15th Street South/South Clark-Bell Street Realignment

Location

15th Street South between South Clark-Bell Street and Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202

Google Map

Status

Construction

Construction is expected to begin in summer of 2025 and be completed in late 2027.

About the Project

This project will realign sections of 15th Street South and South Clark Street and create space for a garden park. The changes will improve safety for all modes of transportation and help establish the long-term street grid for Crystal City, along with the South Clark-Bell Street Demolition project (completed in March 2020).

Project Goals

  • Normalize the intersection of 15th Street South and South Clark/Bell Streets and add a signal
  • Add a north-south shared use path and bike lane along the realigned South Clark and South Bell Streets between 12th Street South and 18th Street South
  • Realign 14th Street South to connect with Crystal Drive
  • Create a park space on 15th Street South
  • Sidewalk improvements in the project area
  • Bike safety improvements at the intersections of Clark-Bell Streets and at Crystal Drive

Project Background

The 15th Street South/South Clark-Bell Street Realignment project is a goal of both the Crystal City Sector Plan and Crystal City Multimodal Transportation Study.

Completion of the Crystal City Multimodal Center created the first approach of the future intersection at 15th Street South and South Clark/Bell Streets. 


Public Process

Summer 2021 - 90% Design Revision

In response to feedback in June 2021, the project team revised the 90% design to address community concerns about the impact to bicycle safety. Those concerns included: 

•Connection of multi-use trail from South Bell St to 15th Street South
•Vehicle and bicycle conflicts at the corner of South Bell Street & 15th Street South (southwestern corner)
•Bicycle safety at Crystal Drive & 15th Street South
•Bicycle safety along 15th St S, in both directions, and at various points throughout the intersection with South Clark/Bell Street South (between Crystal Drive and Route 1/Richmond Highway)

The revisions include:

•Marked bike crossings along crosswalks and protected intersection elements
•Realigned sidewalks to make space for bike lanes and concrete medians
•An additional bike crossing at new ramp connecting from street to multi-use trail

See the revised 90% design

Previous Design Concept

A previous design concept for the project called for a realignment of 15th Street South between Crystal Drive and South Clark-Bell Street to create a 3/4-acre garden park in the road median.

The 60% design was completed in June 2019, but the previous concept was put on hold while the County investigated an alternative design due to questions from the community and an adjacent property owner. The project team worked with the adjacent property owner on a new street cross-section and curb alignment that works with the County’s vision and redevelopment aspirations.

Past Community Engagements

2021: County staff shared the 90% design documents for the new concept and completed a final round of public engagement on the project in Summer of 2021.


2020: In fall 2020 the project team worked with the adjacent property owner on a new street cross-section and curb alignment that works with the County’s vision and redevelopment aspirations.


2019: The 60% design was completed in June 2019, but the project was put on hold while the County investigated an alternative design due to questions from the community and an adjacent property owner.


2010: The 15th Street South/South Clark-Bell Street Realignment was included as a goal of the Crystal City Sector Plan and Crystal City Multimodal Transportation Study.