Crystal City Bike Network

Last March, in response to community and Advisory Committee feedback, the County Board directed the County Manager to develop a plan for improving the bicycle network in Crystal City by December 31, 2024.  The Board instructed staff to provide enhanced bicycle facilities while maintaining or enhancing facilities for pedestrians and transit on the proposed network between the Alexandria border on Route 1 to Long Bridge Park and between Route 1 and Crystal Drive. 

Where is the status now

Project staff gave a virtual presentation at the February 1 Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting and held a virtual public meeting on February 24.  Following public input, County staff will develop a preferred alternative, which will be presented to the community in the spring.  Watch for announcements of this public meeting.

Find out more

Study the meeting recording, presentation slides, proposed route, and alternative routes that were considered – and why they were rejected.  It’s important to ALL of us to get this bike plan right and truly provide a network that is safe, comfortable, convenient, and accessible for all cyclists and micromobiles riders.  If the design does not provide a safe route that meets cyclists’ desire lines, some  cyclists may continue to ride on our sidewalks and endanger vulnerable pedestrians. 

AHCA & Resident Feedback

Many who want to make bicycling safer and more accessible to more people are unhappy with the draft plan, for many reasons. So, Chris Slatt (Chair of Transportation Commission) and AHCA resident on the Transportation Commission Darren Buck are providing their own public(ish) meeting Tues, Mar 9th at 7:30 through Sustainable Mobility for Arlington (SUSMO), to go into more detail, in a way that will:

  • Give you a quick intro to the concept of bicycling facilities for all-ages-and-abilities, how that benefits everyone, and how that looks different from what’s on our streets now.
  • Show how the County needs to think a little more about its goals, and the scope of the study
  • Show some alternate ideas for how some streets could better meet those goals in the short term — without dramatic or disruptive changes — and some ideas for the long term that need to be documented (or they will never happen).

Consider joining for two main reasons:

  • Two upcoming SPRCs (Landbay C East and Crystal Plaza 1) will discuss transportation, and — especially Crystal Plaza 1 — County staff is proposing things that limit options for what can even be included in the actual bike plan (which is not scheduled to be presented to the Board for several months).
  • We may document our alternate plans and provide them to staff and the Board. If we do that, I may approach you to see if you/your org might lend a statement of support, either on just the goals or perhaps even specific recommendations. Accordingly, I am inviting you to join the conversation on what we are thinking now, so we can refine our recommendations and advocacy approach now.

Feedback / engagement opportunities

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