Symmetra Design West End Parcel Square 37 Transportation Impact Study Washington, DC June6, 2011
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West End Parcel SQUARE 37 Washington, DC TRANSPORTATION IMPACT STUDY June 6, 2011 1250 Eye Street, NW Syite 700 Washington. DC 20005 Phone 202 370 6000 Fax 202 370 6001 mail www.symmetradesign.com symmetra design West End Parcel Square 37 Transportation Impact Study Washington, DC June6, 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... :................ 1 Site Background ........................................................................................................................................ ! Scope of Study .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Primary Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 5 TRANSPORTATION NETWORK AND SITE ACESSS ........................................................................... 6 Existing Road Network ............................................................................................................................. 6 Existing East-West Alley .......................................................................................................................... 8 Traffic Counts with Field Observations .................................................................................................... 9 Pedestrian Access and Circulation .......................................................................................................... tO Bicycle Access and Circulation .............................................................................................................. 12 Transit ..................................................................................................................................................... l4 Parking .................................................................................................................................................... 19 Safety Assessment .................................................................................................................................. 22 EXISTING TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT ...................................................................................................... 23 Level of Service (Intersection) ................................................................................................................ 23 Level of Service (Corridor) ..................................................................................................................... 24 Capacity Analysis ........ , .......................................................................................................................... 24 SQUARE 37 SITE DEVELOPMENT........................................................................................................ 27 Site Access and Circulation .................................................................................................................... 27 Future Parking Supply and Demand ....................................................................................................... 30 FUTURE TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT ......................................................................................................... 32 Future Background Projects .................................................................................................................... 32 Site Trip Generation ................................................................................................................................ 32 Future Capacity Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 35 LOADING MANAGEMENT PLAN ......................................................................................................... 38 TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT (TOM) PLAN ........................................................ 40 CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 42 West End Parcel Square 37 Transportation Impact Study Washington, DC June 6, 2011 INTRODUCTION The following report details the results of the Transportation Impact Study (TIS) for the West End Square 37 project in Northwest Washington, DC. This document is part of the Planned Unit Development (PUD) application. EastBanc W.D.C Partners have joined together to revitalize the Square 37 site located in the West End community. The project will include a mixed-use development with high-density residential units, ground floor retail, and a redeveloped public library. The project is planned to be complete in 2015. The Square 37 project is planned along L Street between 23rd and 24th Street and is bounded by a public alley easement to the north, L Street to the south, 23rd Street to the east and 24th Street to the west. Figure 1 illustrates the general site location. The site is currently occupied by the Third District Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) building, the West End Branch Public Library, and a surface parking lot totaling approximately 46,800 gross square feet (GSF). The City Council passed a resolution which allowed for the disposition of this excess property. The following is a summary of the proposed development program: • 160 to 1801 luxury condominium units • 10,450 square feet of ground floor retail • 20,000 square foot redeveloped Public Library The existing public library will be rebuilt as part of this project. The police station will be relocated however the relocation has not yet been determined and is not a part of this project. Site Background There are three surface parking lots on the existing Square 37 properties. The existing lots are used by library patrons and employees, daily commuters and the police building. In addition to vehicle parking on the MPD parking lot, police personnel are also permitted to park on public spaces (along portions of the public sidewalk fronting the building on 23rd and on L Streets/. In total, approximately 89 to 114 vehicles can be parked on the site. The proposed development will eliminate the existing surface parking spaces and provide 192 below-grade parking spaces. 1 The maximum number of residential units currently being considered for the site (180) was used as the basis for trip generation in this study. It should be noted that the current site plan in this memorandum includes 174 units. 2 In addition, motorcycles associated with the MPD building can also be parked on-site. During observations on an evening weekday, just over 30 police motorcycles were parked. 1 West End Parcel Square 37 Transportation Impact Study Washington. DC June 6. 2011 Figure 1: Site Location 2 West End Parcel Square 37 Transportation Impact Study Washington, DC June6, 2011 Site access to the Square 37 properties will be modified and will provide an improved pedestrian environment. Five existing curb cuts (along 23rd and L Streets) will be eliminated and replaced with one curb cut (along 24th Street) that will provide vehicular access to the garage as well as access to the west residential drop-off area. The Square 37 project will replace existing vehicle trips associated with the parking lot and police building with new trips associated with the residential units and ground floor retail space. Library trips are expected to increase slightly (to account for higher activity levels associated with a more modern library) however a similar number of parking spaces will be provided for library patrons. The net difference of additional vehicle trips during the peak hour of the day is minimal. 3 symmetra dastg:l West End Parcel Square 37 Transportation Impact Study Washington, DC June6, 2011 Scope of Study This Transportation Impact Study was conducted in accordance with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) scope requirements and two-phase submittal process. A Phase 1: Initial Evaluation Study was submitted to DDOT on March 30, 2011 and is included in the Appendix. The following intersections were analyzed in this study: • 24th and L Street • 24th and M Street • 23rd and L Street • 23rd and M Street Existing conditions Level of Service (LOS) capacity analyses were conducted for the study area intersections. In addition, corridor analyses of 23rd and 24th Streets (between L Street and M Street) were conducted for the PM peak hour to better understand traffic conditions along the corridor segment. This Study includes the following report sections: • Transportation Network and Site Access - Provides an overview of vehicular, pedestrian, transit and bicycle access within the study area boundaries. • On-Street Parking Assessment- Provides an overview of curbside parking inventory and occupancy. • Existing Traffic Assessment- Provides an overview of field observations, data collection and existing traffic analysis results. • Square 37 Site Development- Provides an overview of the proposed site development and site access and circulation. • Future Traffic Assessment - Provides an outline of the projected site trip generation, future capacity analysis and operating conditions. • Loading Management Plan- Provides description of delivery vehicle access and management and includes measures for managing trash pick-up, deliveries and other loading activities. • Transportation Demand Management - Provides a bulleted list of strategies and measures