Potomac Avenue Resurfacing Project for Complete Streets
Location
Potomac Avenue between Crystal Drive and the Alexandria County Line (just south of S Glebe Road)., Arlington, VA 22202 View Map
StatusComplete
Staff have reviewed the annual list of projects up for routine maintenance and identified a subset of streets for potential projects. Community feedback about current experiences with the street segment, along with other available data, such as plan guidance and crash data, helped inform the development of a concept design. Community feedback on the concept design helped refine the final concept, which was implemented in early July 2020.
About the Project
Complete Streets “enable safe access by all user groups including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit vehicles and users, and motorists of all ages and abilities.” One of the ways Arlington County delivers on the Master Transportation Plan’s Complete Streets policy is to review the annual list of streets up for routine maintenance and identify those that might benefit from improvements to provide safe access for all people using the street.
Short-term improvements to this section of Potomac Avenue are being considered as one of the three Resurfacing Projects for Complete Streets in 2020, along with Wilson Boulevard and Clarendon Boulevard.
Overall Goal
- Improve access and safety for people walking, taking transit, biking and driving
- Improve the pedestrian and bicycle connectivity between Crystal Drive, Four Mile Run Trail and Potomac Yard Trail
Project Guidance
- Complete Streets Policy
- Master Transportation Plan:
- Potomac Avenue considered a primary bicycling corridor
What we know about existing conditions
Potomac Ave consists of four travel lanes (two in each direction separated by a median), standard bike lanes, and southbound curbside parking lane.
- Speed Limit: 25 mph
- 85th percentile speed: 27 mph
- Traffic: ~5000 vehicles per day
- 11 crashes since 2016:
- 45% angle crashes
- Two bicycle crashes since 2015
What we heard from the community about this street segment
At our first community touch point in April 2020, we asked community members to share there experiences of the existing street. These experiences helped staff develop a design concept. More information about feedback received is available under the “Public Process” heading below.
- Desire for an improved corridor connection between Potomac Yard and Crystal City for people walking and biking
- Reports of Issues with vehicles blocking existing bike lane
- Desire for pedestrian connection between 19th St S and 33rd St S
Public Process
Final Plan Informed by Your Feedback - July 2020
In April, we asked you to share your location-specific issues and concerns about the street segment today. Those comments, along with other available data, such as plan guidance and crash data, helped staff create a concept design.
In June, we shared the concept design informed by your comments and asked for additional location-specific feedback. We also asked you to help us evaluate the concept design based on the project goals of increasing safety and access for all road users. This second round of feedback helped us refine the development of the final concept shared here.
Final Concept Summary
Final Concept Design
Online Open House #2 - June 2020
Arlington County staff hosted a second online open house on the three 2020 Resurfacing Projects for Complete Streets in early June. Staff shared what community feedback was heard in after the first meeting and presented concept plans utilizing that feedback.
If you were unable to attend the online open house, the meeting presentation, a recording and the concept design are available.
Review Meeting Materials
Concept Design
Online Feedback
Community members were able to share feedback online on the concept plans in June.
Online Open House #1 - April 2020
Arlington County staff hosted an online open house on the three 2020 Resurfacing Projects for Complete Streets in early April. Staff shared background information on potential projects and invited community members to share their experiences of the street to help staff develop concept plans.
If you were unable to attend the online open house, the meeting materials and a recording are available.
Meeting Materials
Online Feedback
Your experiences of the streets, along with existing plan guidance and other data, will help staff develop concept designs unique to the conditions at each location. Feedback was collected in mid April.
Photo Gallery