HHS Lease Consolidation Traffic Technical Report
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HHS Lease Consolidation Traffic Technical Report February 2014 HHS Lease Consolidation Traffic Technical Report Project Summary Page i HHS Lease Consolidation Traffic Technical Report Project Summary PROJECT SUMMARY INTRODUCTION This Traffic Technical Report has been prepared for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) to assess and report potential transportation impacts resulting from the proposed consolidation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at 5600 Fishers Lane. This site has been previously studied for the consolidation of 2,900 HHS employees in 2010. The planned consolidation has been expanded and now includes a projected total of 4,500 future employees. The 5600 Fisher’s Lane site is located east by Twinbrook Parkway and bordered by Fishers Lane to the north, and Parklawn Drive to the south. The building is currently partially occupied by HHS and HHS is proposing to consolidate the operations located at several other leased buildings in suburban Maryland into one central location at 5600 Fishers Lane. The employees not currently located at 5600 Fishers Lane are being relocated from four other offices: 540 Gaither Road, 1 Choke Cherry Road, 12300 Twinbrook Parkway, and 801 Thompson Avenue in Rockville, MD. The building is currently undergoing an interior renovation, but total square footage will not be modified. The existing 2,800 HHS employees are projected to increase to 4,500 total employees by the end of 2015. EXISTING CONDITIONS Currently, the 2,800 HHS employees are located at 5600 Fishers Lane in Rockville, Maryland. This location is extensively developed with multi-story commercial, retail, and office buildings and parking structures. New construction is underway to the north across Fishers Lane. Four intersections in the vicinity of 5600 Fishers Lane were included in the analysis. Overall, under existing conditions all of the intersections operate at an acceptable level of service (LOS). FUTURE CONDITIONS ANALYSIS WITH 2,900 EMPLOYEES (NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE) The Future Conditions Analysis with 2,900 Employees (No-Action Alternative) examines the future anticipated volumes without taking into consideration traffic that would be generated by the collocating an additional 1,600 employees to the site. This analysis includes the existing traffic volumes, and approved un-built developments in the study area. The No-Action Alternative analysis also takes into account any funded infrastructure improvements in the study areas. Under the No-Action Alternative, two of the intersections are anticipated to operate at an unacceptable LOS. The intersection of Twinbrook Parkway at Veirs Mill Road (MD 586) is anticipated to operate at an unacceptable LOS in the morning and evening peak hours. The intersection of Twinbrook Parkway at Rockville Pike (MD 355) is anticipated to operate at an unacceptable LOS in the evening peak hour. FUTURE CONDITIONS ANALYSIS WITH 4,500 EMPLOYEES (ACTION ALTERNATIVE) The Future Conditions Analysis with 4,500 Employees (Action Alternative) examines future anticipated volumes taking into consideration traffic under the No-Action Alternative as well as Page ii HHS Lease Consolidation Traffic Technical Report Project Summary traffic that would be generated by collocating 4,500 HHS employees at the 5600 Fishers Lane site. Under the Action Alternative Analysis, the number of employees to be collocated would constitute an increase of approximately 1,600 employees from the No-Action Alternative. Under the Action Alternative, three of the intersections are anticipated to operate at an unacceptable LOS for one or both peak hours. The intersection of Twinbrook Parkway at Veirs Mill Road (MD 586) is anticipated to operate at an unacceptable LOS in the morning and evening peak hours. The intersection of Twinbrook Parkway at Parklawn Drive is anticipated to operate at an unacceptable LOS in the evening peak hour. The intersection of Twinbrook Parkway at Rockville Pike (MD 355) is anticipated to operate at an unacceptable LOS in the evening peak hour. HHS EMPLOYEE COMMUTER SURVEY An online survey of existing HHS employees was conducted to determine the commuting patterns of the employees and how they might change after the consolidation. The survey examined the modes by which employees travel to work, working hours, telecommuting, origin/destination, possible improvements to transit options, and reasons for mode choice. CONCLUSIONS AND MITIGATION The results of the study show that the collocation of 4,500 HHS employees to the 5600 Fishers Lane site will have an adverse impact on traffic conditions in the area. Discussions with Montgomery County Planning Staff indicated that the interior renovation of 5600 Fishers Lane does not require a traffic mitigation agreement. However, in order to help mitigate the adverse impact of the added trips on local roadways, HHS should hire a Transportation Management Coordinator and develop a Transportation Management Plan (TMP). The TMP would identify strategies for reducing the number of single occupancy vehicles which will access the site and encouraging alternate modes of traveling, thereby improving traffic conditions in the area. Page iii HHS Lease Consolidation Traffic Technical Report Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Project Summary ................................................................................................................................................. ii Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... ii Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................................ ii Future Conditions Analysis with 2,900 Employees (No-Action Alternative) .................................... ii Future Conditions Analysis with 4,500 Employees (Action Alternative) .......................................... ii HHS Employee Commuter Survey .................................................................................................... iii Conclusions and Mitigation .............................................................................................................. iii Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Existing Conditions ........................................................................................................................... 3 Existing Public Transportation Facilities ........................................................................................... 3 Metrorail System ............................................................................................................................ 3 Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) Rail System ............................................................ 5 Metrobus and Montgomery County Ride-On Bus System ............................................................. 6 Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities .................................................................................................... 6 Traffic operations analysis ................................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 3: Roadway Impacts ............................................................................................................................ 14 Future Conditions Analysis With 2,900 Employees (No-Action Alternative) ................................. 14 Future Roadway Modifications .................................................................................................... 14 Background Developments .......................................................................................................... 14 Short-term Impact to the Parking Garage Access ........................................................................ 15 Future Conditions Analysis with 4,500 Employees (Action Alternative) ........................................ 22 Site Trip Generation ..................................................................................................................... 22 Site Trip Distribution ................................................................................................................... 22 Site Trip Assignment .................................................................................................................... 23 Action Alternative Traffic Operations Analysis ............................................................................ 25 Chapter 4: HHS Employee Commuter Survey .................................................................................................28 Survey Results .............................................................................................................................. 28 Chapter 5: Conclusions and Transportation Demand Management Measures .............................................38 Conclusions ...................................................................................................................................... 38 Transporation management plan Association and Transportation Coordinator ......................... 39 RideOn Buses ............................................................................................................................... 39 Commuter Buses ..........................................................................................................................40