Columbia Pike Multimodal Street Improvements
StatusConstruction
Construction is in progress on segments D and C; these segments are expected to reach substantial completion at the end of 2025.Travelers will experience lane closures and other traffic impacts to accommodate the necessary utility undergrounding, sidewalk widening, and other aspects involved with construction.
About the Project
Arlington County is transforming the Columbia Pike thoroughfare into a complete street that balances the needs and safety of all modes of travel, and supports high-quality, high-frequency transit service.
The project is building sidewalk improvements, bus stop upgrades, installing above ground utilities like lights and signals, and reconstructing the road. Before working on visible improvements on the road, the project involved extensive work below the roadway to replace aging and leak-prone water and sewer pipes and to move existing overhead utilities underground; underground utility work is complete on all segments as of spring of 2025.
The project is expected to reach substantial completion by the end of 2025, which means the most disruptive and heavy construction in the road and sidewalks will be complete. After substantial completion, segments may still have smaller outstanding tasks like landscaping, removing old poles, and other minimally disruptive work.
Project Segments
The Columbia Pike Multimodal Street Improvements project is being completed in segments running from the County line on the west end to South Joyce Street on the east. Project progress and traffic detours are shared on each segment page.
Project Segment Map
Segments Under Construction
Transit Stations
The Columbia Pike Multimodal Street Improvements project lays the groundwork for further improvements at bus stops on Columbia Pike. As the Columbia Pike Multimodal Street Improvements project is completed, the Columbia Pike Transit Stations project will upgrade all bus stops on Columbia Pike with large shelters with benches, real-time information, and artwork inspired by the community.
Construction work ahead of the shelter upgrades include:
- Wide sidewalks with tactile strips at the curb
- Higher curb heights to bring the sidewalk closer to bus ramps
- Concrete bus pads in the roadway to better withstand the weight of buses
Columbia Pike Multimodal Transportation Study
The Columbia Pike Multimodal Transportation Study examined existing and future transportation conditions and developed a preliminary design for street improvements along Columbia Pike to ensure the corridor achieves an appropriate balance of travel options.
Columbia Pike Multimodal Transportation Study Elements
The analysis explored alternatives with the following improvements:
- Reconfigured travel and transit lanes, medians, and left-turn lanes
- Signalized and un-signalized intersections
- On-street parking
- Areas to be readied for existing and future transit services, including concrete pads, wider sidewalks, curb, gutter and utility undergrounding
- Enhanced pedestrian crossings
- Landscaped median areas and street trees
- Parallel bike routes near Columbia Pike to the north and south of the corridor
Public Process
The following information is related to community outreach and public involvement for the overall Multimodal Street Improvements project.
Past Community Engagements
Summer 2025 - Virtual Open House
The Columbia Pike Multimodal Project team held a virtual open house on July 10, 2025 to update the community about the Columbia Pike Multimodal Project.
Summer 2019 - Community Outreach
County staff attended community events to inform residents about current and upcoming construction for the Columbia Pike Multimodal and Transit Stations projects. Read our flyer that summarizes both projects in English or Spanish.
April 23, 2019 - Penrose Civic Association Meeting
March 26, 2012 - Walter Reed Community Center
Oct. 25, 2011 - Columbia Pike Implementation Team Meeting
April 26, 2011 - Columbia Pike Implementation Team Meeting
Nov. 30, 2010 - Columbia Pike Implementation Team Meeting
Sept. 22, 2010 - Columbia Pike Implementation Team Meeting
March 24, 2010 - Columbia Pike Implementation Team Meeting
Dec. 14, 2009 - Columbia Pike Implementation Team Meeting
Funding
The sum of the cost of all projects that constitute the Columbia Pike Multimodal Improvements project to reconstruct the entire Columbia Pike corridor is roughly $161 million, and includes work completed in the earliest segments of the project.
This amount includes funds allocated in the
FY2025-2034 Capital Improvements Plan to complete Segments A, F, C, and D, as well as the cost of supporting projects on Segments A, F, C, and D before the adoption of the FY25-34 CIP.
Funding sources are a combination of local commercial property taxes dedicated to transportation and regional transportation funds from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.
Photo Gallery