Arlington View Connector Trail
In Design
StatusIn Design
The project team is currently in final design review of the preferred stairs-with-runnel concept, with the next milestone of a final bid set anticipated by spring of 2026.
Location
The project is located along an easement that lies parallel to I-395, extending from 13th Road South at Hoffman-Boston Elementary School down to the I-395 underpass along Memorial Drive and extending to the intersection at Army Navy Drive.
About the Project
This project has passed through several early site planning stages over the years, extending from the 1994 Bicycle Transportation Plan, approved CIP funding in 2018, to the MTP Bike Element and Public Spaces Master Plan, both adopted in 2019. The Pentagon City Sector Plan adopted in early 2022 has provided additional planning support for adjacent multimodal enhancement projects like the Arlington View Connector Trail project.
The project will provide a new trail connection between Memorial Drive at the Army Navy entrance gate and 13th Road South. at the Hoffman Boston Elementary School campus. At the level of implementation, the goal is to improve multi-modal connectivity between the Arlington View and Arlington Ridge neighborhoods that are presently separated by Shirley Memorial Highway (I-395).
In earlier stages of planning, the project had been referred to as the Army Navy Country Club (ANCC) Trail Connector. When the project was added to the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) in 2018, that name was retained for continuity. As the project has now developed, it has been renamed Arlington View Connector Trail in recognition of the neighborhood where it is located.
Public Process
The project team has engaged the public to communicate differing scenarios for potential design development and to solicit feedback based on the scenarios presented. These preliminary scenarios have been thoroughly vetted by County engineering staff based on site survey data, studies of built precedents across the U.S. and other countries, preliminary calculations of trail slope, cut/fill analysis, potential structural elements, and user safety requirements.
Future key milestones for the project will include public engagement to communicate the final design, and to provide updates on procurement and construction timelines. Public notice advertisement, September 2025(PDF, 119KB)
Project Timeline
Winter 2026 - Project Update
The project manager was invited to speak at the January 28, 2026 meeting of the Arlington View Civic Association and gave an update about the Arlington View Connector Trail.
Fall 2025 - Final Design
The County project team has reached the final milestone of design development, with detailed plans in departmental review through late fall of 2025. The project team will proceed with contracting through the remainder of 2025 and into early 2026.
The final design incorporates the concepts refined in the final concept design development, with additional details for final construction.
Fall 2025 - Public Notice on Proposed Limited Access Control Changes
Consult
The Arlington County Department of Environmental Services (DES) and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) invited the community to review information about a proposed change in limited access control along southbound I-395 adjacent to the proposed Arlington View Connector Trail project. The subject limited access control boundary extends roughly between 13th Road South and a private road accessing the Army Navy Country Club. This change request is due to existing site constraints that result in encroachment by the proposed county project. This project will involve changes in limited access control.
Public comment was collected by mail to Mr. Mark Dennis, Arlington County Department of Environmental Services, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22201, concluding to September 30, 2025.
Resources
Summer 2025 - Design Development
The County project team has reached the next milestone of design development. The project team is proceeding with final design into mid-2025.
The renderings in the design update are an artist's interpretation of the plan, and engineering design will provide a detailed construction plan. Final construction plans may vary slightly from the conceptual renderings.
60% Design Update
Fall 2023 - Project Update Open House
In November 2023, the project team joined staff from other nearby projects for a community open house for transportation projects in the Arlington View and Arlington Ridge neighborhoods. At the open house, attendees could learn more about the projects and speak with project managers about how we got here and what next steps are coming.
For this project, we shared initial concept design drawings of the preferred stair-and-runnel concept, which will connects the Arlington View and Arlington Ridge neighborhoods and link the trail connection with a forthcoming two-way protected bike lane on Army Navy Drive from Memorial Drive into the heart of Pentagon City.
Spring 2022 - Preliminary Alternatives
On April 27, 2022, the project team hosted a virtual public meeting to re-introduce the project to the community, cover the project background, history and goals, and walk through two preliminary design alternatives that have been advanced for community review and comment.
The project team accepted input through an online feedback form open for three weeks following the meeting. That feedback is now informing the project team as they work to select a concept to advance to the design and engineering phases.
A summary of what we heard is available below.
Engagement Summary
Engagement Resources:
Funding
This project is entirely locally funded through the Transportation Capital Fund using local commercial and industrial (C&I) taxes, as well as NVTA Local funding.
Photo Gallery