FW: Arlington's Transportation Future - Advisory Group Meeting 7 - Activities

[Hanna, K. Mike]

Just in case this did come through from my Gmail.

 

I attended the meeting of the Transportation Future Advisory Group.  We were given significant homework which is due Oct 18 (including our opportunity to give input on the maps)  Given that we are likely to have a full agenda for our October 8 meeting, I am looking for a strategy to get input and assemble our responses as efficiently as possible.  See the details of the needed input below - but two more general asks:

 

1.  I am asking everyone who can - to please provide input by email prior to our Oct 8 meeting - I will compile as best I can and lead a more focused discussion during the meeting to confirm our consensus as a committee.
2. For the mapping exercise, in addition to receiving emailed input, I am wondering if we can assemble the small group that met before and anyone or everyone that wants to provide input on October 6?  We could meet in person or virtually (if we meet in person I have large scale print outs of the maps for our use).  PLease let me know if you are interested in meeting, available and whether you would prefer in person or remote.

For more information, you can read the amil from Kristin and read through the slides, but to summarize:

 

Please read and respond to the following:

1. POLICY ACTIVITY

To help inform draft policies that will support the Vision and Goals (which are attached), please:

• Identify up to three opportunities to help reach each goal
• Identify up to three challenges to achieving each goal

1. NETWORK GAP ANALYSIS

REfer to the last three pages of the presentation attached to this email.

 

The concept staff has developed is to have a single map that identifies priority corridors by mode.  Each identified corridor will have a primary, secondary and tertiary transportation mode.  To begin with pedestrian travel is always the primary mode - so whenever a corridor is redeveloped, the first priority will be making sure safe pedestrian travel is accommodated.   Next is that it is assumed that motorized vehicular travel is already accommodated on all roads in Arlington as therefore no special effort needs to be made to accommodate vehicles in the future.  Given the assumptions the exercise boils down to identifying critical corridors for bike/micro mobility and transit.  FOr each of the critical corridors identified they will be either be identified as the primary or secondary priority (note that on the maps, since pedestrian is always priority 1, transit and bike are identified as priority 2 or 3.  THe idea would that whenever a road is modified, limited right of way would be dedicated first to pedestrians, then to the Priority 2 activity, then to the PRiority 3 activity.  That doesn't mean that facilities for Activity 3 won't be accomodated, but just that they will have a lesser priority than 1 or 2.  So, for instance the maps shows George Mason all the way from Langston to the County line as Priority 2 for bikes, 3 for transit -  so the County would prioritize bike facilities in redevelopment of Gearge Mason.  There still will be bus service, but additional bus facilities would not go in at the expense of bike facilities.

 

Other issues impacting bike facilities like lane vehicle lane width, number of lanes, car parking, etc. are not addressed on this map and would be an issue of policies to be developed later.  Also no specific types of facilities are identified (protected bike lanes, separate bike facilities, trails, paths, intersection design, etc.).  These also would be developed on a case by case basis, subject to future design standards, on going best practice development, etc.

 

They have also noted that the current maps have lots of gaps - many of these are for us to suggest how they get filled in.

 

Here is the ask:

1. How do we feel about the process - is there a better way to document a plan as a guidance document that will eventually get us the network we need.
2. Are we identifying the right corridors? What is missing - maybe what should be removed?  How best to fill the gaps?

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Kristin Calkins <kcal...@arlingtonva.us>
Date: Fri, Sep 12, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Subject: Arlington's Transportation Future - Advisory Group Meeting 7 - Activities
To: Alex <alex.mend...@gmail.com>, Sohail Husain <sohailhu...@gmail.com>, Aaron Schuetz <ajsc...@yahoo.com>, Bill Braswell <brasw...@verizon.net>, bpri...@live.com <bpri...@live.com>, Catalina Calachan <catalina...@gmail.com>, Chris Slatt (ch...@dodgersden.com) <ch...@dodgersden.com>, Claire Noakes <ecno...@yahoo.com>, Daniel Garay <dgar...@gmail.com>, Evan Pritchard <eprit...@wiregill.com>, garcia...@yahoo.com <garcia...@yahoo.com>, Joan McIntyre <jfmcin...@gmail.com>, John Carey <john.a...@verizon.net>, Justin Fuhmrann <justin....@gmail.com>, Mike Hanna <hannak...@gmail.com>, Pam Van Hine <pvan...@gmail.com>, Thomas Shannon (thos.s...@gmail.com) <thos.s...@gmail.com>, Tony Striner (Commissions) <tstr...@commissions.arlingtonva.us>
Cc: Allison Bullock <abul...@arlingtonva.us>, Brian Shelton <bshe...@arlingtonva.us>, Erin Potter <epo...@arlingtonva.us>, Nate Graham <nsgr...@arlingtonva.us>

