| Project will connect activity centers in Arlington and Fairfax counties
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Board tonight took an important step toward revitalizing Columbia Pike, endorsing a transit study recommendation to plan a modern streetcar line for the corridor.
The new five-mile line would connect the activity centers of Pentagon City in Arlington and Skyline in Fairfax County along the Columbia Pike corridor. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will consider endorsing the streetcar plan in May. Action by the Arlington and Fairfax County Boards will allow the project to proceed to the next phases, which include environmental studies and detailed system design.
“A modern streetcar system will bring us a step closer to transforming Columbia Pike into a pedestrian-friendly Main Street” said Arlington County Board Chairman Christopher Zimmerman.
The plan calls for using both streetcars and buses. The streetcar schedule would mirror Metro’s Yellow and Blue lines service by running every six minutes throughout the day. During peak periods, Metrobuses would supplement the streetcars and provide riders with a transit vehicle approximately every three minutes. The streetcars would operate in the same traffic lanes as cars and other vehicles. Tracks for the streetcars would be placed in the curb lane, enabling sidewalks to be used for the transit station platforms. Stops would be located every quarter to a third mile along the route.
Benefits of a Modern Streetcar Line
Attractive vehicles with large windows are compatible with the urban scale of the area and with the walkable “main street” environment Arlington is developing along Columbia Pike
Electric motors and steel tracks provide a quiet, comfortable ride and encourage transit use
Streetcars are large enough to handle increased ridership as the corridor redevelops
Vehicles are powered from a single overhead wire that would have minimal visual impact
The streetcar line would encourage the private sector to invest in the revitalization of the corridor (based on the experience of cities such as Portland, Oregon and Tampa, Florida, the streetcar system would promote new development along Columbia Pike)
Background on the Streetcar Alternative
The plan endorsed by the Board is the recommendation of a Columbia Pike Transit Alternative Analysis study. Conducted by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) for Arlington and Fairfax Counties, the study concluded that the combination of streetcars and buses would cost less than full streetcar or light-rail alternatives and better serve Columbia Pike than other options. The findings were based, in part, on extensive involvement and suggestions from Columbia Pike community members.
The Arlington Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization have endorsed the concept. The plan also has won support from the County’s Planning; Transportation; Environmental and Energy Conservation, and Economic Development commissions.
Revitalization of Columbia Pike
The recent Alternatives Analysis study is the latest in a series of steps in the redevelopment of Columbia Pike. In 2002, Arlington County adopted the Columbia Pike Initiative, a revitalization plan for the three-and-a-half mile corridor in Arlington. The plan called for development of a high-capacity transit system.
The Columbia Pike Initiative was followed in 2003 by adoption of the Form Based Code, which guides development along Columbia Pike. In 2004, the Columbia Pike Street Space Planning Task Force recommended future transit operate in mixed traffic and that the transitway be located in the curb lanes.
Transit planning has proceeded along with land-use planning. In 2003, Arlington initiated Pike Ride, a restructuring of the Columbia Pike bus service. Pike Ride was implemented as an interim step while the higher-capacity transit improvements were studied. With Pike Ride established, Arlington joined with Fairfax County to undertake the Alternatives Analysis as the next stage in transit planning along Columbia Pike.
To learn more about the Columbia Pike Transit Alternative Analysis, visit www.piketransit.com.
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Arlington, Va., is a world-class urban community that was originally part of the “10-mile square” parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Known for its urban villages and transit-oriented development, Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use. In 2002, the county was the first recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency’s highest award for “Smart Growth.” Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world – including the Pentagon – Arlington stands out as one of America’s preeminent places to live, visit and do business. |
