|
Arlington County Board and Fairfax County Board Of Supervisors Endorse Modified Streetcar Alternative
On April 26, 2006, the Arlington County Board unanimously endorsed the Modified Streetcar Alternative as the preferred transit
alternative for the Columbia Pike corridor. This alternative was recommended in the Columbia Pike Transit Alternatives Analysis, prepared by
WMATA in cooperation with Arlington County and Fairfax County.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors also endorsed the Modified Streetcar Alternative on May 1, 2006.
Action by the Arlington County and Fairfax County Boards allows the project to advance into the next phase of development,
which includes environmental documentation, development of a financial strategy, and conceptual system design.
For further information, view the Boards’ Endorsements and related News Releases links shown below:
Arlington County Board Endorsement
Arlington County Board of Supervisors County Board Recessed Meeting (Report of Actions of the Arlington County Board), April 26, 2006
Fairfax County Board Of Supervisors’ Endorsement
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Clerk’s Board Summary Report of Actions of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, May 1, 2006
Related News Releases:
Arlington County News Release
Board Endorses Streetcars for Columbia Pike, April 26, 2006
Washington Post
Months After Completion Trail to Make Official Debut By Alec MacGillis, May 2, 2006 (Beginning on Paragraph Nine)
Washington Post
Fairfax Board on Track To Consider Streetcars By Annie Gowen, April 30, 2006
Background
In 2002, the Arlington County Board approved the Columbia Pike Initiative
- A Revitalization Plan. Part visioning exercise and part implementation
plan, the board established how the future of transportation and development
would look along Columbia Pike, and what steps would be taken to achieve the
vision. Three major transit goals resulted from the Columbia Pike Initiative:
- Improve bus stops along Columbia Pike and provide better information for bus riders;
- Implement improvements to the bus services in the Columbia Pike corridor; and
- Plan for long-term higher-capacity transit options.
The first two goals are underway through the new PikeRide bus service. The Pike Transit
Initiative will be focused on the final goal, to evaluate and plan for long term higher-capacity transit options
along Columbia Pike.
In addition, recognizing the growing need for alternatives
to the automobile, Fairfax County's
Comprehensive Plan supports measures to increase the use of public transit. Transit connections linking neighborhoods, employment
centers, and the regional Metrorail system are cited as specific policy goals.
The Pike Transit Initiative will help to plan for this higher capacity system
along the section of Columbia Pike within Fairfax County.
Large Map of Study Area (JPG)
 Download
Needs Assessment - (PDF) 2.3 MB
Download
Pike Transit Initiative Goals
- Increase mobility within the corridor
- Contribute to and serve as a catalyst for economic development
- Provide a safe environment for all modes of travel
- Improve regional connections
- Complement community goals to create a pedestrian-friendly main-street environment
The Pike Transit Initiative Objectives
- Identify preferred technology, (e.g. bus rapid transit, streetcar, or light rail)
- Identify preferred alignments
- Identify stop locations
- Estimate benefits and impacts of various alternatives
Benefits and Challenges
| Mobility Improvements |
Normalized Travel Time Savings (Transportation System User Benefits per Project Passenger Mile).
Low-Income Households Served.
Employment Near Station. |
| Environmental Benefits |
Change in Regional Pollutant Emissions.
Change in Regional Energy Consumption.
EPA Air Quality Designatio. |
| Operating Efficiencies |
System Operating Cost per Passenger Mile. |
| Cost Effectiveness |
Incremental Cost per Hour of Transportation System User Benefit. |
| Transit Supportive Land Use and Future Patterns |
Existing Land Use.
Transit Supportive Plans and Policies.
Performance and Impacts of Policies. |
| Other Factors |
Number of optional factors, including economic impact of the project. |
March 2006 |
March 20, 2006 Public Meeting Presentation (PDF)
Slides 1-9 (2.2 MB)
Download
Slides 10-18 (1.7 MB)
Download
Columbia Pike Streetcar Simulator (WMV)
View an animated simulation of a streetcar operation along the Columbia Pike corridor. The clip shows the alignment, potential stations, and notable landmarks and
cross-streets, along with three photo-simulation close-ups of what a streetcar vehicle would look like near Pentagon City, at South Walter Reed Drive, and in the Skyline area. Windows Media Player required. 51 MB.
Download
March 20, 2006 Public Meeting Exhibits
Storyboards from the March 20, 2006 Public Meeting - Part 1 (1.3 MB, PDF)
Download
Storyboards from the March 20, 2006 Public Meeting - Part 2 (3 MB, PDF)
Download
March 20, 2006 Public Meeting Panelist Presentations
Portland Streetcar Presentation
Slides 1-10 (PDF)
Slides 11-20 (PDF)
Slides 21-27 (PDF)
Portland Streetcar in Action (WMV)
Portland, Oregon, has a new streetcar system that serves its downtown area and runs in mixed traffic with motor vehicles.
View video clips of the Portland Streetcar as it moves through city streets, picking up and dropping off riders. Note the single-wire
power supply, passenger shelters, wheelchair accessibility, and the layout of vehicle interiors. The preferred alternative for the Pike Transit Initiative is a
modified streetcar that would be similar in operation to that of Portland’s existing system. Windows Media Video File. Windows Media Player required.
20 MB.
Download
Tampa Streetcar Presentation (PDF)
WMATA Corridor Development Presentation (PDF)
Press Release
Press Release Announcing March 2006 Public Meeting
Download
|
April 2005 |
April 25-26, 2005 Public Meeting Presentation - (PDF)
Download
Public Meetings Press Release – (PDF)
Download
|
November 2004 |
November 2004 Open Houses Story Boards (PDF)
Download
Design Dialogues
WMATA sponsored a series of design dialogue
workshops and open houses during the week of May 17, 2004. Invitations were sent to a diverse group of
representatives from business and community organizations and government agencies. In addition,
post cards announcing the meetings were mailed to citizens and businesses located within the project corridor.
At the design dialogue workshops, participants were asked to provide their opinions and ideas
for inclusion in a vision plan. A draft plan was presented to the participants for their review and comments
at the open houses held at the end of the week. The project team is in the process of finalizing the vision
plan for use in subsequent planning and outreach activities. Take a moment to view
participants’ comments.
|
May 2004 |
Design Dialogue Workshops
Read what people had to say at the workshops (PDF)
Download
Photo Gallery
Open Houses
Read what people had to say at the Open Houses (PDF)
Download
Proposed Alignment (PDF, 3.5 MB) - Arial photo showing the study alignment based upon the comments received during the design dialogues.
This will take approximately 1 to 3 minutes to load.
Download
|
April 2004 |
Press Release (PDF)
Download
|
|
Download 
