S. George Mason Dr Multimodal Improvements - Route 50 to Columbia Pike
In Design
Preliminary Concept Engagement Open Thru June 21!
The project team has released a preliminary concept design for the project corridor and is seeking your input on the proposed changes online and at a public meeting on June 2
Learn More
StatusIn Design
The project team is has released a preliminary concept plan for public engagement happening now! Share your input by June 21, 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.
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.
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
Public Input Opportunities
There are two opportunities to learn more about the preliminary concept plan and provide your input on the proposed changes to this segment of S. George Mason Drive between now and June 21, 2026:
Use the Online Feedback Form
The online feedback form provides key details about the proposed concept and asks for your input on the proposed changes and their potential to affect how you get around in the S. George Mason Drive corridor. You can also use the interactive map component of the form to provide detailed input on specific parts of the preliminary concept plan. This option is available until the end of the day on Sunday June 21, 2026.
Share Your Input
Attend the Mid-County Infrastructure Projects Open House
Join project staff from this project at a public open house for projects in the mid-County area bounded by Wilson Blvd, Washington Blvd, Columbia Pike and the Fairfax County Line. The meeting will include an interactive map opportunity as well as the chance to talk with staff about the preliminary concept plan and how we got to this point.
- Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
- Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm
- Location: Alice West Fleet Elementary School - Cafeteria
- 115 S. Old Glebe Road
- Arlington VA 22204
More details about the open house can be found on the event page.
Learn More and Save the Date for the Mid-County Infrastructure Projects Open House
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.
Funding
This capital project is funded by the County's adopted 2025-2034 Capital Improvement Program using local revenues and anticipated federal funding.