TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM Introduction ... - Arlingtonva
1140 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 202.296.8625
TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM To: Mitch Bonanno
Vornado/Charles E. Smith
Michael Novotny From: Christopher Tacinelli, P.E. Felice Brychta, P.E. Peter Kauffmann, EIT
Date: June 22, 2012 Subject: PenPlace Neighborhood Traffic Analysis
Introduction This memorandum provides information regarding the traffic expected to be generated by the proposed PenPlace development in Arlington County, Virginia with a focus on adjacent local streets. This level of analysis is not required by VDOT or Arlington County standards, is not typical industry standard, and has been completed separately at your request as an additional service. The proposed PenPlace development will be completed in phases and at full buildout will consist of 1.8 million square feet of office space, 300 hotel rooms, and 50,000 square feet of retail uses. Based on previous experience in the area, information provided by Arlington County, and discussions with representatives from VDOT and Arlington County, the majority of the trips to and from the PenPlace site are anticipated to be non‐single occupancy vehicle trips including transit, carpool, vanpool, biking and walking. Furthermore, the office component of the project results in the automobile‐based trips largely approaching via controlled‐access roads including I‐395, US‐1, VA‐27, and VA‐110. The amount of automobile traffic that is expected to utilize local neighborhood streets will be largely limited to those travelers coming from Arlington Ridge, Aurora Highlands and the northern neighborhoods of Alexandria directly to the south, comprising a small percentage of the overall trip generation of PenPlace. This report summarizes the methodology by which trips generated by the PenPlace development were assigned to the local roadway network and then uses this distribution pattern to assess the traffic volumes expected on adjacent local streets.
Neighborhood Traffic Analysis Vehicular Travel Times Travel time runs to and from the south of the site were conducted to provide additional information on current conditions near the adjacent neighborhoods. A series of travel runs were made during the AM and PM peak periods to find the average delay incurred along each of the major northbound routes approaching and departing Pentagon City to/from the south. The inbound and outbound routes are shown in Figures 1 and 2. Transportation Planners and Engineers
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PenPlace Neighborhood Traffic Analysis
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June 22, 2012
A number of inbound routes from various points were studied and are shown in Figures 1A and 1B. From the southeast (see Figure 1A), a series of routes was studied beginning from the US 1 bridge over Four Mile Run. Of these potential paths, Route A approaching along US 1, Route C along Crystal Drive, and Route E along S. Eads St. from S. Glebe Road were all found to be within one minute of each other on average. Since there is no connection over Four Mile Run on S. Eads St. to the south, it is anticipated that the majority of commuters will remain on Route 1 until reaching 15th Street; however, some commuters may turn at S. Glebe Road, 23rd Street or 20th Street to access S. Eads St. Route I was slower than Routes A, C or E by at least 2.25 minutes. Inbound Routing - Southeast Average Travel Time: A– 7:59 C– 7:27 E– 6:55 I– 10:16
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PenPlace
C
I A E
I
C
A
E I
Start
Figure 1A: Inbound Routing from Southeast Table 1A. Inbound Travel Time Runs from the Southeast
Route A C E I Gorove/Slade
Avg Travel Time 7:59 7:27 6:55 10:16
Number of Observations 17 11 19 11
±E, 95% 0:42 0:53 0:42 0:43
95th Percentile Confidence Interval 7:17 8:41 6:34 8:21 6:13 7:37 9:33 10:59 www.goroveslade.com
PenPlace Neighborhood Traffic Analysis
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June 22, 2012
Among the routes approaching from the southwest at the intersection of I‐395 (non HOV) and S Glebe Road (see Figure 1B), Route J which travels along I‐395 (non‐HOV), was found to be the fastest with a measured travel time of approximately 4 minutes. An alternate route from this location, Route K along Arlington Ridge Road, was found to take approximately 8.5 minutes, and Route L, along 23rd Street was found to take approximately 10 minutes. Because of this difference, very few regional commuters are expected to utilize Arlington Ridge Road or 23rd Street leaving only local traffic expected to traverse these roadways.
