Vision Zero Tools and Guidelines

Multimodal Safety Engineering Toolbox

View the Multimodal Safety Engineering Toolbox (pdf)

View the Multimodal Safety Engineering Toolbox (web format)

Ver el Borrador Final (Proximamente)

Toolbox Documents

• Multimodal Safety Engineering Toolbox(PDF, 17MB) – The full document contains a detailed introduction section and 2-page fact sheets for all 40 tools.
• Executive Summary(PDF, 1MB) – These pages from the full document summarize key information from the introduction and includes a matrix of all 40 tools with graphics, a short description, estimated crash reduction, cost, and implementation timelines.
• Annual Tool Counts(PDF, 257KB) – These documents summarize where certain tools are being used in Arlington. They are updated each year as part of the Vision Zero Annual Report.

Purpose & Background

This Multimodal Safety Engineering Toolbox was initiated in Arlington’s first five-year Vision Zero Action Plan under Action Item B7: Multimodal Safety Toolbox. The purpose of this Toolbox is to:

• Inform internal and external stakeholders about safety improvement options and their appropriate uses and contexts,
• Highlight available tools for improving safety to a community audience using non-technical and easy-to-understand language,
• Facilitate communication between staff, contractors, developers, and the community specifically relating to transportation safety improvements, and
• Create a shared understanding and realistic expectations around safety treatments.

Format & Content 

The first-generation Multimodal Safety Engineering Toolbox includes 40 tools, organized into five categories: Crossings and Signals, Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities, Transit Facilities, Speed and Traffic Management, and Other Road Design Elements.

For each tool, the Toolbox includes a graphic and written description of the tool’s primary purpose, implementation considerations, the expected reduction in crashes based on research (where available), and planning-level cost estimates and timelines for implementation.

The Toolbox does not replace engineering analysis, feasibility evaluation, and design. It does not include specific design guidance; consult the Reference subsections in the Toolbox and Existing Guidelines section on this page to learn more about the standards and specifications for each tool.

Using the Toolbox

Through the public engagement conducted as part of the development of this resource, we heard a number of great ideas from Arlington Commissions, Committees, APS, and the General Public on how to use the Toolbox, including suggestions to:

• Use frequently to advocate for safety projects and a safer multimodal transportation system
• Use as a resource for advocacy and to contribute to discussions about transportation
• Use to support applications for neighborhood street projects and create a shared understanding during project discussions
• Use during review of site plans for large scale developments and to inform requests for developers to improve the multimodal transportation system
• Use to ensure safer, more comfortable, multimodal access to parks and trails
• Use to promote tools that encourage low-carbon forms of transportation like walking, bicycling, and taking transit
• Use to advocate for tools that make the transportation system safer and more accessible to users of all ages and abilities 

Updates & Revisions 

The Multimodal Safety Engineering Toolbox is meant to be a “living document,” and is anticipated to be revisited as part of the annual Vision Zero program meeting. The Toolbox will be updated to include new tools and references as they become available. 

Public Engagement on the Toolbox

The draft (English | Espanol) Multimodal Safety Engineering Toolbox was posted to our website and made available for review in early 2022. The release of the draft document was paired with an online form and a virtual meeting was held to collect feedback (view the presentation slides(PDF, 4MB) | ver diapositivas de presentación(PDF, 4MB)). The questions posed on the online form and at the virtual meeting asked respondents about their understanding of the Toolbox’s purpose, whether it was easy to understand, the usefulness and format of the information presented, and how they might use the Toolbox in the future. Additional comments were sent to county staff via email during the comment period.

View the Public Engagement Summary(PDF, 2MB)

The Toolbox scored 7/10 on ease of understanding. Most people found the format of the Toolbox to be clear. About 50% of respondents thought the visuals were effective. More than 50% of respondents felt videos or animations of how the tools work would make the content easier to understand.

There were mixed responses about the level of detail provided for each tool: some respondents wanted more detail; others wanted the resource to be more concise. Respondents indicated that Safety Benefits and Expected Crash Reduction are the most useful pieces of information.

