S. George Mason Dr Multimodal Improvements - Route 50 to Columbia Pike

Status

In Design

The project team is reviewing public input received in Spring 2026 and preparing a summary of what we heard to share with the community. We'll begin incorporating input into the concept design in Fall 2026.

Location

The project area is along S George Mason Drive between Arlington Boulevard (Route 50) and Columbia Pike.

About the Project

The project implements recommendations for complete streets improvements and safety interventions from the S. George Mason Drive Multimodal Transportation Study. It will deliver intersection safety improvements, wider sidewalks, and a multi-use trail on the east side of the corridor.

Map of the project corridor showing the limits of the project between Arlington Boulevard and Columbia Pike

Project Goals

Improve safety and access along S. George Mason Drive for all users including people walking, biking, taking transit and driving.

Project Background

Planning guidance for the S. George Mason Drive Multimodal Transportation Study that developed the recommendations and concept design for this project comes from the following County Board-adopted plans and policies:

Master Transportation Plan

Bike Element: Recommends providing an enhanced bicycle facility along the entirety of S. George Mason Drive to provide improve north-south bicycling within Arlington.
Streets Element: Calls for Complete Streets improvements across the county’s transportation network, especially on arterial roads, to serve all road users.
Pedestrian Element: Calls for projects to improve walkways and increase walking for transportation with high-quality facilities

Transit Strategic Plan

Provides guidance for improving access to better transit stops and improving service delivery through capital projects.

Vision Zero Action Plan

Calls for Capital Projects to address safety issues that can lead to severe and fatal crashes as part of the Countywide effort to eliminate severe injuries and fatalities from our transportation network by 2030.

Public Process

Spring 2026 - Preliminary Concept Design Engagement

The project team has prepared a preliminary concept plan that proposes changes in line with the recommendations of the S. George Mason Drive Multimodal Transportation Study for the first segment of the study corridor between Arlington Boulevard and Columbia Pike.

View a larger version of this Preliminary Concept plan.

The preliminary concept plan proposes the following changes to implement the recommendations of the Study:

Trail & Connectivity

Adding a continuous 12-foot wide multi-use trail with a 4 foot buffer along the east side of the corridor to support walking, biking, and rolling
Connection to the Arlington Boulevard Trail (south side) project, which proposes a multi-use trail along the south side of Route 50 between S. George Mason Drive and S. Glebe Road
Plans for a future trail connection on S. George Mason Drive south of Columbia Pike (future County capital project)

Transit Improvements

Upgraded bus stops with landing pads that meet regional standards for a more comfortable transit experience

Intersection Improvements

Upgrading the intersection of S. George Mason Drive and the driveway to the Army National Guard Readiness Center with new curb ramps, curb extensions, pedestrian refuges, and high-visibility crosswalks

Evaluating the intersection above for a full traffic signal to replace the existing pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB)
Evaluating the intersection at 4th Street S. for Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) as part of crosswalk and pedestrian ramp upgrades
A new traffic signal, dedicated left-turn lane, upgraded curb ramps, curb extensions, pedestrian refuge, and high-visibility crosswalks at the 6th Street S. intersection
Closing the slip lane and creating a landscape rain garden to manage stormwater and support the County's Green Streets program at the intersection of 8th Street S.
Upgrading the traffic signal, curb ramps, and marked crosswalks at the intersection of 8th Street S.
Adding a dedicated left-turn lane for southbound S. George Mason Drive onto 8th Street S., and a pedestrian refuge for the crosswalk across S. George Mason Drive

For more information about the existing conditions and initial concept designs for this segment of S. George Mason Drive, please visit the S. George Mason Drive Multimodal Transportation Study page.