Historical Context of the Columbia Pike Corridor

Columbia Pike opened in 1810 after the United States Congress chartered a turnpike company to build three separate roads through the newly-formed District of Columbia to neighboring areas. The purpose of Columbia Pike was to provide access westward from the Long Bridge, completed in 1808 (and the precursor to the current 14th Street Bridge complex), to the Little River Turnpike, now Virginia State Route 236. The new road was built on a pre-existing cow path and initially named the Washington Graveled Turnpike. The road was subsequently known as the Washington Road, the Columbian Road, and the Arlington Turnpike.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the rise of the trolley car as a primary mode of transportation in the County, and trolley lines crisscrossed Columbia Pike. However, trolleys did not run along Columbia Pike. By the middle of the 20th century, automobiles became the preferred transportation option.

By the 1990s, there was tremendous growth in traffic congestion and a growing interest in sustainable development. As a result, Arlington began looking at alternative transit options for Columbia Pike. In addition, Arlington established a vision for the Pike as one of a complete street—offering a choice of transportation options all serving people accessing various land uses or contexts.

Today, Columbia Pike extends through several major communities in Arlington, each with their unique contexts. These contextual elements include:

• All types of transportation—pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicular
• Segments of the corridor extend within designated Revitalization Districts as a part of the adopted Form Based Code
• Evolving commercial, residential, governmental, recreational, and cultural activity centers, including the Air Force Memorial, Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail, and adjacent communities of Penrose, Barcroft, Columbia Heights, and others

For this 3.5-mile corridor of Columbia Pike from South Jefferson Street to South Joyce Street, there are competing demands within a limited right-of-way. This multimodal improvements project supports the revitalization of this corridor, which is critical to sustaining the growth of South Arlington and providing the desired multimodal links between the County limits and South Joyce Street at the limits of Pentagon City.