Environmental Services
Clarendon Metro Plaza Improvements
Project Overview
Arlington County is working with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to improve the Clarendon Metro Plaza between Wilson and Clarendon Boulevards and from N. Highland Street to the Metrorail elevator. This initiative will create an active, multi-use plaza to accommodate the farmers’ markets, music events, vendors and other community activities, while enhancing pedestrian access to Metrorail and transit. Improvements will include:
- New pedestrian paving
- New curb extension on Clarendon Blvd.
- New seating walls and movable tables and chairs
- New street and plaza lighting
- New landscaping and irrigation
- Covered bike parking
- Modular newspaper racks
Samples of the proposed plaza paving materials have been installed in the Plaza near the Metro elevator to give the public and the design and construction community an opportunity to see the planned design.
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Construction on the project is expected to begin in Winter/Spring 2012. View the July 2011 Clarendon Plaza Update.
Current Status
- The project schedule has been extended to be completed in Spring 2012.
- Design plans are 90 percent complete and construction bid documents are being prepared.
- New Carlyle style streetlights were installed in August 2010. The old streetlights have been removed.
- The project team includes citizens, businesses owners, the Clarendon Alliance, Kimley Horn and County staff from multiple departments and disciplines. This group has continually refined the conceptual design.
- The project team has held public design meetings at the Clarendon Alliance, County Manager and County Board Member briefings, and has provided ongoing updates with the surrounding Civic Associations.
Next Steps
- Finalize the engineering plans and invitation to bid documents
- Publicly advertise for construction proposals and award contract
- Begin construction by Winter/Spring 2012
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Project Facts
- Construction Plans were completed using the County’s On-Call Planning and Engineering Task Order Contract with the design consultant.
- The plaza will remain as County owned property up to the escalator and elevator landing areas as per WMATA easements.
- Maintenance of the plaza is provided by Arlington County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Staff.
- The granite paving at the entrance of the Metro escalator and elevator will remain as is.
Project History
- 1996 Initial Transportation Enhancement Grant approved for the canopy design
- 1997 Federal Funding earmarked for the canopy
- 1999 Clarendon alliance Urban Design Committee begins community outreach
- 2001 WMATA develops request for proposal to design Clarendon Canopy and Metro Park
- 2003 Project expanded to include Metro Park, 13th Street Park and Community Canine area
- 2003 HOK selected to design canopy and park
- 2004 HOK begins design work
- 2005 No community consensus on designs from Community Parks and Canopy Workshops
- 2005 WMATA offers to include Clarendon in Phase II canopy installations
- 2006 WMATA installs canopy
- 2008 Arlington requests to locally administer project to use remaining funds
- 2008 Original project scope reduced to Metro Plaza areas only to match remaining budget
- 2008 Kimley Horn prepares plaza design with Clarendon Alliance and community support
- 2009 New streetlights installed as an early 1st phase of construction
- 2009 Easement and engineering design plans submitted to and approved by WMATA
- 2010 Construction drawings prpared
- 2011 Paver exhibit panel installed July for design review and public comment
- 2011 Construction anticipated Winter/Spring 2012.
Funding
Funding for the Clarendon Metro Improvements Projects is provided by several sources.
- DC-30-0038) WMATA + (DC-90-X071) RSTP - $222,213
- Local Grant Match (held by WMATA) - $55,554
- Arlington County Business Improvement Bonds (Held by WMATA) - $23,704
- Total WMATA Related Funding - $ 301,471
- Arlington Metro Station Bicycle Parking Transportation Enhancement Grant - $100,000
- Transportation Improvement Funds (TIF) - $350,000
County Contact
| Arlington Project Manager: | Tom Hutchings 703 228-3809 |