 

Good Afternoon Advisory Group,

 

Thank you for taking the time to meet with us in person last night and for your thoughtful input on how to complete the modal priority networks. They were great starting conversations for this next phase of work, and we hope they will help you provide context to your committees and commissions about how we reconciled the current planned Transit and Bike and Micromobility Networks. I have attached the PDF of the presentation for your reference, which can also be found on the Advisory Group Page. The video of the presentation can also be found on this page.

 

We have two areas of input we are hoping you can facilitate. We would appreciate both activities be returned to us by Monday, October 13 so we have time to consider the feedback as we prepare for Phase 3 of Public Engagement.

 

NETWORK GAP ANALSYIS

Share any ideas from your Committee/Commission on how to address gaps in the reconciled networks. The networks are embedded into the presentation as the last three slides.

POLICY ACTIVITY

To help inform draft policies that will support the Vision and Goals (which are attached), please:

• Identify up to three opportunities to help reach each goal
• Identify up to three challenges to achieving each goal

 

Please let me know if you have any questions about either activity.

 

I will also be sending out an invite for the next Advisory Group on Wednesday, October 22.

 

We are excited about this next phase of plan development and look forward to your collaboration.

 

Kristin

 

Kristin Calkins, AICP

Principal Long-Range Transportation Planner

Division of Transportation

Arlington County Dept. of Environmental Services

Office: (703) 228-0088 | Cell (703) 843-6774

 

Please note that any email sent to/from Arlington County email addresses may be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

 

 

[Randy Swart]

Mike, some suggestions for the goal questions:

Equitable and Inclusive

Challenge: Eliminate the cost of using micro-mobility devices and bicycles for low
income riders.
Opportunity: Subsidize Capital Bikeshares and commercial scooter and bike use
by low income riders.

Challenge: make bus and metro transit available to all income levels.
Opportunity: Eliminate fares for low income residents

Challenge: Make bus routes easier to use, particularly for seniors and occasional
users.
Opportunity: Keep routes stable, publish maps, mark stops with big clear route
letters, make the Next Bus system work at every stop.

Challenge: Improve bus or micro-bus availability in low income areas
Opportunity: Add bus or micro-bus routes, increase daytime bus frequency in South
Arlington.

Challenge: make bus travel easier for handicapped riders.
Opportunity: Find less cumbersome ways of accommodating wheelchair users.


Livable
Challenge: improve pedestrian and bicycle access to parks and trails.
Opportunity: Pave "desire lines" connecting to trails such as the one at
Carlin Springs Road and the W&OD trail.

Challenge: Reduce hydrocarbon pollution on Arlington's streets, particularly for
those using bus transit.
Opportunity: Eliminate internal combustion engines on Arlington's buses.

Challenge: enhance the perception of safety among pedestrians, bicycles and
micro-mobility users.
Opportunity: Reduce car size and speed on all streets. Provide more robust
pedestrian refuges where crosswalks are too long.

Challenge: Improve crossing safety for slow-moving pedestrians and seniors.
Opportunity: Use video sensors to increase crossing times when a pedestrian is still
in a crosswalk. Install NTOR signs at all intersections used by pedestrians.

Challenge: make bus transportation more pleasant.
Opportunity: improve bus shelters throughout the county. Reduce vehicle traffic
to reduce hydrocarbon emissions.

Reliable
Challenge: Reduce ped/bike/micro route disruptions at construction sites.
Opportunity: Enforce strict maintenance of transportation rules for contractors.

Challenge: Eliminate blocked bicycle lanes.
Opportunity: Use video technology to issue tickets for drivers obstructing lanes.

Challenge: Improve the reliability of micro-mobility devices.
Opportunity: Enforce equipment durability standards for micro-mobility
companies and fast response standards for devices needing recharging.

Challenge: Make bus arrivals more predictable for those waiting.
Opportunity: Improve the Next Bus function and install it at every bus stop

Safe
Challenge: Protect vulnerable road users from drunk drivers.
Opportunity: Adopt Scandinavian standards and penalties for drunk driving.

