Syncing Lights, Better Enforcement: Arlington Traffic Woes Shared In Survey

ARLINGTON, VA — From the entire length of Columbia Pike to the 5-points intersection in Cherrydale, Arlington readers sounded off on their traffic concerns in a Patch survey.

Patch surveyed readers on traffic in Arlington from midday Friday, Aug. 4 to noon Tuesday, Aug. 8. We received 150 responses, with 69.3 percent indicating they drive in Arlington daily.

Also, driving is the main way respondents get around, with 96.7 percent saying they drive, while 61.3 percent walk, 30 percent use Metrorail, 20 percent take the bus and 17 percent bike.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the worst, the most readers (18 percent) rated Arlington rush hour traffic with a 5, followed by 3 (16.7 percent) and 4 (15.3 percent).

For non-rush hour traffic, the most readers (24.7 percent) rated it with an 8, followed by 7 (17.3 percent) and 5 (15.3 percent).

When asked what roads in Arlington are the worst for traffic, 20 percent of respondents chose Interstate 395, followed by 17.3 percent for Interstate 66, 16.7 percent for Wilson Blvd between Ballston and Rosslyn, 12.7 percent for Columbia Pike and 11.3 percent for Route 50.

Traffic Frustrations, Safety Concerns

In the comment section, one reader said all roads in the Ballston area are bad, and Crystal City (National Landing) "is pretty hideous as well."

Another reader said traffic around the new Amazon HQ2 buildings in Crystal City is bad, especially on S. Eads Street, where the reader lives. Route 1 in Crystal City "is a racetrack and a parking lot depending on timing," the reader said.

Shirlington Circle has safety concerns, according to a reader, because as drivers enter from Quaker Lane, they do not yield to traffic in the circle as required.

A dangerous area on I-395 in Arlington is Exit 8C, where southbound drivers often try to exit for Pentagon City and Crystal City. Reporter Dave Statter with Statter911 has posted scores of videos in recent years showing crashes at that exit off southbound I-395.

Columbia Pike, from one end to the other, is often congested "with untimely lights and the worst drivers I’ve ever seen," a reader said. "Then with all the construction … forget it … you are lucky to survive the drive."

"Road construction and building construction along Columbia Pike never ends. No matter which way I go to detour, I bump into construction even on my detours," a reader said. "I have lived in Arlington for 30 years. It has been going on continuously. I wish I had kept count of the number of times Columbia Pike has been ripped up and repaved."

On I-66 west, traffic frustrations grow for a reader where the interstate narrows from three lanes to two at the Sycamore Street exit and on I-66 east where the traffic enters the interstate at Ballston.

Along Fairfax Drive between Ballston and Clarendon, there are "multiple random pedestrian crosswalks BETWEEN traffic lights," a reader noted.

A lead car may see pedestrians starting to cross. But other cars can’t see and don’t anticipate the lead car to break for pedestrians, which can result in rear-end collisions. Pedestrians stepping off the curb along Fairfax Drive where there are no traffic lights are often blocked by buses, construction and parked cars, the reader said.

The extended area around Wilson Blvd, Clarendon Blvd and Washington Blvd between St. Charles Catholic Church and the Clarendon Metro station is dangerous due to people crossing streets everywhere, Uber/Lyft ride-share cars stopping in the middle of the street and building construction, another reader said.

At the 5-point intersection in Cherrydale, some readers suggested adding a traffic circle. One reader said they try to avoid the intersection, noting that when wanting to make a left turn coming from Washington-Liberty High School, a driver has to enter the middle of the intersection.

"As a pedestrian at Lorcom and Langston, I face safety issues with the vehicles turning right from Lorcom Lane onto Langston Blvd. Should there be timing for pedestrians included here? I believe that DHMS [Dorothy Hamm Middle School] students are crossing at this intersection to go to 7-11 and Starbucks as well," a reader said, referring to the Lee Heights area.

On Washington Blvd at Route 50, traffic is often backed up almost to I-395, a reader noted.

Trying to exit Sequoia Plaza (Syphax) onto Washington Blvd in order to head back toward Clarendon can be a headache.

