 Winter presents many challenges, one of which is longer hours in dark conditions. It is important to be extra vigilant while driving in the dark by going the speed limit and checking for pedestrians crossing the road. If you are crossing the road, be sure to use the crosswalk. Let's work together to keep our community safe. Learn more about Arlington’s Vision Zero Critical Crash Campaign here.
Do you walk, run, or bike on the Custis Trail?
Arlington County is looking to understand what works and what doesn’t work about the trail. Learn more on the Custis Trail Needs Assessment on the project page.
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The intersection of S Glebe Rd & S Old Glebe Rd was identified during the Glebe Rd High-Injury Network safety audit due to: (1) pedestrian safety at an uncontrolled, five-lane crossing with no refuge and (2) risk of angle crashes due to intersection geometry, sight lines, and speeds.
We are planning a capital project to improve the intersection, but installation will be after 2025.
In the interim, we will install safety improvements using tactical in-street materials (signs, markings, flex posts) and pilot a temporary bus stop platform to maintain bus stop accessibility.
Specifically, the project will:
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Close the underutilized right turn lane, which shortens the pedestrian crossing over S Glebe Rd,
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Narrow the southeast entrance to S Old Glebe Rd to reduce the speed of turning vehicles,
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Add a tactical median to eliminates left turn conflicts at the intersection,
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Add a temporary 6-inch-high bus boarding platform to allow for accessible bus loading at curb height and allow buses to load in-lane, and
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Use temporary materials for quick/low-cost installation.
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The County conducts a biannual crash Hot Spot Program that identifies individual intersections or locations that experience high numbers of crashes with the target to implement quick-build crash mitigation measures. At the end of 2023, we finalized the list of 2024 hot spots (covering 2018-2022 crash data) to prepare for the next round of evaluation in the two-year crash hot spots cycle. Evaluation of these 2024 Hot Spots Analysis began at the start of 2024 and will wrap by the end of 2025. We are beginning the review of the 2024 hot spots starting with new/first-time hot spots. Once the review of the new hot spots completes, we will review the repeated hot spot locations from previous years to allow time for assessment following their previous improvements.
We are also currently wrapping up documentation of the 2022 hot spots review and will publish the summary document in early 2024. Visit the Maps and Safety Data page for more information about this and other Vision Zero data-driven initiatives.
Staff across Arlington’s DOT participated on both bike and foot in the S George Mason Dr from 6th St S to S Dinwiddie Dr High-Injury Network (HIN) safety audit in early September. This corridor was timely due to the recent completion of the S George Mason Dr Multimodal Transportation Study. The safety audit aimed to jumpstart safety-related recommendations from the study—both in terms of small-scale, quick-build work and longer-term capital projects. Documentation of the safety audit is now posted on the HIN Response page.
Some key audit action items in progress include: corridor-wide pavement marking and signage updates, installation of a scooter corral to avoid scooter parking at a bus stop, and two quick-build curb extension projects. Additionally, the county is undergoing a systemic update of all Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons located at intersections, transitioning the infrastructure to a traffic signal to provide clearer traffic control for all directions. This effort will include updating the intersections of S George Mason Dr & 13th St S and S George Mason Dr & S Frederick St to traffic signals within the next three years.
Lighting is a crucial streetscape design feature, as it increases visibility for all road users during conditions when lighting levels are low, especially at pedestrian crossings.
Safety Benefits of Lighting:
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Improves visibility for all users
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Increases safety on streets, at crossings, and along trails
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May reduce crashes and injuries for all road users
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May increase yielding and compliance when used in conjunction with traffic control devices
Street lighting is beneficial at intersections in areas with high volumes of pedestrians, such as commercial or retail areas.
Click here to find more information on Lighting as well as many of the other important road safety tools.
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As we are completing the school zone retrofit initiative this winter/spring, we are in the process of removing all beacons that are in place on the now permanent 20 MPH school slow zones on neighborhood streets and replacing them with 20 MPH school speed limit signs. We are removing the defunct beacons to ensure consistency in school speed limit treatments across the county and prevent confusion for drivers regarding the speed limit. Additionally, beacons (whether solar or electric) are high-cost, high-maintenance infrastructure. Replacing beacons with school slow zone treatments (permanent 20 MPH speed limits, high visibility roadway markings) is a more sustainable strategy for delivering consistent school zone treatments at Arlington’s 40+ schools.
Arlington County is now working on the third and final phase of the school zone retrofits. Phase 3 will be implemented at 19 remaining schools, and school zone retrofits will likely be installed in spring 2024. It is important to remember that the speed limit is 20mph all day, everyday in these slow zone.
In summer of 2022, Arlington County systemically added pedestrian crossing improvements to 46 signalized intersections. Specifically, we implemented Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) combined with “No Right Turn on Red” signs along the four High-Injury Network corridors: Columbia Pike, Fairfax Dr, Clarendon Blvd, and Wilson Blvd.
LPIs give walkers and bikers a 3-7 second head start at signalized intersections. Studies show that this safety tool can reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions by up to 60% by increasing turning motorists’ visibility of pedestrians. The “No Right Turn on Red” sign ensures there is no potential conflict between the pedestrian with the head start and a turning vehicle.
We are excited to expand this systemic safety effort to the National Landing area in 2024 with the addition of LPIs and “No Right Turn on Red” signs at 12 intersections—including traffic signals along S Hayes St, S Eads St, 15th St S, and 18th St S. Most treatments will be installed within the next month, while three locations are waiting for capital projects to complete before installation. With this effort, we will have over 90 intersections with LPIs/NTOR in the county.
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Recently Completed Quick-Builds:
Visit the Vision Zero Safety Projects page to learn more about safety-driven quick build projects, capital projects, pilot projects, High-Injury Network safety audits, and more.
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