Challenge: Enforce speeding laws.
Opportunity: Use speed cameras on all arterials to ticket offenders.

Challenge: Continue to innovate with new safety measures.
Opportunity: Fund Vision Zero at high levels.

Sustainable
Challenge: promote walking and self-powered vehicles.
Opportunity: Fund Vision Zero at high levels.

Challenge: Reduce hydrocarbon emissions.
Opportunity: Discourage the use of internal-combustion vehicles of every type.
Convert all county vehicles to electric or hydrogen power.

Challenge: Reduce the cost of clean power vehicles
Opportunity: Provide subsidies to low income residents trading in internal-
combustion vehicles for clean power vehicles.

Transparent and Accountable

Challenge: Prove that county officials are cooperating in reaching the goals.
Opportunity: Publish annual estimates of county official use of non-vehicular
transportation.



_____________________________

Randy Swart
ra...@helmets.org
Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
Arlington, VA USA
703-486-0100
helmets.org

[Gillian Burgess]

Thanks, Mike,

A practical suggestion: for gathering BAC input, could you set up a shared document that we could comment on/add to? That way, we could comment on each other's thoughts in an organized manner. (I.e. on each of the questions in turn)

As to the overall approach that's being suggested, it seems backwards to me: the prioritization of any individual street only matters in as far as the street fits into the bigger network for each mode. Instead, I would expect to plan out what we want the network to look like, then ask what modes need to be prioritized on each street in order to achieve that network.  

I am also VERY concerned by the underlying assumption that cars get to go everywhere.  Contrary to what is claimed in the presentation, guaranteeing that cars can go on every street means that we will not be able to prioritize people walking & biking without massive investments. Instead, we should think through the networks and prioritization needs, then consider where cars should be allowed to go.  

From the presentation, this approach seems very car-centric in a way that is hugely disappointing.

Finally, for the bike network, SSAFETY & SusMo crowd sourced what we see as the current network of neighborhood streets that are (mostly) safe and comfortable to bike on, which has been turned into the Happy Wheels Network.  https://ssafety.org/happy-wheels/  Comparing the Happy Wheels Network to what's in the presentation from DES reveals some headscratchers.  For example, for biking north-south in the middle of the County, the DES map routes people on for a few blocks on N Nelson St, which does not have traffic lights to cross major streets. Then the DES map has a gap near the Virginia Square Metro and in Ashton Heights routes people on Jackson St, which has some bad sightlines.  The Happy Wheels Network utilizes N Monroe, N/S Irving, S Monroe and S Kenmore, which stretch from Langston Blvd to Shirlington Blvd/the start of the W&OD (the Grover Route). The route already has traffic lights at most of the major crossings.  Similarly, in North Arlington, N Harrison St is an extremely useful north-south route for biking. But when you get to Wilson Blvd, Harrison St doesn't go straight through.  The DES map has the bike route continuing on Harrison street - which requires taking a left onto Wilson Blvd then a right onto Harrison (in either directions). But taking a left ONTO Wilson is not as easy as taking a left FROM Wilson. So the Happy Wheels Network routes people to N Illinois S of Wilson (as part of the Fozzie route).  

Some of these discrepancies could be chalked up to current vs. future considerations: e.g. it may be possible to have a light at Harrison and Wilson, which would make routing bikes onto Harrison south of Wilson make more sense.  But those kinds of investments are years away, while the Happy Wheels Network is mostly safe and comfortable today - and could be made entirely safe and comfortable with very modest investment.

My two cents.

Best

Gillian

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646 284 8894
gillian...@gmail.com

[Hanna, K. Mike]

All – Per Gillian’s suggestion, I have created a google doc to allow us all to respond to the Policy Activity.  So far I have received some really good input from Randy (as might be expected).  I have added that to the Google Doc, under his name.  As you add new responses or comment on ones already made, please tag with your name, in case I need to circle back for clarity etc.  So that I have time to compile responses before the BAC meeting, please provide responses by this Friday (10/3). 

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-js5NC4rZvSMZx_pnDPw7FL_hCvMcurCE8fHmPJyUTs/edit?usp=sharing

 

Let me know if you have trouble accessing the document, or if you find it frustrating you can still email responses directly back to me – the most important thing is getting your input.

