The Neighborhood Complete Streets (NCS) program was established by the Arlington County Board in January 2016 to address safety and access problems on local (non-arterial) streets through physical improvement projects. The program is intended to complement the work of the Complete Streets Program on noncommercial arterial streets and the Neighborhood Conservation Program.
The Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission was chartered to advise the County Board on the NCS program and make recommendations for projects to fund. This group of volunteer residents are appointed by the County Board to three-year terms and attend monthly meetings to further the work of the NCS program.
The NCS program is funded through the County’s Capital Improvement Plan.
Submit a project application for future funding rounds:
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Complete Streets are streets designed and operated to allow safe and comfortable use by all users. People walking, biking, riding transit and driving are all accommodated in the available infrastructure, and the street design is compatible with surrounding land uses.
Arlington’s Master Transportation Plan established the development of a countywide network of Complete Streets as one of its primary goals – but not all streets in Arlington are currently designed for all users, so there is ongoing work to implement this long-held vision for the County.
What can we do to improve Arlington’s neighborhood streets to make them safer or more “complete”?
Sidewalks free and clear of obstructions, streetlights, Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible curb ramps, safe space for bikes and appropriate street widths – these are all elements of a complete street. How a street is improved to increase the safety and comfort of underserved users depends on the street.
For information on best practices in the design of Complete Streets, visit the US Department of Transportation Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center and their Complete Streets resources.
The Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission has undertaken several pilot projects and has advanced the first capital projects through approval of the County Board – See the list of projects
NCS List of Nominated Streets
In 2017, the NCS Program asked residents, workers and visitors to share their ideas of which streets should be selected for improvement. Arlington did not disappoint!
Learn more about the nominations and the potential project list.
Program Background
The Neighborhood Complete Streets program replaced the County’s Neighborhood Traffic Calming program, after a broad engagement process and input and approval by the County Board. The focus of the NCS program is to reconsider streets as public spaces for all people. Learn more