Based on the feedback received, we:

• Adjusted to reflect the disaggregated / additional tools
• Provided consistent illustrative graphics
• Identified plans to assess efficacy of tools over time (i.e., before/after studies)
• Rearranged sections to ensure it is cohesive and easy-to-follow
• Created an easily-digestible executive summary
• Reviewed language to remove excess words/ensure plain language
• Quality checked format and consistency issues
• Created a definitions section that gives descriptions of key terms

The project team presented the final draft at meetings of the Transportation Commission and Planning Commission in Fall 2022.  

Automated Enforcement (Red Light and Speed Cameras)

School Zones 

Staff recently finalized Arlington's school zone guidelines(PDF, 647KB), which include specifications for setting speed limits in school zones. Per the Vision Zero Action Plan, staff updated Chapter 14.2 of the County Code to allow for permanent 20mph speed limits on neighborhood streets within 600 feet of a school access point. Over the past three years, we have been working to retrofit all school zones in the County (both public and private) to meet the new guidelines. See below for school slow zone and school zone retrofit updates or view the School Slow Zones StoryMap,

Phase 1 School Zone Retrofits (Spring 2022)

In Winter/Spring 2022, the County retrofitted and installed 20mph school slow zone demonstrations at 13 schools (Phase 1). The retrofits included reviewing all existing school zone speed limits and ensuring high visibility crossings and school zone signage within the school zone, as well as identifying and installing 20MPH speed limits (at all times of day) on neighborhood streets within 600ft of a school access point. The retrofits/demonstration school slow zones were installed in early 2022.

Phase 1 Demonstration Information & School Zone Maps 

View the 1-page flyer on the school slow zone demonstration (Phase 1) projects: English(PDF, 456KB) | Español(PDF, 457KB) | አማርኛ (PDF, 530KB) | العربية(PDF, 570KB) | Монгол(PDF, 536KB)

Phase 2 School Zone Retrofits (Spring 2023)

In late spring 2022, staff collected community feedback to learn about community experiences and observations during the demonstrations. Community feedback indicated that many people felt safer walking, biking, and driving because of the new school slow zones. Before/after speed data was inconclusive due to data collection errors. New data collection is in progress. View the 2022 Demonstration School Slow Zones Feedback & Program Update(PDF, 289KB) for details. 

In response this community feedback, Arlington enhanced enforcement, signage, and communications in the next round (Phase 2) school slow zones. DES, APS, and Police are continuing to evaluate results and refine the program as the County implements additional school slow zone demonstrations/school zone retrofits in winter and spring 2023, following Board approval of an amendment to Chapter 14.2 of the County Code to adopt the 20mph school slow zone policy.

Phase 2 School Zone Maps(PDF, 3MB)  

View the 2023 (Phase 2) School Slow Zone Flyer(PDF, 442KB)

Tactical Speed Humps in School Zones Pilot (Fall 2023)

Following speed data collection on Phase 1 school slow zone locations, staff launched an initiative that reintroduces speed humps via a limited pilot focused on reducing speeds in school slow zones where data shows the introduction of 20mph speed limits has not lowered speeds. The pilot will use tactical speed humps because they are easy to both install and remove quickly if needed. They are cost effective, tested for durability, and made from 100% recycled material. Locations are focused on Staff collected speed data on segments that were viable candidates for speed humps within the Phase 1 school slow zones and selected the three locations with the highest speeds for the pilot:

• Cardinal Elementary School: 19th St N btw. N Madison St & N Lexington St
• Hoffman Boston Elementary School: S Queen St btw. 12th St S and 13th Rd S
• Gunston Middle School: S Lang St btw. Arlington Ridge Rd and 28th St S

Additional speed hump sites may be considered in school slow zones following this initial pilot. View the Vision Zero Pilot Projects page to learn more. 

Phase 3 School Zone Retrofits (Spring 2024) 

Arlington is now working on the third and final phase of school zone retrofits / school slow zones. Staff have met with faculty at each of the 19 remaining/Phase 3 schools to confirm the school slow zone segments and discussed other school-specific transportation safety concerns. Over the remainder of the 2023, we will inventory and finalize detailed signage/marking plans for each school zone retrofit. Phase 3 school zone retrofits will then likely be installed in winter/spring 2024. Sign up for the monthly Vision Zero Newsletter to stay up to date.