 

I am working on a way to crowd source the mapping exercise…

 

From: 'Hanna, K. Mike' via Arlington BAC <arling...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2025 10:21 AM
To: 'Cynthia Palmer' via Arlington BAC <arling...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Arlington BAC] FW: Arlington's Transportation Future - Advisory Group Meeting 7 - Activities

 

Caution - External Email: This email originated outside of Black & Veatch. Please do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

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[Hanna, K. Mike]

Also – probably more important, we need to pull together our comments on the network map – primarily identifying the most critical Bike corridors.  I have put the PDF on Google drive and tried to share it.  I am not sure if there is away to allow for the group to edit.  I have started by marking in red some of the corridors that I thought were missing.  If you can’t figure a way to comment graphically and want to send me a narrative, I will work with that.

 

Is anyone interested in meeting on October 6?  To mark up the paper map together as a group????

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MC9cDA8D0VaYq_M6ow4-y9YBAojgNgIj/view?usp=sharing

 

Thanks

 

Mike

[Hanna, K. Mike]

Gillian – I agree that we have an uphill battle with regard to prioritizing vehicle traffic.  During the meeting we discussed the possibility of closing some roads to cars, and how parking would be prioritized.  The answer was that all those things would be taken into consideration when a section of road identified to prioritize biking (or transit) was being planned for improvements.  They stated that those decisions would be made more on a policy level and case by case.  I think at this point we identify the most critical corridors (the hills we will die on) and then prepare for more of a policy discussion as to what minimum design standards would be considered on identified corridors.

 

Relative to your second paragraph – you raise an interesting issue that I have raised with staff. Should we be identifying the corridors that we believe can be mage comfortable/safe in a reasonable time our lifetimes) of the truly best route ultimately.  For instance, with major changes and improvements going through the Clarendon area, Jackson could ultimate be the best route to get from South Arlington all the way to the Custis – but not sure we can wait that long.  While Highland (for instance) already ahs all the lights and intersections that could be made safe.  And if we could get rid of some street parking and put in protected bike lanes that is something I could imagine actually happening – which should we push for?  I have floated the idea of a 2 tired system – a set of corridors that could be made safe in the next say 10 years and those that should be in the 50-year plan.  We will see what we hear.

 

Mike

 

From: arling...@googlegroups.com <arling...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Gillian Burgess
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2025 9:10 PM
To: arling...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Arlington BAC] FW: Arlington's Transportation Future - Advisory Group Meeting 7 - Activities

 

Caution - External Email: This email originated outside of Black & Veatch. Please do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Thanks, Mike,

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlington-bac/CABAyLJ--Va%2BmTLzoQyjDg8bDvP%2B%2BrqYxAqnM2sOO3xx5EySyBw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Gillian Burgess]

Thanks, Mike

I'm happy to meet. On the 6th. 

And thanks for putting the map together. There are still some obvious gaps - places where there and green lines near each other that don't touch. I would start by joining all of those. Also, it jumped out at me that DES's map doesn't connect Clarendon to the Custis Trail, which is a major frustration. 

Here's an example of what I'd add (in green) 

Gillian Burgess
646 284 8894
gillian...@gmail.com

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlington-bac/BL3PR01MB7146114ED72D2AF19FB8B80DCF19A%40BL3PR01MB7146.prod.exchangelabs.com.

[Peter Stokely]

Mike, has the community given up on restoring bicycle access through Arlington National Cemetery and/or the Army-Navy Country Club?  Both features form significant no bike zones and if opened to cyclists would provide useful connections for the bicycle network. 

Pete

“Bikes add to a love of place. They enhance your capacity to love where you are.” 

John Hickenlooper Former Governor of Colorado

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlington-bac/BL3PR01MB7146114ED72D2AF19FB8B80DCF19A%40BL3PR01MB7146.prod.exchangelabs.com.

[Peter Stokely]

I tried to add a line but it didn't go through. It is simple to explain, add the connection to (along) Fairfax Drive from Clarendon Circle (the one that goes next to St Charles Catholic Church.

Thank you, 

Pete

“Bikes add to a love of place. They enhance your capacity to love where you are.” 

John Hickenlooper Former Governor of Colorado

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/arlington-bac/BL3PR01MB7146114ED72D2AF19FB8B80DCF19A%40BL3PR01MB7146.prod.exchangelabs.com.

