Master Plans and Studies
Arlington's evolution is built upon hundreds of master plans and studies that have literally laid the groundwork for what is now the County's physical form.
A few that have especially influenced Arlington's walkability include the Sector Plans - small area plans for defined areas around each Metro station that are documents supporting the County's Comprehensive Plan, developed with communities and adopted by the County Board. Sector plans analyze and recommend specific mixes of uses, infrastructure issues, roads, transitions to adjacent neighborhoods and provide urban design guidelines Sector plans are intended to tell landowners, developers and residents what the future of the station area will be and how individual parcels can be redeveloped. Because so much of Arlington's growth is centered around the Metro corridors, these plans are critical in shaping Arlington's future. The recently-revised Virginia Square Sector Plan provides significant new guidance in this area and an intensive Clarendon Sector Plan revision process is currently underway.
Other master plans and studies currently being revised deal with issues relating to public spaces, public art and arterial traffic management. The County is also one of only relatively few municipalities in the country to have a Pedestrian Transportation Plan. Arlington's plan was adopted in April 1997 and is due to be updated in the near future.
A newly-adopted plan developed largely around pedestrian needs and which has already begun to have a significant impact is the Columbia Pike Initiative. South Arlington's "Main Street" connecting the Pentagon to Fairfax County, hopes to re-invent itself as the center of pedestrian activity south of Arlington Boulevard.
A study of the Ballston central area commissioned by the County to specifically address urban design issues for this sector's pedestrians is now complete. This study is intended to serve as a prototype for future efforts affecting walkers in any of the County's commercial districts.
Also in Ballston, planned improvements that will make four critical intersections on North Glebe Road safer for pedestrians during 2004-2005 are also in the works.