Figure 1B: Inbound Routing from Southwest Table 1B. Inbound Travel Time Runs from the Southwest
Route J K L
Avg Travel Time 4:04 8:40 10:02
Number of Observations 24 10 12
±E, 95% 0:18 0:33 0:42
95th Percentile Confidence Interval 3:45 4:22 8:07 9:13 9:19 10:44
Gorove/Slade
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PenPlace Neighborhood Traffic Analysis
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June 22, 2012
Outbound travel time runs to the southeast were also completed during the PM peak period along three routes as shown in Figure 2A below. For the outbound travel time runs to the southeast, Route E which travels along S. Eads Street to Route 1 southbound via S Glebe Road was found to be the fastest at a little less than six minutes. Route A, which travels along Route 1 southbound via S Eads Street and 15th Street was found to be little less than ten minutes on average. Route I, which travels along Army Navy Drive and Arlington Ridge Road to Route 1 southbound via S Glebe Road is the longest route at almost 14 minutes.
Figure 2A: Outbound Routing to the Southeast Table 2A: Outbound Routing to the Southeast
Route
Avg Travel Time
Number of Observations
±E, 95%
A_Out E_Out I_Out
9:52 5:40 13:55
15 10 10
1:16 0:14 2:01
Gorove/Slade
95th Percentile Confidence Interval 8:36 5:26 11:54
11:08 5:54 15:56
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PenPlace Neighborhood Traffic Analysis
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June 22, 2012
For the outbound travel time runs to the southwest, Route J, which travels along I‐395 (non HOV) was found to be fastest at a little over six minutes on average. Route M, which travels along Army Navy Drive to 395 via S. Adams St., 26th Road and S. Glebe Rd was over a minute longer than Route J. Route K along Arlington Ridge Road was found to be nearly two minutes longer, at over nine minutes. Therefore, it was determined that the majority of regional outbound trips traveling to the southwest would likely use Route J along I‐395 (non HOV), similar to the inbound trips from the southwest.
Figure 2B: Outbound Routing to the Southwest Table 2B. Outbound Travel Time Runs to the Southwest
Route
Avg Travel Time
Number of Observations
±E, 95%
J_Out K_Out M_Out
6:08 9:07 7:21
20 10 10
0:53 0:46 0:31
95th Percentile Confidence Interval 5:15 8:21 6:50
7:01 9:53 7:52
Gorove/Slade
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PenPlace Neighborhood Traffic Analysis
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June 22, 2012
Direction of Approach Percentages Discussions were held with VDOT and Arlington County during the project scoping meeting regarding the distribution of traffic traveling to the site. Commuting patterns and census data were primarily used to determine the overall distribution of site generated trips to the Penplace site from around the region. The travel time runs discussed in the previous section and shown in Figures 1 and 2, were gathered to provide supplemental information regarding the potential use of local roadways. Based on the data gathered, the distribution was developed as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 3A: Inbound Traffic Distribution
Based on the inbound traffic distribution shown above, the majority of trips between the PenPlace development and destinations to the south will be confined to commuter routes including I‐395 and US 1. As shown in Figure 3A, 1% of the traffic is expected to approach the site along local streets to 15th Street, and 2% along local streets to S. Fern Street. Of the 5% of traffic expected to approach the site from Army Navy Drive (shown in yellow), about 1% is expected to come from Army Navy Drive (west of S. Lynn Street) and 1% is expected to travel along Arlington Ridge Road/S. Lynn Street. Similar patterns were found for outbound trips; although the routing was slightly different due to one‐way ramps to and from certain roadways. The outbound traffic distribution is shown in Figure 3B. Overall, 95% of the traffic generated by the proposed PenPlace site is anticipated to major commuter roadways, and 5% is expected to travel on local roadways to the site.
Gorove/Slade
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PenPlace Neighborhood Traffic Analysis
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June 22, 2012
Figure 3B: Outbound Traffic Distribution
Gorove/Slade
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PenPlace Neighborhood Traffic Analysis
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June 22, 2012
Future Peak Hour Traffic Volumes The expected number of actual trips generated by the site was applied across the trip distribution shown in Figure 3A and 3B. Figures 4A and 4B shows the roadway classification, estimated future traffic volume in 2020 before the development, and the number of added site trips for many of the roadways in the immediate vicinity of the PenPlace development. The 2020 future traffic volumes were determined using average weekday traffic volumes obtained from VDOT and background
s St.
725 +20
Crystal Drive
5,355 +90 5,355 +90
Crys 525 tal D rive
+90 4,795 +30 905
S. Ead s
St.
