boulevard to North Pershing Drive
- South Joyce Street from Columbia Pike to Army Navy Drive
- Columbia Pike from South Dinwiddie Street to the Fairfax County line
30 to 25 MPH Reduction:
- Lorcom Lane from Cherry Hill Road to Military Road
These segments were prioritized for lowered speed limits due to their high number of reported crashes and high pedestrian and cyclist usage. Lowering vehicle speeds remains a top priority for the Vision Zero program given that 26% of critical crashes and 23% of fatal crashes involve speeding. Learn more about the importance of reducing speeds and other road safety tools in the Vision Zero Multimodal Toolbox.
The Vision Zero External Stakeholders Group Year 2 Mid-Year Progress Meeting will take place virtually on Tuesday, December 6 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and participate by asking questions and offering feedback.
Take a look at last year’s mid-year and annual reports and stay tuned for the 2022 publication expected later this fall. Mark your calendar for December 6 with this link!
A happy Halloween is a safe Halloween. Spread the word that free rides home on Halloween weekend are available through the Washington Regional Alcohol Program's (WARP) 2022 Halloween SoberRide® program.
For more information about the impact drinking has on driving, join the Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) and WRAP on Saturday, October 29 at 8 pm. N. Hudson Street between Wilson Boulevard and 13th Street N. will be closed from approximately 5:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. for the event.
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Quick-builds in Progress:
- Clarendon Blvd & Quinn St
- Fairfax Dr & N Taylor St
- Clarendon Blvd & N Danville St
- Fairfax Dr and N Jefferson St
- 14th St & N Rolfe
- Wilson Blvd & N Oak St
- N Ohio St & 18th St N
- Little Falls Rd & John Marshall Dr
Recently Completed Quick-builds:
Visit the Vision Zero Safety Projects page to learn more about safety-driven quick build projectss, capital projects, pilot projects, High-Injury Network safety audits, and more.
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