North Oakland Street in Arlington, Virginia, is set to undergo significant improvements as part of the Neighborhood Complete Streets (NCS) program. This initiative aims to transform a key section of Oakland Street into a safer and more accessible thoroughfare for all users, especially pedestrians. The project focuses on addressing existing infrastructure gaps and enhancing the street’s functionality within the Ashton Heights neighborhood.
Project Overview and Location
The specific area targeted for this project is a three-block stretch of North Oakland Street, running from North Pershing Drive to 6th Road North. Located in the Ashton Heights neighborhood, this segment is strategically important due to its proximity to the bustling Wilson Boulevard corridor and its walkability to the Metro. This location serves as a vital link for residents and commuters alike, making its improvement a high priority for the community. The project aims to create a more complete and user-friendly streetscape in this well-connected urban environment.
Addressing the Need for Street Improvements
The impetus for the North Oakland Street NCS project stemmed from a public nomination highlighting several critical issues. Residents voiced concerns about the lack of a continuous sidewalk, a history of automobile collisions (including injury-causing crashes), and the high volume of vehicular traffic on the street. These factors, combined with the street’s importance as a pedestrian connector to key activity hubs, propelled it to the top of the NCS project list. Recognized as the highest-ranked project, the Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission prioritized it for sidewalk completion. Due to the project’s scope, it is anticipated to be implemented in two phases, starting with the section between 5th St. N and 6th St. N, demonstrating a phased approach to improving Oakland Street.
Project Goals: Creating a Complete Street
The primary goal of the North Oakland Street project is to complete the missing sidewalk infrastructure. This crucial addition will establish a safe and accessible pedestrian route connecting Arlington Boulevard and Wilson Boulevard, two major arteries in the area. The project emphasizes utilizing the existing County-owned right-of-way effectively. Balancing the needs of all users of North Oakland Street is a core principle, aiming to create a “complete street” that accommodates pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles safely and efficiently. This holistic approach ensures that the improvements benefit the entire community and enhance the overall street environment.
Aligning with Arlington’s Vision: Policy Background
This project is firmly rooted in Arlington County’s broader transportation and safety policies. It directly implements the Master Transportation Plan, specifically the Streets Element, which champions the Complete Streets policy. This policy guides the project’s scope to enhance safety for all road users by providing a complete sidewalk where currently absent. Furthermore, the project strongly supports Vision Zero, Arlington’s initiative to eliminate severe and fatal traffic crashes by 2030. North Oakland Street’s history of injury-causing crashes aligns with Vision Zero’s proactive safety approach. By improving the street, the project actively contributes to a safer transportation network and directly addresses the identified safety concerns on Oakland Street. The Neighborhood Complete Streets program itself provides the framework and funding mechanism to realize these vital street-level improvements.
Building on Past Improvements: A Continuous Effort
The current Neighborhood Complete Streets project builds upon previous enhancements on North Oakland Street. An earlier Arlington Neighborhoods Program (formerly Neighborhood Conservation) project completed in Spring 2022 made improvements, including a sidewalk, on North Oakland Street between North Pershing Drive and Arlington Blvd/Route 50. This prior project in the Ashton Heights Neighborhood demonstrates a continuous commitment to upgrading Oakland Street. The NCS project extends these earlier improvements further north, ensuring a more comprehensive and connected pedestrian network along Oakland Street. This phased and progressive approach underscores Arlington County’s long-term vision for enhancing its street infrastructure.
Project Process and Community Engagement Timeline
Public engagement is integral to the North Oakland Street project and is structured in two key phases. The preliminary design phase focuses on gathering community input to shape initial concept designs. Following this, the concept design phase will present these initial designs to the public for feedback and refinement. This iterative process ensures that the project reflects community needs and preferences.
The project timeline outlines key stages: Winter 2023/24 marked the project selection phase, where North Oakland Street was nominated, ranked #1, and selected by the Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission for public engagement. Spring 2024 focuses on Existing Conditions Engagement, inviting the community to discuss project goals, current street usage, and share ideas and concerns. This input will directly inform the development of concept design options. Spring 2024 will also see Concept Design Engagement, where the community can review and comment on the developed concepts. Feedback from this stage will be crucial in evaluating and refining the final concept. Finally, Spring/Summer 2024 is slated for the Funding Hearing and Final Concept Design phase. Community-informed final designs will be shared, and the Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission will recommend projects for County Board approval. This structured timeline, with consistent public involvement, ensures transparency and community ownership throughout the project lifecycle.
Project Funding and Approval
Funding for the North Oakland Street project, like all Neighborhood Complete Streets initiatives, is secured through the County’s Capital Improvement Plan. Projects selected for implementation are recommended for approval by the Neighborhood Complete Streets Commission at a public Funding Hearing. Subsequently, these recommendations are presented to the Arlington County Board for final approval. This established funding and approval process demonstrates the County’s commitment to investing in neighborhood-level street improvements and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.
Photo Gallery: Visualizing Oakland Street
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