[Hanna, K. Mike]

More direction as you consider the map…

 

From: Kristin Calkins <kcal...@arlingtonva.us>
Sent: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 10:55 AM
To: Hanna, K. Mike <Han...@bv.com>
Cc: Pamela Van Hine <pvan...@gmail.com>; Chris Slatt <ch...@dodgersden.com>; Allison Bullock <abul...@arlingtonva.us>; Brian Shelton <bshe...@arlingtonva.us>
Subject: RE: Arlington's Transportation Future - Advisory Group Meeting 7 - Activities

 

Hi Mike,

 

Thanks for checking in. We want network recommendations that look to the 20 – 30 year horizon of the plan and guide what we should be working towards to create that network, not near term and long term parallel route recommendations. We want to identify a network we feel confident can be implemented.

 

Jackson is a recommendation we discussed too as we are doing our internal exercise. As we grappled with that route we recognized that a light at Jackson and Wilson is not something that is feasible with any plan horizon so we have a parallel route making the connection from Arlington Boulevard to Clarendon.

 

Thank you for working through this and let us know if you have other questions.

 

Kristin

 

From: Hanna, K. Mike <Han...@bv.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2025 9:47 AM
To: Kristin Calkins <kcal...@arlingtonva.us>
Cc: Pamela Van Hine <pvan...@gmail.com>; Chris Slatt <ch...@dodgersden.com>
Subject: RE: Arlington's Transportation Future - Advisory Group Meeting 7 - Activities

 

EXTERNAL EMAIL

 

CAUTION:  This email contains file attachments.  Do NOT open files that you are not expecting to receive, even from known senders.

Kristin – As we are reviewing the map, a question has come up.  Are we mapping bike corridoors that can reasonably made safe now, or more aspirational for a distant future (I am going to recommend that we do both and provide a distinction.)

 

For instance the map shows a north south route near Clarendon to be done on Jackson all the way from Route 50 to Langston – this is a nice direct route that includes the bridge at TJ and takes you most directly to the Custis Trail.  However it requires crossing of Wilson at a non-aligned intersection with no light, and going the wrong way up a one way road to get to 10^th where you are faced with a crazy intersection and no signal in your direction.  Ultimately it would great if we identified that as a bike corridor and invest the money in fixing all of that (installing a light at Wilson, taking one of the lanes on Jackson as a 2 way cycle track, etc.)  However, that will be many years away.  In the meantime, if we identified Highland as the north south route, there are already lights at all the major crossings, and installing protected bike lanes would provide a relatively safe route – though not as direct and we would need to figure the best way to get through Lyon Village to the Custis Trail.  Ultimately not as good as Jackson might someday be, but we might see it in our lifetimes.

 

Any thoughts on how we should handle these situations?  There are many more examples.

 

From: Kristin Calkins <kcal...@arlingtonva.us>
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2025 1:32 PM
To: Alex <alex.mend...@gmail.com>; Sohail Husain <sohailhu...@gmail.com>; Aaron Schuetz <ajsc...@yahoo.com>; Bill Braswell <brasw...@verizon.net>; bpri...@live.com; Catalina Calachan <catalina...@gmail.com>; Chris Slatt (ch...@dodgersden.com) <ch...@dodgersden.com>; Claire Noakes <ecno...@yahoo.com>; Daniel Garay <dgar...@gmail.com>; Evan Pritchard <eprit...@wiregill.com>; garcia...@yahoo.com; Joan McIntyre <jfmcin...@gmail.com>; John Carey <john.a...@verizon.net>; Justin Fuhmrann <justin....@gmail.com>; Mike Hanna <hannak...@gmail.com>; Pam Van Hine <pvan...@gmail.com>; Thomas Shannon (thos.s...@gmail.com) <thos.s...@gmail.com>; Tony Striner (Commissions) <tstr...@commissions.arlingtonva.us>
Cc: Allison Bullock <abul...@arlingtonva.us>; Brian Shelton <bshe...@arlingtonva.us>; Erin Potter <epo...@arlingtonva.us>; Nate Graham <nsgr...@arlingtonva.us>
Subject: Arlington's Transportation Future - Advisory Group Meeting 7 - Activities

 

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Good Afternoon Advisory Group,

[Hanna, K. Mike]

All – as a follow-up to today’s meeting, please provide input by this Friday..

 

The attached slide deck has the modal priority maps as presented by County staff.  They are they last few slides in the slide deck.

 

The map we are currently marking up is in a shared google file:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xxXk6AWJtaghFCQ8e_CsOMT0qxmV0lDv/view?usp=sharing

 

And the goals, opportunities and challenges document is here:

 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-js5NC4rZvSMZx_pnDPw7FL_hCvMcurCE8fHmPJyUTs/edit?usp=sharing