Dri
+10 1,340
Jefferson Davis Hwy
+35 1,050
S. Joyce St.
5,355 +60
1,34 0
S. Hay e
1,105
S. Joyc e
300 +10
+10 1,340
Arlington Ridge Rd
535
ve
6 +1 45 0
+45 5 1,22
535 +10
a
0 St. 34 1, yes
H S.
Arm 645 yN avy
+1955 1,22
+ 1,7 10 85
. ds St S. Ea
535 +20
rn St. S. Fe
S. Ly nn S t.
St.
725 +130
growth rates assumed in the full traffic impact study prepared for the site.
Figure 4A: AM Peak Hour Traffic Volumes and Site Trips
Gorove/Slade
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PenPlace Neighborhood Traffic Analysis
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June 22, 2012
S. Hay es St.
725 +20
Crystal Drive
5,355 +135 5,355 +105
S. Joyce St.
+10 1,340
Crys 525 tal D rive
Jefferson Davis Hwy
St.
S. Ead s
+3 5 905
+105 4,795
+10 1,340
+1 6 0
Arm 45 yN avy Dri v
e
+40 1,050
5,355 +105
1,105
S. Joyc
3 00 +1 0
1,34 0
535
Arlington Ridge Rd
+50 5 1,22
535 +20
0 St. 34 1, yes Ha S.
64 +1 5 0
. ds St
+2955 1,22
St.
+ 1,7 10 85
S. Ea
53 +30
n S. Fer 5
S. Ly n
n St .
e St.
725 +110
Figure 4B: PM Peak Hour Traffic Volumes and Site Trips
As shown above, the 1% of site generated traffic that is expected to travel along local roadways such as Army Navy Drive (west of S. Lynn Street) and Arlington Ridge Road/S. Lynn Street is expected to generate up to 10 trips during the AM peak hour and 15 trips during the PM peak hour. Based on the total roadway volumes for Army Navy Drive (west of S. Lynn Street), site generated trips will constitute less than 1% of the AM peak hour traffic and 1.5% of the PM peak hour traffic. For Arlington Ridge Road, site trips will constitute less than 1% of the AM peak hour traffic and 1% of the PM peak hour traffic. For S. Lynn Street, site trips will constitute 3% of the AM peak hour traffic and 5% of the PM peak hour traffic. If the 5% of site‐generated trips use Arlington Ridge Road instead of the 1% stated above, it would equate to approximately 50 trips during the AM peak and 75 trips during the PM peak. This would constitute less than 4% of the AM peak hour traffic and less than 6% of the PM peak hour traffic on Arlington Ridge Road, and 17% of AM and 25% of PM traffic on S. Lynn Street.
Gorove/Slade
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PenPlace Neighborhood Traffic Analysis
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June 22, 2012
Conclusions This memorandum provides a brief overview of the expected impacts of the PenPlace development on local street traffic, including the process by which site‐generated trips were distributed across the local street network. The analysis concludes the following:
The majority of the trips to and from the PenPlace site are anticipated to be non‐single occupancy vehicle trips including transit, carpool, vanpool, biking and walking.
The office component of the project results in the automobile‐based trips primarily approaching via controlled‐ access roads including I‐395, US‐1, VA‐27, and VA‐110.
The amount of automobile traffic that is expected to utilize local neighborhood streets will be largely limited to those travelers coming from Arlington Ridge, Aurora Highlands and the northern neighborhoods of Alexandria directly to the south, comprising a small number of the overall trip generation of PenPlace.
Travel time runs conducted inbound from various points have shown that from the southeast, the routes along Route 1, S. Eads Street and Crystal Drive were comparable. From the southwest, the route along I‐395 was found to be fastest. These routes are expected to remain preferred commuter routes given current capacity and expected future growth.
Travel time runs conducted outbound to various points have shown that from the southeast, the route along S. Eads Street was the fastest at less than six minutes and the route along Route 1 took less than ten minutes. To the southwest, the route along I‐395 was found to be fastest. These routes are expected to remain preferred commuter routes given current capacity and expected future growth.
The small increase in trips along local neighborhood streets is consistent with past data from Arlington County that shows the majority of traffic traveling to Pentagon City and Crystal City from the south will utilize large regional roads and freeways instead of local neighborhood streets.
Gorove/Slade
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