Quick-Build Safety Projects

Open the Quick-Build Projects map in a full-page view

Arlington County’s Vision Zero transportation safety program aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. "Quick-build" small-scale safety improvement projects are a part of the Vision Zero program effort. Quick-build safety projects may be constructed using either: "tactical" materials (flex posts, bollards, pavement markings) or permanent materials (concrete, asphalt, beacons, etc.). Quick-build safety projects are funded by a mix of state and local sources through the Arlington County Capital Improvement Plan (typically via the Vision Zero Street Safety Improvements fund). 

DES Transportation staff have been implementing small projects across the county for many years before the County Board adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan and these projects were consolidated into the Vision Zero program. If you are looking for other similar small-scale projects that predate this list, please check with Arlington Neighborhoods program (formerly Neighborhood Conservation) and the Neighborhood Complete Streets program web pages.

How do we identify projects?

Arlington identifies quick-build safety projects through: 

• Crash Analysis: Staff review safety data through annual crash analysis, critical crash reviews, crash action spot reviews, systemic safety reviews, and other ad-hoc analysis efforts.
• High-Injury Network Safety Audits: Staff perform walking/biking safety audits of corridors that have been identified for having a higher concentration of injury crashes.
• Community-Reported Crash Analysis: Projects may be prompted following investigations of safety reports from transportation staff, Arlington Public Schools, Arlington Police, civic/advocacy groups, or community members.

How do we prioritize projects? 

Quick-build projects built with tactical materials (flex posts, bollards, pavement markings) do not require prioritization because of their low cost. Quick-build construction projects, which involve higher cost materials and installations, undergo the following prioritization process.

Once a quick-build construction project candidate is identified, staff assess and rank its feasibility alongside other candidate projects based on several prioritization criteria (including crash history or risk, proximity to a school, location within an equity emphasis area, and the complexity of the construction). Next, staff order land survey to confirm whether the project is feasible within the quick-build timeframe and budget (typically under $250,000 and within 1-3 years from conception). Last, prioritized/selected projects are communicated to the community via the website and civic messaging channels and then enter the construction pipeline. (Note, projects involving Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) may be identified/prioritized using the RRFB-specific prioritization process.) 

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Timelines & Communication

Quick-build projects built using tactical materials (flex posts, bollards, pavement markings) are typically built within several months. These tactical projects are posted on this page and in the project map once plans are finalized. We do not send installation notices due to the quick turnaround on these projects, with the exception of projects that will permanently change traffic patterns. Following installation, we post before/after photos on this webpage.

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Looking for the project list?

We've moved the projects onto an interactive map where you can view projects throughout Arlington.