Phase 3 School Zone Maps(PDF, 5MB)

Traffic Garden Guidelines 

Traffic gardens, also known as traffic playgrounds and traffic parks, are safe spaces for children and families to learn the rules of the road and bicycle and pedestrian safety tips away from street traffic. Arlington County partnered with Prince George's County, MD, to advance regional roadway safety through a newly-released design and installation guide for traffic “safety” gardens. The joint project was funded by a $35K technical assistance award through the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) Regional Roadway Safety Program and supports the Counties’ Vision Zero initiatives to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.

The traffic garden guide is titled: “Planting Seeds for Regional Roadway Safety, One Traffic Garden at a Time” and includes step-by-step instructions to plan for and install various types of traffic gardens (including mobile, pop-up, and permanent traffic gardens). The traffic garden guide also features local and regional stories involving traffic gardens, and contains supplemental materials such as checklists, worksheets, and activity sheets. The intent is for anyone to pick up the guide and implement a traffic garden, no matter the space or resources. 

View the Traffic Garden "How-to" Guide Here(PDF, 12MB)

The joint project was spotlighted on the MWCOG website in February 2023, and the much-anticipated guide was showcased in a panel presentation by panelists from both Arlington and Prince George’s Counties during the League of American Bicyclists 23rd National Bike Summit in March 2023. Both Counties look forward to building more traffic gardens and encouraging other groups and individuals to do the same. 

County Engineering Guidelines

Action item B6 of Arlington’s Vision Zero Action Plan outlines the County’s approach to designing streets and trails to be safe for all users. Pursuant to this, the County will update existing design standards and guidelines and create new ones to reflect the fact that safety is our top priority. These guidelines will be kept up-to-date to reflect the latest safety research, standards and best practices from across the country, and to include lessons learned from systemic crash analysis.

The County recognizes the importance of responding swiftly to safety issues, so these guidelines are intended to be flexible and allow staff to exercise some discretion in determining the most effective solutions for each individual situation.

The links below share existing guidance for safety treatments, with more on the way.

• Bus Stop Guidelines (Updated March 2020): This manual lays out the guidelines for bus stops within the County, and emphasizes accessibility for disabled riders, consistency in the design of bus stops, safety for all road users, and convenience and comfort for transit riders.
• Marked Crosswalk Guidelines (Updated August 2021): This manual describes the guidelines for the design and placement of marked crosswalks, with a focus on safety, accessibility, and uniformity.
• Sign Installation Guidelines (Updated May 2020): This standard establishes requirements for the size and location of signage to maximize visibility and ensure uniformity and safety.
• “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop” Guidelines (Updated January 2021): This document lays out guidance for selecting locations in which to install a “Cross Traffic Does Not Stop” plaque at stop signs to maximize safety at intersections where criteria are met.
• In-Street Pedestrian Crossing Sign Guidelines (Updated January 2021): This manual lays out guidelines for the placement of in-street pedestrian crossing signs to promote pedestrian safety at unsignalized locations and/or marked crosswalks.
• Median Nose Guidelines (Updated March 2019): This manual sets out design and location specifications for median noses at crosswalks, with an emphasis on pedestrian safety and accessibility. It provides options for the installation of measures at or near median noses to increase driver awareness to eliminate driver confusion and/or collisions with the median noses.
• Speed Feedback Indicator Sign Guidelines (Updated January 2021): This document describes guidelines for installation and use of Speed Feedback Indicator Signs, with an emphasis on discouraging speeding and promoting safety for all road users.
• Streetlight Installation Process (Updated 2020): This document examines the split ownership of Arlington’s streetlights between the county and Dominion and sets out guidelines for both the specifications of streetlights based on the situation in which they are to be installed and the installation process.
• Turning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians Sign Guidelines (Updated January 2021): This document sets out guidelines for placement of these signs and focuses on ensuring that they are installed in locations to promote both pedestrian safety and efficient use of county resources.
• Multiway Stop Sign Guidelines(PDF, 122KB) (Updated November 2019): This document establishes warrants for placement of stop signs for multiple approaches at an intersection. 
• School Zone Guidelines(PDF, 647KB) (Updated Oct 2023): This document provides basic guidelines for identifying school zone boundaries, determining the school zone speed limit type, and establishing the standard engineering tools applied within school zones to enhance safety and visibility.