South Walter Reed Drive Complete Streets Improvements

Location

South Walter Reed Drive from 5th Street S to Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204  View Map

Status

Construction

Roadway construction between 5th Street South and Columbia Pike is expected to begin construction in late summer or early fall 2025.

South Walter Reed Drive Complete Streets Improvements

 

About the Project

This project will reconstruct South Walter Reed Drive between Columbia Pike and 5th Street South. An earlier part of the project reconstructed the intersection of South Walter Reed Drive/South Fillmore Street and 5th Street South, and was completed in 2021.

In summer of 2025, the project will progress to reconstruct South Walter Reed Drive from 5th Street South to Columbia Pike. This work will take place in coordination with the Arlington Public Schools Grace Hopper Center construction project.

Project Goals

  • Provide better connectivity for people walking and biking by improving bike facilities and pedestrian crossings through tactical improvements
  • Reduce complexity at 9th Street South by realigning the intersection
  • Allow controlled access to and from 9th Street South by signalizing the intersection

5th Street South to Columbia Pike

The south phase includes capital improvements at 9th Street South and improvements from 5th Street South to Columbia Pike. This phase received funding for design and engineering in the short-term Capital Improvement Plan approved by the County Board in July 2020. 

Project Goals:

Provide better connectivity for people walking and biking by improving bike facilities and pedestrian crossings through tactical improvements

  • Protected bike lanes on South Walter Reed Drive
  • Bus stop islands
  • Reduce complexity at 9th Street South by realigning the intersection
  • Install a signal at 9th Street South intersection

5th Street South Intersection

Construction of the intersection of 5th Street South and South Walter Reed Drive/South Fillmore Street began in December 2020 and was completed in spring of 2021.

Construction Accomplishments:

  • Redesigned the intersection geometry at 5th Street South and Walter Reed Drive/Fillmore Street to increase safety for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and transit users
  • Installed new striping and signage
  • Replaced existing curb ramps with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant ramps
  • Improved bus stop location and infrastructure
  • Improved water quality with the installation of bio-retention infrastructure at the intersection of South Walter Reed Drive and 5th Street South

 

Public Process

The project team engaged with the community throughout the planning process of both phases of the project.

Spring 2023 - Concept Design Update (5th Street South to Columbia Pike)

The concept design shared in November 2022 received updates as the project team finalized the design. The changes were consistent with planning guidance and community feedback heard through previous engagement efforts.

Final Concept Update Documents

Final Concept Update Summary

Summary of changes from the November 2022 version to the April 2023 final concept:

  • The southbound bike lane is at sidewalk level between 6th Street South and 7th Street South, rather than being buffered
    • The design protects provides consistent protection for people biking while retaining on-street parking and reducing maintenance challenges
  • The striped median space has been reduced between 8th Street South and 9th Street South to facilitate a shorter crossing distance at 8th Street South and increased planting space from 8th Street South to 9th Street South
  • Proposed trees are included. The exact number of trees are subject to change based on final engineering.
  • Final location of Capital Bikeshare station will be determined based on ongoing coordination with Capital Bikeshare and Arlington Public Schools.

 

Winter 2022-2023 - Final Concept Update (5th Street South to Columbia Pike)

Concept Design Documents

Concept Design Highlights

  • Reduces the complexity of the 6th Street S. intersection to improve safety for all transportation network users and shortens crossing distances for people walking. 

  • Realigns and adds a signal to the 9th Street S. intersection to facilitate movements for all transportation network users (including school buses and fire apparatus) and shorten crossing distances for people walking. 

  • Adds raised islands for safer turning movements and to provide additional protection for people biking and walking 

  • Relocates the midblock bus stop closer to 8th Street S. to improve rider safety and access as well as bus headways. 

  • Provides protected and buffered bike lanes to improve safety and access of people biking between 7th and 9th Streets S.

  • Provides a buffered bike lanes between 6th and 7th Street were added to the final concept as an interim condition.

    • Design review determined that the revised final concept, which included protected bike lanes, presented conflicts between driveway sightlines and parking, as well as with trash, recycling, and service needs.
    • Buffered bike lanes provide an enhanced facility over existing conditions while helping to balance multimodal needs across the corridor.
    • A subsequent capital project is being considered for this block, with the goal of improving accessibility for people walking and biking, by providing sidewalk-level improvements.

  • Reconfigures driveway access near 8th and 9th Streets S. to provide safer access to private parking, reduce crossing distances for people walking and reduce intersection complexity for all transportation network users. 

  • Provides more consistent travel lane widths and pocket turn lanes at 9th Street S. and 7th Street S. to improve the safety and predictability of people driving. 

  • Provides approximately 104 parking spaces, a net gain of 2 spaces from existing conditions. 

Design updates from revised concept (spring 2022) to final concept (winter 2022) 

  • Added additional green space and permeable surfaces in response to community feedback: 

    • Added ten grass medians from 5th Street South to 9th Street South.
    • Added two landscaped rain gardens: one at 6th Street South and the other at 9th Street S. 

    • Added three planting strips in sidewalk west of Walter Reed from 9th Road South to Columbia Pike.   

  • Removed raised median on 9th Street west of the intersection to ensure safety and access of larger vehicles turning, such as school buses and fire trucks. 

  • Added two-stage left turn bike boxes at 9th Street intersection to facilitate turn movements for people biking on the 9th Street Bike Boulevard.  

  • Added wider sidewalks from 9th Road South to Columbia Pike to improve pedestrian and transit rider safety and access based on community feedback.
  • In this section, widening the sidewalks reduces on-street parking by five spaces from revised concept design.  
  • As noted above, the final design provides approximately 104 parking spaces, a net gain of 11 spaces from existing conditions. 

 

Fall 2020 - Virtual Open House (5th Street South to Columbia Pike)

As part of the approved short-term Capital Improvement Plan approved by the County Board in July 2020, the project scope was updated to include capital improvements at 9th Street South and tactical improvements from 5th Street South to Columbia Pike.

 

Spring 2021 - Concept Design Open House (5th Street South to Columbia Pike)

Spring 2022 - Revised Concept Design Open House (5th Street South to Columbia Pike)

A virtual community meeting was held in March 2022

Engagement feedback

 

2016-2019 - Public Engagement (5th Street South Intersection)

  • March 2016 - A meeting was held with the Penrose and Arlington Heights civic associations
  • October 2009 - A Corridor Comparison Study was conducted following the restriping of South Walter Reed Drive between 5th Street South and Columbia Pike

 

2009-2016 - Original Project Scope (5th Street South Intersection)

Original Project Scope

  • Community reviews occurred during the development of the 30 percent design plans
  • March 2016 - A meeting was held with the Penrose and Arlington Heights civic associations: Community Briefing Presentation
  • October 2009 - A Corridor Comparison Study  was conducted following the restriping of South Walter Reed Drive between 5th Street South and Columbia Pike

 

Funding

Both phases of this project are using Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) local funds for design and construction. 

Photo Gallery

Sidewalk Improvements - S. Walter Reed Dr. & 5th St. S.

Sidewalk Improvements - S. Walter Reed Dr. & 5th St. S.
Curb Extension - S. Walter Reed Dr. & 5th St. S.

Curb Extension - S. Walter Reed Dr. & 5th St. S.
Bioretention Garden - S. Walter Reed Dr. & 5th St. S.

Bioretention Garden - S. Walter Reed Dr. & 5th St. S.

Contacts

Project Manager - Phase 1
Gabriela Kock
703-228-3938

 

Project Manager - Phase 2
Ariel Yang
703-228-4019

 

Media Inquiries
Claudia Pors
703-228-0745

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Additional Resources

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