Columbia Pike Bike Boulevards

Previously completed improvements

• Improvements to the intersection at Walter Reed Drive and 12th Street South completed in February 2019.
• Improvements to four intersections along 9th Street South (South Highland, South Cleveland, South Adams and South Wayne Streets) completed in January 2018 (photos in image gallery).
• HAWK beacon at the intersection of South George Mason Drive and 13th Street South completed in November 2015.
• Improvements to the intersection of South Quincy Street at 12th Street South completed in October 2014 (photos below).
• Improvements to the intersection of South George Mason Drive at 13th Street completed in September 2014 (photos below).
• Rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RFB) and crosswalk installed without turn restrictions at the South Glebe Road and 9th Street South intersection in May 2014.
• Signs and pavement markings installed along 12th Street South and 9th Street South in September 2013.

Past public process

• Initial community meetings were held with adjacent civic associations in summer 2012. Additional community meetings were held in spring 2014 with the Bicycle Advisory Committee, Columbia Heights Executive Committee, and the Penrose, Alcova Heights, Arlington Heights, and Douglas Park civic associations.
• In February 2018, staff performed pre-construction coordination for the South Walter Reed Drive/12th Street South project at meetings for the Bicycle Advisory Committee, Columbia Heights Civic Association and Douglas Park Civic Association.
• In August 2018, staff gave an update on the 9th Street South bike boulevard project to the Arlington Heights Civic Association.
  • View the presentation

9th Street Bike Boulevard

•  8th Road S Neighborhood Complete Streets Project  (Intersection improvements at Dickerson and Emerson Streets at 8th Road S)
• S George Mason Drive – Arlington Boulevard to Columbia Pike
• Glebe Road and 9th Street South Intersection Improvement Project (Intersection improvements at 9th Street S and Glebe Road)
• Walter Reed Drive Complete Streets  (Intersection improvements at 9th Street S and Walter Reed Drive)

12th Street Bike Boulevard

• Barcroft Apartments Renovations Redevelopment (Private Development)  
• S George Mason Drive – Arlington Boulevard to Columbia Pike  
• Shared Street Pilot Project 12th Street S  (Intersection improvements at S Highland Street and 12th Street S)
• Arlington View Connector Trail (ANCC Trail)

As part of this project, all way stop analysis was conducted for intersections across the Columbia Pike Bicycle Boulevard Corridor. The following intersections met the requirements for an All Way Stop and were installed in spring/summer 2025: 

• S Dinwiddie and 8th Street S 

• S Dinwiddie and 9th Street S 

• 9th Street S and S Buchanan St 

• 9th Street S and S Highland  

• 12th Street S and S Monroe

Bicycle Boulevard Speed Study

In May a third-party contractor collected data at eight locations along the 9^th and 12^th Street Bicycle Boulevard Corridor to measure automobile speeds and volumes.

The data revealed that automobile speeds remained consistently high across the selected data collection locations.

Why are we adding speed cushions to the bicycle boulevards

Bicycle Boulevards are neighborhood streets designed to prioritize the safety and comfort of people walking and riding bicycles.  

Speed cushions are a proven speed management treatment and part of the Vision Zero Multimodal Safety Engineering Toolbox. Their placement along the bicycle boulevards in locations where motor vehicle speeds remain high will help reduce speeds and encourage safer more attentive driving.

Where are we adding speed cushions

Speed Cushions will be added to these locations:

1. S Quincy St between 8^th St S and 9^th St S
2. 9^th St S between S Quincy St and S Oakland St
3. S Wayne Street between 9^th St S and 8^th St S
4. 12^th St S between S Quincy St and S Monroe St

The County will continue to monitor motor vehicle speeds and volumes along the bicycle boulevard route and implement additional speed management tools as needed.