Rosslyn/Ballston Corridor

Step into the realm of innovative city planning with the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor. This transit-oriented development showcases smart growth planning that boasts high-density, mixed-use development along a major transit corridor while keeping the existing residential neighborhoods intact. The comprehensive planning for this corridor involved a 12-year intensive effort by citizens, staff, and County officials, and has had a significant impact on shaping the landscape of Arlington as it is today.

As the demand for office spaces increased and new residents flocked into the Washington, D.C. area during the 1960s, county planners and officials saw an opportunity to manage the growth in a way that would reimagine the communities, reduce our dependence on cars, and revitalize struggling retail and business areas. The Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor ultimately connected already-thriving residential neighborhoods to public transportation, jobs, schools, parks, shops, and services.

The county officials' vision of concentrating high-density development along the path of the new rail system took a significant step forward with the underground line that includes stations in Rosslyn, Clarendon, Courthouse, Virginia Square, and Ballston. The County's General Land Use Plan incorporates the "bulls-eye approach," which concentrates the highest density uses within walking distance of Metro stations, tapers densities, heights, and uses down to surrounding single-family residential neighborhoods, and provides for a mix of office, hotel, retail, and residential development.

The Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor's success can be measured by the impressive numbers it generates. The population within the quarter-mile radius of the Rosslyn-Ballston metro stations increased by nearly 107 percent between 1990 and 2000, accounting for 28 percent of the County's overall growth. Today, seven mixed-use, walkable, and bicycle-friendly Metro transit villages sparkle with vitality. The two Metro corridors accommodate 36 million square feet of office space, 6 million square feet of retail space, and over 47,000 residential units. Experience the magic of smart growth planning with the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor.