January 21, 2000
FROM: Bill Roberts, Office of Neighborhood Services, DCPHD
SUBJECT: Columbia Pike Projects
Following is information you requested on the status of current projects along Columbia Pike.
*Note: Completion dates are estimated and are subject to change based on acquisition of right of way, community and property owner input/redesign, VDOT approvals and other factors).
- Streetscape improvements along south side from S. Highland Street to Glebe Road
- (Construction - Summer '00? - need to acquire right of way)
- Streetscape and utility undergrounding improvements along north side from S. Garfield Street to S. Oakland Street
- (Construction - Fall '00? - Virginia Power and Bell Atlantic need to acquire utility easements)
- Conversion of street lights to new "Carlyle" - style and installation of new traffic mast arms between Courthouse Road and Walter Reed Dr. (including decorative seasonal banners)
- (Lights and banners almost completed, traffic mast arms installed - Spring '00)
- Walter Reed Drive/S. Edgewood St. area - County participation in Eckerd Pharmacy site development - including community plaza upgrades, upgrading sidewalks to pavers around entire site, new bus shelters, relocation of overhead utilities and removal of poles
- (Construction underway)
- Sidewalk, lighting and street improvements along S. Garfield St and 9th Rd. S. (around Cinema & Drafthouse block)
- (Construction - Summer '00? - need right of way agreements)
- Retaining wall and sidewalk along south side between S. Quincy and Randolph Streets
- (Construction - Summer '00? - need easement agreement)
- Columbia Pike Plaza Shopping Center/Arlington Mill Center frontage improvements including new sidewalks, street lights, landscaping, etc.
- (Construction - Spring/Summer '00)
- KSI (Park Warren) related improvements including new street lights, road paving, etc.
- (Construction - Fall '00)
- Glebe Road intersection improvements (VDOT funded)
- (Construction - Summer '00? - need to acquire right of way)
- Washington Boulevard overpass (VDOT funded)
- (Construction - Spring '01? - need to finalize detailed design)
- Four Mile Run Bridge improvements (VDOT funded)
- (Construction - Summer '00)
- South Orme St. to Southgate Rd. sidewalk improvements (widening)
- (Construction - Fall '00)
- Four Mile Run interpretive park improvements
- (Community process to begin Spring '00)
- State-of-the-art adaptive traffic light control system (underway) and transit and emergency priority system
- (Operational sometime in '00)
- Ongoing improvement to the bus service including additional routes, more frequent service, additional shelters, etc.
- In addition to the capital improvement projects listed above the following additional activities related to Columbia Pike have recently taken place or are underway:
- Approval of three new staff positions (one each in the Departments of CPHD, DED and DPW) as well as funding for economic development and transit consultants at a projected cost of $260,000. These new positions (and CPRO) will coordinate the community planning process and the development of a comprehensive Columbia Pike Plan. Recruitments almost completed.
- An additional $30,000 (above the normal $50,000 funding amount) was approved for the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization (CPRO). This will allow CPRO to expand its role in support of the Initiative and serve as the facilitator of the community participation component of the Initiative planning process.
- Creation of an Urban Operations Initiative (or "Smartscape" program) to develop and implement higher maintenance standards along Columbia Pike, at a cost of $80,000. This will include weekday litter collection, regular street sweeping, sidewalk sweeping and power washing, and weed control along sidewalks. This program has recently been initiated.
- Funding of $200,000 for a new capital improvement program called Neighborhood Opportunities to support the Neighborhood Initiative Area F & G Teams currently working in the Columbia Pike community. These funds will allow staff to be more responsive to citizen requests for smaller public improvement needs.