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Transportation capital: county flags PAYGO needs, Vision Zero maintenance and Capital Bikeshare expansion
Summary
Transportation staff told the County Board that FY26 transportation PAYGO is $5.1 million to maintain pavements, sidewalks, signals and Vision Zero devices while most capital work is funded from TCF, TIF and external grants.
Arlington transportation staff presented the FY26 transportation capital programs and funding plan, stressing that most project dollars come from legally restricted sources—Transportation Capital Fund (TCF), Crystal City/Pentagon City TIF, state and federal grants—and that PAYGO is needed to maintain assets such as slurry seals, sidewalks, signals and in‑street Vision Zero devices.
Assistant Director Sarah Crawford and Transportation Funds Manager Vijetha Huffman said PAYGO for transportation is proposed at $5.1 million for FY26 and supports programs and projects not eligible for dedicated transportation revenue sources. Staff emphasized that preventative pavement treatments (slurry seal and micro‑surfacing) are far more cost‑effective than mill‑and‑overlay or full‑depth rebuilds, and that declining PAYGO or construction inflation can increase future costs.
Staff reviewed condition metrics: the county’s PCI (pavement condition index) was 83.7 for calendar 2023; sidewalk condition improved from 83 to 88 since 2021 after a tripping‑hazard blitz and zone maintenance program. The county is implementing more tactical Vision Zero devices—bollards, turn‑hardening, and pilot deployments—and staff warned those devices require ongoing maintenance. Staff estimated a roughly 20% increase in potholes for FY25 versus FY24 attributable to a severe winter.
On funding, staff described TCF revenues (commercial/industrial assessment and an add‑on sales tax component) and noted a forecasted TCF revenue decline compared with FY25 due mainly to commercial assessment pressure; TCF will still pay operating and maintenance costs for transit and bike share. TIF funding remains important for transformational projects such as the Crystal City East entrance (staff cited roughly $90 million of external funding leveraged by local TIF contributions).
Capital Bikeshare was a core topic: staff said installed and planned solar and charging infrastructure and bike share expansion will push the county’s on‑site solar above one megawatt. Staff proposed converting a contractor role to a county FTE to directly manage the Capital Bikeshare contract and shared mobility permits. Fiscal 2024 was a record year for bikeshare ridership in Arlington; staff noted strong e‑bike adoption and proposed $2.0 million for operations/maintenance and $1.2 million for expansion in FY26, with a continued emphasis on e‑bikes.
Board members and the Transportation Commission praised Vision Zero pilot projects and asked about maintenance costs for tactical devices, sidewalk accessibility, bus stop accessibility and the timeline for bus and Columbia Pike projects. Staff said they would return with more detailed planning and noted the master transportation plan update (Arlington’s Transportation Future) is underway.
