How was the “Modified” Streetcar Alternative Selected?
In 2003, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) kicked off the Columbia Pike Transit Alternatives Analysis (‘Pike Transit Initiative’). Through public input and technical analysis, the project narrowed down a wide range of options for a new high-capacity transit service, to a small set of alternatives. The alternatives included a Baseline Alternative, Bus Rapid Transit, Streetcar, and Modified Streetcar. After evaluating the potential transit investments, the Pike Transit Initiative recommended the Modified Streetcar Alternative. This alternative – the initial phase of streetcar with supporting bus service – would connect neighborhoods along Columbia Pike, serve the growing number of transit riders between the Pentagon City and Skyline areas, and support Arlington and Fairfax County land use and redevelopment initiatives for the corridor.
