 Speed impacts your visibility. Slower is safer for everyone. As a driver, your speed matters. A person driving at 20 mph has double the field of vision and can stop twice as quickly compared to a person driving at 30 mph. Slower is safer for everyone.
Learn more about why speed matters.
In December 2023, we launched a safety pilot project that added tactical speed humps to three school zones: Gunston Middle School, Cardinal Elementary School, and Hoffman Boston Elementary School. The initiative reintroduced speed humps to Arlington's streets via a limited pilot focused on school slow zones where data showed the introduction of a 20 mph speed limit had not lowered driver speeds.
This past winter, we collected feedback from the public about the pilot. Overall, responses showed an increase in feelings of safety in all road users after these tactical speed humps were implemented. Feelings of safety were especially increased in pedestrians, bikers, and scooter users. Multiple respondents also reported seeing drivers slowing their speeds.
We also collected before and after data along the pilot corridors. The data shows reductions in speeding ranging from 18-41% on these corridors.
Due to the success of this initial pilot implementation, the Vision Zero team will be expanding the tactical speed humps to another three school slow zones—each identified through speed data analyses.
Creating new school zone guidelines was a recommendation in Arlington’s Vision Zero Action Plan. In 2022, the County developed a preliminary set of guidelines and demonstrated them at various schools to gather data and feedback. Following positive feedback from the demonstrations, the County finalized the school zone guidelines and continued updating all school zones in Arlington to meet the new guidelines.
Arlington’s new school zone guidelines outline two types of speed limits for school zones: (1) flashing beacon/dynamic 20 mph speed limits on arterial roads applicable during arrival and dismissal times and (2) standard sign/static 20 mph speed limits on local roads applicable all day/every day. The guidelines also specify typical signs, crosswalks, pavement markings, and other engineering elements for school zones.
We are excited to announce that the school zone updates and installation of 20 mph school slow zones at all 40+ public and private schools in Arlington is wrapping up this month.
Now that all Arlington’s school zones meet the new guidelines, the County will focus efforts on encouraging and enforcing school zone speed limits through the tactical speed humps pilot and the upcoming launch of Arlington’s school zone speed camera program (anticipated fall 2024—stay tuned for updates this summer).
On Thursday, May 30, members of the Transportation Engineering & Operations group provided a Vision Zero program update to the Arlington County Transportation Commission. The presentation provided a recap of 2023 crash data trends, summary of progress made toward the 90+ action items in our Vision Zero Action Plan throughout 2023, highlights of new program public engagement and education initiatives, preliminary results from the 2024 Annual Safety Feedback Engagement, and a glimpse of initiatives on deck for 2024 and beyond.
Following the presentation, the Transportation Commissioners provided a variety of constructive feedback that the Vision Zero team will be considering and integrating into next steps for the program. Commissioner input included the desire to see:
- Investment in speed management, including more roundabouts, tactical speed humps, and other new speed reduction strategies.
- More proactive and systemic deployment of safety tools and projects.
- Faster action, particularly for getting engineering improvements on the ground.
- Technology advancement to support safety goals and initiatives.
- Coordination across repaving and maintenance efforts with Vision Zero to ensure we are leveraging construction opportunities for safety upgrades.
- Safe driver training and policies implemented for both county and contracted staff.
- Filtering of crash data for major highways/freeways in Arlington (e.g., I-66 and I-395) to ensure we are focusing efforts on roadways on which the county has control.
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Advanced policies and programs to prevent drunk driving.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of something great! Be a Better Bus Hero and share your feedback on the proposed 2025 Better Bus Network. Your comments will be shared with Metro’s Board of Directors to be used in the decision-making process.
This spring, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) accepted Arlington’s application to join the next cycle of the national Vision Zero Community Pairing Program. This program provides a platform for sharing information and noteworthy practices, assessing strategies and actions, and forging beneficial learning relationships among Vision Zero communities. The program also aims to create and foster long-term partnerships to save lives from traffic-related crashes. Arlington is very excited to be paired with peer Vision Zero agency Madison, Wisconsin!
Throughout the next two years, staff from Arlington and Madison will meet virtually on a regular basis and each have the opportunity to visit one another in-person. We will cover safety topics ranging from engineering best practices to successful community education methods to strategies for updating our Vision Zero action plans. All pairs throughout the US will participate in a virtual forum every quarter to exchange information on topics of mutual interest and a mini peer exchange toward the end of the program.
Speed humps, raised crossings, and similar raised areas are a family of vertical traffic calming devices that involve raising the height of pavement for a short section to slow vehicle speeds and improve safety conditions.
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Reduce vehicle speeds
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Increase driver yielding to pedestrians
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Provide a continuous travel path for pedestrians with disabilities
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Increase height of pedestrians in driver’s field of vision
- Improve bicyclist and pedestrian crossing safety
Speed humps, raised crossings, and similar raised areas are best used on streets with lower vehicle speeds and volumes where traffic calming is needed, such as near places with high pedestrian and bicycle activity (i.e., schools, parks, trail crossings).
High-Injury Network Safety Audits:
- Clarendon Blvd & N Queen St/N Pierce St
Recently Completed Quick-builds:
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Williamsburg Blvd & 36th St N (Tactical) - Project Sheet
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Clarendon Blvd & N Queen St – Project Sheet
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Wilson Blvd & N Troy St – Project sheet coming soon
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Washington Blvd & 4th St N (median) - Project sheet coming soon
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S Four Mile Run Dr btwn S Waler Reed Dr & S George Mason Dr – Project Sheet
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Wilson Blvd & N Oak St (Tactical Improvements) - Project sheet coming soon
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N Glebe Rd & Washington Blvd - Project sheet coming soon
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N 14th St & N Veitch St - Project sheet coming soon
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N 14th St & N Uhle St - Project sheet coming soon
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Fairfax Dr & N Utah St - Project sheet coming soon
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Fairfax Dr & N Lynn St - Project sheet coming soon
- N Glebe Rd & 11th St N - Project sheet coming soon
- 10th St N & N Barton St - Project sheet coming soon
Check out the updated Quick Build Safety Projects webpage that includes a map of the County's completed and proposed 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.
Also, check out our New Dashboard that shows crash data over the last 10 years, how and where we implement safety tools from the multimodal safety toolbox, our various safety initiatives, speed reduction corridors, and where we are doing outreach/engagement.
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