Arlington Pedestrian Advisory Committee Update – Walkabouts in Our Area

Walkabouts, one of many projects of WalkArlington, are self-guided tours that help walkers discover the beauty and history of specific Arlington neighborhoods.  WalkArlington staff hosted the new and improved Crystal City Walkabout on April 17.  See photos and links through their blog. The Crystal City Walkabout is the second new Walkabout in our area.  In 2012, four local citizens proposed the Arlington Ridge/Aurora Highlands.

Bike-Ped Staff and Funding Saved!

The proposed Arlington County budget for 2016 included possible contingency fund cuts to Arlington bike-ped programs and staff.  Item #1 of the March 19, 2015 WalkArlington blog highlighted the relevant budget issues and provided key links to related information.  Members of the Arlington Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC) and Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) and the cycling and pedestrian community provided written and oral testimony to the Board about the proposed contingency cuts.  And the Board listened; the Arlington County Board noted in its April 21 news release that full funding for the bike-ped programs was approved.  In addition to continuing to fund two full-time bike-ped staff, the final approved budget continued to provide funding to proposed decal fee projects.  Two Arlington decal fee projects are proposed in our area to improve pedestrian safety:  one is at Army-Navy and Lynn, the other is at Arlington Ridge and Lange.

Part of the Arlington Department of Environmental Services (DES) budget presentation was a report on TCF and TIF projects, including the Crystal City/Potomac Yard/Pentagon City Tax Increment Financing Area (TIF) projects.  The South Eads Street Complete Street Project is one of many Complete Street Projects in our area mentioned in this report!

Four Mile Run Restoration Project

If you enjoy walking/running/biking on the Alexandria side of Four Mile Run between Route One and Mt Vernon Avenue, you may want to use the Arlington side instead for the next several months.  The City of Alexandria has closed a section of the bike path on the Alexandria side while staff are restoring the natural stream in that area.  Vist this website for more information.

Arlington Pedestrian Advisory Committee (PAC)

The volunteer members of PAC advise the County Board and the County Manager on the implementation of the pedestrian element of the Master Transportation Plan and other matters the committee deems important to advocate for the needs of pedestrians in Arlington.  Minutes are published on the PAC website.  Arlingtonians are welcome to join the GoogleGroup and attend monthly PAC meetings, held the same time as AHCA meetings.

Pamela Van Hine is passionate about pedestrian issues in our neighborhood.  She was involved in developing the two Walkabouts in our area.  Most recently Pamela became a member of the Arlington Pedestrian Advisory Committee.  She hopes to report periodically on pedestrian issues in our area through this newsletter and hopes that you will send her your ideas and concerns about walking here

Category: Community Events