Pike Ride Inauguration Event, September 10, 2003, Pike Park

Governor Mark R. Warner,
Arlington County Launch
“Pike Ride” Bus Service

Transit Improvements Key to Revitalization of Columbia Pike

Arlington, Va. (September 10, 2003) – Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner today praised Arlington County’s new “Pike Ride” bus service as a model for solving traffic congestion in the region. The new and enhanced bus service, funded in part by the Governor’s transportation initiative to help relieve congestion, also is a key first step in Arlington’s plan to revitalize the Columbia Pike corridor.

“Pike Ride is an excellent example of how state government can work successfully with localities like Arlington to deliver transportation improvements on-time and on-budget, making a real difference in the everyday lives of Virginians,” Gov. Warner said at Pike Ride’s official kick-off at Pike Park on Columbia Pike.

The new Pike Ride service is the first to be implemented of 12 congestion relief projects in Northern Virginia under the governor’s transportation initiative announced earlier this year, designed to jump-start projects that could be implemented quickly. A $1.9-million grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation enabled Arlington to launch the service sooner than planned. The Arlington County Board approved $1 million in this year’s budget for this enhanced transit service.

“Pike Ride is a visible example of Arlington’s commitment to revitalizing Columbia Pike,” said County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson. “The County Board is committed to realizing the community’s shared vision for South Arlington’s historic ‘Main Street,’ and we are grateful to the governor for helping us to achieve it.”

The service, which began on Sept. 7, provides both Arlington Transit (ART) and Metrobus riders with more frequent and reliable service along the Columbia Pike corridor. This includes a 45 percent increase in the number of weekday bus trips, 64 percent more service on Saturdays and nearly double the service on Sundays. The bulk of the state funding will be used for bus stop improvements, including signage, with other funds used to increase public awareness of the upgraded service.

During the last three years, Arlington County has held more than 300 community meetings in which residents, community groups and employers expressed support for a vibrant, affordable and diverse Columbia Pike with an emphasis on transit and pedestrian-friendly principles. In March 2002, the County Board adopted the Columbia Pike Initiative, outlining guidelines for the area’s revitalization. Pike Ride is part of the Arlington County Board’s ongoing efforts to support that goal.

In February, Arlington became one of the first communities in the nation to adopt Form-Based Code, to be applied in the Pike corridor. This development option streamlines the approval process for new development along the Pike and will serve as a linchpin for its economic revitalization.

The Columbia Pike corridor is a 3.5-mile area stretching from the Pentagon to the Fairfax County line near Baileys Crossroads. Today, approximately 49,000 residents and 500 small and large companies call the Columbia Pike corridor home.

Arlington, Virginia is a world-class residential, business, and tourist location that was originally part of the 10-mile square parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. Arlington is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and was granted an award for its practices of “Smart Growth” by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world – including the Pentagon – Arlington stands out as one of America’s preeminent places for living, visiting and doing business.