A more walkable, more livable community
Community Transportation Workshop recommendations will help inform short- and long-term improvements to Rosslyn's busiest intersections
Seventy-two people participated in the Rosslyn Community Transportation Workshop held Saturday, March 4, at Le Méridien Arlington. The all-day event provided a broad group of community stakeholders with the chance to walk the streets of Rosslyn to assess intersections that may benefit from low-cost, short-term improvements. Residents, Rosslyn BID staff, Arlington County staff and members of the development community worked together in small groups to develop solutions. They provided a diverse range of viewpoints on how we can make Rosslyn a better place.
The workshop came on the heels of an online survey also administered to passers-by on Lynn Street and near the Rosslyn Metro on February 23. The survey sought information on how people get around Rosslyn and which intersections they feel need improvement. Nearly 1,000 weighed in. Survey feedback combined with workshop recommendations will inform which short-term changes are prioritized.
Rosslyn BID President Mary-Claire Burick says she was delighted by the level of engagement among community members, who devoted their entire Saturday to the event and gamely ventured outside for extended periods on an unseasonably cold day.
"It was wonderful to see such an enthusiastic, energetic group of people at the workshop," Burick says. "There were many familiar faces in attendance, but a lot of new people, too. I was impressed by the creative ideas everyone generated. This input will be critical as we work with the County to advance our vision for making Rosslyn an even safer, more attractive, more walkable community."
The workshop opened with presentations by Burick, who spoke about Realize Rosslyn; Arlington County Director of Transportation Dennis Leach; Arlington County Transportation Engineering and Operations Bureau Chief Larry Marcus; and Matthew Roe, director of the Designing Cities Initiative from the National Association of City Transportation Officials.
Participants were divided into small teams of transportation experts, County and BID staff, and residents. Together, they took to the streets to assess six intersections where Rosslyn and Arlington County are considering low-cost, short-term improvements:
- Fort Myer Dr./Lee Hwy.
- Lynn St./19th St.
- Lynn St./Wilson Blvd.
- Lynn St./Fairfax Dr./Fort Myer Dr.
- Fort Myer Dr./Wilson Blvd.
- Fort Myer Dr./19th St.
After observing traffic flow and pedestrian activity, the teams returned to the meeting space to map out possible solutions to challenges observed at these spots. Each team presented their ideas to the larger group, with residents and community members taking the lead in sharing ideas. It was a great day of community building and collaboration. Everyone in attendance seemed committed to the neighborhood's future and eager to contribute.
All solutions presented at the workshop will be taken into consideration as Arlington County transportation officials, in collaboration with the Rosslyn BID, begin planning short-term improvements to be implemented starting fall 2017. These short-term improvements will pave the way for more significant changes that will take place on Rosslyn's streets after a County-led, long-term transportation study.
As next steps become more concrete, we will post updates at rosslynva.org/transportation. Stay tuned!