STREETCARS: THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRANSIT

Get Involved! Community Forum - November 13

ig changes are coming to Crystal City. Arlington Countys recently adopted Sector Plan outlines plans to foster a major redevelopment of the area Linking activity centers and planned development Streetcars will connect the residential, employment and entertainment venues planned for the area. Contributing to community identity Streetcars will enrich Crystal Citys image and sense of identity as a community which will help establish this part of Arlington County as a recognizable place and destination.

over the next several years, which will lead to a sharp increase in the number of people who live and work here. The goal is to make improvements that enhance Crystal City as an attractive and desirable place for residents and workers. Meeting the transportation needs that come with this growth requires an integrated transit system that helps reduce traffic congestion and provides convenient access to area amenities. The County is planning to add a streetcar line to supplement and enhance other transportation improvements. The Crystal City Streetcar will run a north-south route through Arlington County parallel to the Route 1 corridor, with stops approximately every four blocks. The line will serve the Pentagon City Metrorail station and proceed east along 12th Street to Crystal Drive. Streetcars will run south along surface streets to the east of Route 1 and north on Crystal Drive, providing access to both the Crystal City Metrorail and VRE stations. South of the Airport Access Road, the streetcar will run both north and south on Crystal Drive with a final station at Glebe Road. The Crystal City Streetcar system will serve planned development by: Complementing the existing transit service With connections to the Metrorail and VRE stops, streetcars will effectively extend the service area of these stations. Increasing transit mode share Streetcars will make transit more convenient and accessible, which will encourage more drivers to leave their cars and use public transit. Improving mobility for transit-dependent people In a highly urbanized environment like Crystal City, many residents find it more convenient to forgo car ownership and travel by transit. Streetcars are fully accessible, easy to board and easy to use. Supporting environmental sustainability Powered by overhead electric wires, streetcars will reduce gasoline consumption which, in turn, reduces greenhouse gas and other emissions.

he streetcar project is currently in the early stages of development, and Arlington County staff are considering design options to optimize

operations and service. The County is also working with the Federal Transit Administration to develop an Environmental Assessment to document the potential environmental effects of the project. The Environmental Assessment (EA) will describe the effects of the project on local communities, traffic, transit service, pedestrian safety, cultural resources, historic and archaeological resources, and natural resources. The environmental review process will meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act (for the protection of parklands) and other federal and state policies. The results of the Environmental Assessment will be presented at a future public meeting. We welcome your thoughts and concerns regarding issues that should be addressed in the environmental evaluation process.

Project Timeline
Environmental Review Preliminary Engineering Final Design Construction Opening in 2019

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EXTENDING THE REACH OF EXISTING TRANSIT SYSTEMS

The Crystal City Streetcar will supplement existing and proposed transit systems serving Arlington County, including: Metrorail Blue & Yellow lines VRE Metrobus CCPY Transitway Columbia Pike Streetcar

Transit Improvement Project, which will provide an exclusive transit lane (or Transitway) for buses throughout portions of the Route 1 corridor in Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. It will also develop station stops that will initially be used for bus operations, but will eventually be used for both buses and streetcars. The Crystal City Streetcar Project will provide streetcar service within Arlington County that will share the CCPY Transitway with local bus service and may operate in mixed traffic in some locations. The Crystal City Streetcar Project also is being designed

WORKING IN CONCERT WITH OTHER ARLINGTON COUNTY TRANSIT PROJECTS

Arlington County is committed to transit-oriented development that keeps high-density mixed-use amenities along our transit corridors while preserving residential neighborhoods. We are keeping smart growth principles in mind as we develop the Crystal City Streetcar Project, building on the recommendations noted in the Crystal City Multimodal Transportation Study and Crystal City Sector Plan, and maximizing compatibility with other area transit projects. Crystal City Streetcar is being planned in coordination with the Crystal City/Potomac Yard (CCPY) Corridor

to tie in at its northwest end with the eastern end point of the proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar Project, allowing extended transit access to points west in the County along Columbia Pike. Further, there may be additional future potential to extend the integrated streetcar route south along the Route 1 corridor into the City of Alexandria.

HOW WILL ARLINGTON COUNTY PAY FOR ITS STREETCAR SYSTEM?

The funding plan for the implementation of the Crystal City Streetcar consists of previously approved local funds and state capital grants plus future local funds and anticipated state capital grants. The local funds come from five sources identified in Arlingtons FY 2013-2022 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP):

We want to hear from you.

Heres how you can reach us:
info@crystalcitystreetcar.com 571-482-9734 Crystal City Streetcar Project, P.O. Box 18023, Washington, DC 20036 www.CrystalCityStreetcar.com

1) Arlingtons countywide commercial and industrial real estate tax revenue dedicated to transportation capital projects and called the Transportation Capital Fund (TCF) 2) Crystal City, Potomac Yard, Pentagon City Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fund 3) Local revenue bonds supported by the TCF 4) Local revenue bonds supported by the TIF 5) General Obligation (GO) bonds which would require passage of a local referendum

NOVEMBER 13 COMMUNITY FORUM

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Please join us for our community forum on Tuesday, November 13 from 5-8 p.m. Arlington County officials will describe the project and ongoing planning efforts, collect comments, and answer your questions. Formal presentations will be made at 5:30 and 7:00. Crystal Park Condominium Meeting Room 1805 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202 The Condominium is within walking distance of the Crystal City Station. Free parking is available in the evenings at the Crystal City Shops at 1750 Crystal Drive. You can access the garage from 20th St. or 18th St. Visit us on our new website, www.CrystalCityStreetcar.com!

CRYSTAL CITY STREETCAR

THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRANSIT