Look out for bikes: Before you turn right, look for bikes. Before you open your door, look for bikes. Arlington is a bike-friendly community—look for and expect bikes as you drive and exit your vehicles to help make our streets safe for everyone. Learn more about why bike safety matters.
The 2025 Annual Progress Report and Virtual Open House StoryMap are now live! The report details the progress that Arlington County made on the 90+ action items set forth in Arlington’s Vision Zero Action Plan. The following infographic provides an overview of all safety-related activities in 2025.
PhotoRED
Arlington’s PhotoRED red-light safety program launched in 2010. A second phase of locations were then installed in 2015 and 2016. The third and most recent phase of locations were installed in fall 2024.
On average, the newly introduced Phase 3 PhotoRED locations showed an average 62% decrease in the rate of drivers receiving red-light violations from 2024 to 2025. At these six PhotoRED intersections installed in 2024, crashes decreased by 34% when comparing the year before installation to the year after.
PhotoSPEED
Arlington’s first 10 PhotoSPEED safety cameras, installed in fall 2024, have demonstrated substantial safety benefits. Within the first 4 months of installation, average traffic speeds declined by 6%. By the end of the following year, speeds had decreased by 16% relative to pre-camera conditions.
Meaningful improvements in safety outcomes accompanied these reductions in speed. On the 10 corridors where PhotoSPEED was first implemented, crashes decreased by 38% between the 2023 –2024 and 2024 –2025 school years.
Thank you for sharing your feedback as we work to update Arlington’s Vision Zero Action Plan. We received 129 online responses, 5 mailed responses, and had over 650 in-person interactions. We’re reviewing your comments and incorporating them into the Draft Action Plan Update. Below is the tentative timeline to finalize the Action Plan Update and present to the County Board for Adoption:
-
May-June: Assess and Incorporate Community Feedback
-
Late June: Publish Revised Action Plan Update
-
July 2 Transportation Commission: Present Action Plan Update for Approval
-
July County Board Meeting: Request to Advertise at the September Board Meeting
-
September County Board Meeting: Request to Adopt the Action Plan Update
Stay tuned for updates in this newsletter!
The Leading Through Interval (LTI) pilot introduces a new signal timing strategy that creates a brief interval at the start of the signal phase. During this interval, vehicles traveling straight are allowed to proceed, while turning movements are paused. At the same time, pedestrians and cyclists are be permitted to cross during the active “walk” signal. Once the LTI ends, turning vehicles are allowed to proceed.
The goal of this pilot is to reduce conflicts between turning vehicles and pedestrians/bicyclists in the crosswalk, enhancing safety and visibility for all road users.
This pilot project is currently active at the following locations:
- Wilson Blvd & N Lynn St
- Washington Blvd & 10th St N
This feedback form runs through Monday, June 1st.
|
We recently installed a quick-build project at S Walter Reed Dr & S Pollard St that built out curb extensions, installed a concrete median, added bus stop improvements, and installed Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFBs).
Due to site conditions limiting visibility, the RRFB was mounted overhead with accompanying signs and lights rather than installed on traditional poles. The crossing is located near the crest of a hill, which can make it difficult for approaching drivers to see pedestrians.
|
|
 |
The overhead installation improves visibility by allowing drivers to more easily notice the flashing signals and pedestrians as they approach the crossing.
As a follow on to the Tactical Speed Hump pilot, we are working on installing speed cushions at the following school zone locations:
- 15th St N located near Washington-Liberty High School (to replace the tactical speed humps that were damaged during snow clearing)
- 28th St S near Gunston Middle School
- 5th Rd N near Ashlawn Elementary Schol
The speed cushions will help reduce vehicle speeds, increase driver yielding behavior, and improve bicyclist and pedestrian crossing safety. Speed cushions have cut through areas to ease access for emergency vehicles.
Once they are installed, we will collect after data to understand the effects of the speed cushions on speeds and driver behavior.
|
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Bike to Work Day! The Vision Zero team was excited to be in Rosslyn connecting with rides, sharing educational materials, and handing out SLOW DOWN t-shirts and tote bags. We asked riders to tell us about why they enjoy biking and when they feel safest. See what we learned:
Interested in part time employment that will improve safety in the community?
There is a high demand for crossing guards, but not many on staff. Help us increase our capacity to serve school crossings in Arlington!
 |
|
If you would like a Vision Zero lawn sign, you can contact jselander@arlingtonva.us for more information on how you can pick up a sign from the County's offices located in Courthouse! Supplies are limited as we are still gauging the community's interest in this initiative. |
 Below are updates regarding other ongoing construction and installations:
Pilot Safety Projects:
-
Leading Through Intervals
- Washington Blvd & 10th St N - Installed
- Wilson Blvd & N Lynn St – Installed
-
Speed Management Pilot Safety Project
- S Courthouse Rd, 5th St S to 8th St S – Installed
- 10th St N, Arlington Blvd to Washington Blvd- Installed
- Williamsburg Blvd, N Edison St to N George Mason Dr – Installed
- N Meade St, Fairfax Dr to 14th St N - Upcoming
- Washington Blvd, Arlington Blvd Ramp to N Pershing Dr- Upcoming
- S Hayes St, Army Navy Dr to 15th St S- Upcoming
- S Walter Reed Dr, S Pollard St to S Wakefield St - Upcoming
- S George Mason Dr, 4th St S to Columbia Pike- Upcoming
High-Injury Network Safety Audits:
Quick-Build Safety Projects:
- 19th Rd N & N Westmoreland St (Tactical) – Project cut sheet coming soon
- Westbound Langston Blvd & N Scott St – Project cut sheet coming soon
- Westbound Langston Blvd & N Quinn St (Tactical) – Project cut sheet coming soon
- Route 50 Tactical Improvement – Project cut sheet coming soon
- S Walter Reed Dr & S Pollard St – Project cut sheet coming soon
- S Walter Reed Dr & S Lorton St – In construction
Capital-Driven Safety Project Updates:
-
Fort Myer Sidewalk Improvements Project: Crews have started preparation for the Fort Myer Sidewalk Improvements project on Fort Myer Drive at Gateway Park, and at two adjacent intersections. This work will make pedestrian and bike travel through the area safer. Construction will start in spring of 2026 and will be completed in spring of 2027, as weather allows.
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 Crash Data 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.
|