"I inevitably end up having to take Washing Blvd farther down to Columbia Pike then to Glebe or get lost somewhere in the neighborhoods around South 6th and South Fillmore," a reader said. "So far, the best I can do is taking South 2nd to Glebe, but even that can get confusing (especially at night) because of the Seqouia traffic circle and Wise Road intersections. Is there a better way — or at least better marking for a route back to Clarendon?"

The Virginia Department of Transportation is seeking community feedback through Aug. 15 on possible changes to Route 50 and Washington Blvd near Fort Myer. VDOT is conducting a study assessing potential safety, bicycle, pedestrian and transit improvements to about three-quarters of a mile of Route 50 between Fillmore St. and North Pershing Drive, and about a mile of Washington Blvd between Columbia Pike and N. Pershing Drive.

Suggestions For Traffic Improvements

Lastly, we asked respondents what kinds of solutions they'd suggest for improving traffic and safety in Arlington.

For starters, one reader, who walks a lot in Arlington, asked for traffic laws to be enforced.

"I know that the police are very busy, but better enforcement of traffic laws would be appreciated," the reader said. "I am a walker for exercise, and I must pay a lot of attention to what is happening around me."

Many other readers urged Arlington County to do a better job of syncing traffic lights.

Columbia Pike is a total nightmare during rush hour, said a reader who suggested better enforcement of jaywalkers, who are "an open hazard to both drivers and walkers."

From Clarendon to Rosslyn, a reader proposed that street parking on both Clarendon Blvd and Wilson Blvd be eliminated so that ride-share/delivery/pick-up vehicles can use the curb space for their very short stops.

Another reader wants the county to go a step further and close Wilson Blvd and Clarendon Blvd to cars between Clarendon and Rosslyn.

A reader said that the long stretch of Glebe Road from Langston Boulevard to S. Walter Reed Drive is filled with traffic lights that are not synced. The reader also suggested that left turns at every traffic light along that part of Glebe Road be banned from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For safety reasons, another reader said pedestrian crosswalks not at intersections controlled by traffic lights should be eliminated across Arlington.

At the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. George Mason Drive, left turn signals are needed on Wilson Blvd to turn onto N. George Mason Drive traveling in both directions on Wilson Blvd, according to a reader.

"Since the number of lanes has gone from two to one, turning left onto George Mason is unsafe," the reader said.

And when traveling west on Wilson Blvd past the N. George Mason Drive intersection, there is a bus stop just as you cross the intersection, leaving motorists behind the bus stuck in the intersection.

"Very poor planning by Arlington's transportation folks. And, the blinking school sign at that section is poorly placed," the reader said. "When turning left it is easy to miss it all together since you are watching for oncoming traffic, pedestrians, etc. The other mess is at Wilson Blvd and Patrick Henry. Too many people ignore the left turn only lane and go straight through the intersection. I have witnessed way too many close calls."

Another reader said the county should stop reducing four-lane roads down to two lanes, similar to what was done to the stretch of Wilson Blvd west of N. George Mason Drive.

Traffic lights on main streets should be synced to reduce traffic congestion, a reader said.

After the powerful storm on July 29, a reader noticed that stop lights weren’t working and that traffic surprisingly flowed smoothly. "There are way too many traffic lights, some on every block, in Arlington. Stop signs work better," the reader said.

Traffic engineers should time the lights on the main streets in Arlington and not allow left turns on major roads unless a turning lane or traffic light is there, a reader said.

Arlington County also should conduct more surveys to determine which intersections on side streets should be four-way stops, according to the reader, who asked the county to consider placing a four-way stop at 6th St. S. and S. Wakefield St.

At Route 50 and Manchester St. in Glen Carlyn, soon after entering Arlington from Fairfax County, "some new timing on the lights has led to a MUCH safer environment. Gives you hope that it can be done!" a reader said.

Another reader said they believe Arlington’s efforts to improve traffic flow over the past few years have paid off.

"There are still a few places with 'blind' intersections — mostly due to heavy vegetation at the corners — but, in general, I feel safer driving in Arlington than I did five years ago," the reader said.

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