TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM #8 Review of Key Corridors
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TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM #8 Review of Key Corridors Prepared for the Anne Arundel County Office of Transportation May 2019 – Final Note: The purpose of each Technical Memorandum prepared for the Office of Transportation is to present facts, analysis, ideas, issues and recommendations that will inform the Anne Arundel County Transportation Master Plan. The views expressed and recommendations offered in each memorandum are solely based on the consultant’s judgment and should not be considered as endorsed by the Office of Transportation or any other County agency or officer. Technical Memorandum #8: Review of Key Corridors Page 2 A summary of travel demand, planning gaps and conflicts, existing conditions and potential projects among all modes was prepared for each state-owned roadway considered in the Transportation Functional Master Plan; county-owned roadways had much less data to be considered in formulating recommendations for the plan. These summaries were one input into the analysis performed in creating the plan’s final recommendations. Readers must understand the context for these summaries. As published in this technical memorandum, draft documents were prepared for discussion purposes among the project team but were not updated following team discussion. Any information used in these summaries must be verified prior to use. Technical Memorandum #8: Review of Key Corridors Page 3 Travel Demand Forecasting Since the 2009 General Development Plan, the expansion of housing development has been rapid outside of future major job centers, such as BWI, Fort Meade, Brooklyn Park, and the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center. This corresponds to Ferndale, Pumphrey, Severn, and Pasadena, along the I-97 travel shed, with buffers of low growth in the immediate area adjacent to major roads. Immediately south of the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center is the site of new senior housing, with condominiums currently under construction. Population is expected to outpace previous forecasts with the influx of employment opportunities throughout the travel shed. Table 1: Comparison of CGMP Forecasts Employment Population Housing I-97: I-97: I-97: Forecasted Employment Growth Forecasted Population Growth Forecasted Household Growth 2009 - 2040 2009 - 2040 2009 - 2040 Corridor Corridor Corridor I-97 I-97 I-97 Forecasted Growth Forecasted Growth Forecasted Growth 0% - 5% 0% - 5% 0% - 5% 6% - 15% 6% - 15% 6% - 15% 16% - 25% 16% - 25% 16% - 25% 26% - 50% 26% - 50% 26% - 50% 0 1 2 Miles 0 1 2 Miles 0 1 2 Miles > 50% ¯ > 50% ¯ > 50% ¯ Recent and Committed Projects » There have been no capacity improvements along I-97 TFMP Candidate Roadway Roadway Projects Project Locations Project Status Cost Estimate Widen I-97 from 4 No to 6 lanes between action $283,300,000 US 50 to MD 32 planned Interchange No improvements at action N/A US 50 planned No New interchange action N/A near Crownsville planned Widen I-97 from 6 No to 8 lanes from MD action $321,000,000 32 to I-695 planned Planning Gaps & Conflicts Recommendations Highway Highway » The widening of I-97 is consistently noted among the plans reviewed, » Along I-97, the high priority but the project is not included in the Baltimore Region Constrained Long improvement is capacity, systems Range Transportation Plan. management and operations » The County’s targeted growth area at the former state hospital complex improvements from MD 32 to US in Crownsville may require regional access via I-97, but no improvements 50. are identified in any of the plans reviewed. » Further study is required of regional » There are ongoing discussions of interchange improvements or access to the Crownsville area. transportation systems management/operations (TSMO) strategies at I-97. » SHA’s Annual Mobility Report shows significant congestion and delay at the junction of I-97 and MD 32, primarily in the southbound to eastbound direction. Transit Transit » Today in the I-97 corridor MTA provides: » MTA should increase the level of ◦ Three express trips daily between downtown Baltimore and downtown express service along I-97 between Annapolis via Cromwell Light Rail Station (Route 215). Annapolis and Baltimore; additional ◦ Three express bus trips from Kent Island to downtown Baltimore via study is required on specific Annapolis with two additional trips originating in Annapolis (Route 210). destinations within Baltimore City, » The Central Light Rail Line’s Cromwell Station is the southernmost stop where the high-growth Boston and serves trips from I-97 to downtown Baltimore and to the north. The Street corridor is unserved and Harry S. Truman Park and Ride is located at near the junction of I-97 and connectivity north to State Center US 50 at Riva Road. and Penn Station could be » The Corridor Growth Management Plan recommends adding premium warranted. bus service from Parole Town Center to BWI Airport and Arundel Mills. » The Transit Development Plan recommends makes no specific recommendations for transit service in the I-97 corridor. Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Bicycle and Pedestrian » Bicycle traffic is not permitted on access-controlled freeways and Facilities interstate highways, unless it is located on an approved adjacent path » Advance the bicycle and pedestrian or facility. As such, parallel routes should be explored. The Bicycle facility recommendations in and Pedestrian Master Plan contains recommendations along MD 178 coordination with land use changes (Generals Highway) to MD 450 (Defense Highway), and West Street at the former Crownsville state continues the corridor into Annapolis. hospital. » Pedestrian and bicycle improvements on MD 178 are recommended from Knollwood Drive to the Annapolis city line. Intersection improvements are recommended at the intersection of Housley Road, Bestgate Road, and MD 178. » Recommendations: » Use existing wide shoulders and right-of-way on MD 178 between West Street and Knollwood Drive for separate bike lanes » MD 178 north of Knollwood Drive could support separated bike facilities up to the Paul Birch Drive intersection, where the right-of-way narrows significantly » Consider bike lanes on West Street from US 50 to Taylor Avenue » Incorporate separated bike lanes with improvements at the Housley Road/Bestgate Road/MD 178 intersection. Travel Demand Forecasting Since the 2009 General Development Plan, several new residential subdivisions have been approved to support the planned commercial growth of the Annapolis Town Center. The area’s commercial and residential growth is expected to continue into 2040, as it becomes an expansion of urban Annapolis. The Annapolis Town Center will be home to dense housing, while the surrounding area can expect growth in single family homes. Other employment growth is projected for the US Naval Academy, with corresponding moderate housing growth north of US 50, along the B&A Trail. Additional moderate housing growth is projected for the Crofton area of the travel shed, also north of US 50. Table 1: Comparison of CGMP Forecasts Employment Population Housing Corridor Corridor Corridor U.S. Route 50 U.S. Route 50 U.S. Route 50 0% - 25% 0% - 15% 0% - 5% 6% - 25% 6% - 15% 6% - 15% 16% - 25% 16% - 25% 16% - 25% 26% - 50% 26% - 50% 26% - 50% 0 1 2 Miles 0 1 2 Miles 0 1 2 Miles > 50% ¯ > 50% ¯ > 50% ¯ Recent and Committed Projects » No significant roadway projects have been placed in service since the 2009 General Development Plan. » Under Construction: Project to ease congestion on US 50 from MD 70 to MD 2 (northbound), by restriping lanes on the Severn River Bridge to accommodate one additional eastbound travel lane. » SHA expanded a park and ride lot at US 50 at MD 424 in 2016. » MTA implemented Commuter BusLink Route 210 from Kent Island and Annapolis to Downtown Baltimore. TFMP Candidate Roadway Projects Project Status Cost Estimate Reconfiguration of Severn River Bridge is underway Widen US 50 between I-97 and Bay to allow for westbound expansion to 4 lanes; no --- Bridge from 6 to 8 lanes. impact on eastbound traffic. Extend car pool lanes from I-97 to No action planned. --- Prince George’s County line. Interchange improvements at I-97. No action planned. --- Roadway Project Locations Planning Gaps & Conflicts Recommendations Highway Highway » With reconfiguration of the US 50 bridge over the » Defer recommendation for US 50 eastbound widening Severn River, SHA expects significant congestion relief and consider along with improvements to I-97 in the area which is the most congested segment of the interchange. As an interim strategy, advance TSMO corridor west of the Bay Bridge. The recommended and transit/HOV strategies in the entire corridor widening from 6 to 8 lanes may not be warranted including between Prince George’s County line and unless coupled with HOV/transit service expansion. MD 70. » SHA is not currently planning widening or improvements » As a long-term strategy, advance HOV lanes in the along US 50; however, SHA’s Highway Needs corridor. Inventory identifies the HOV lanes as a priority project. » There are ongoing discussions of interchange improvements or transportation systems management/ operations (TSMO) strategies at I-97 but no specific project is identified in any plan. Transit Transit » MTA currently offers commuter bus service departs » Additional commuter bus service in the US 50 corridor Annapolis, Davidsonville and Severna Park every 15 is warranted over time, especially when coupled with minutes between 5:00 AM and 8:00 AM HOV lane expansion. » The Corridor Growth Management Plan calls for premium bus service along US 50 from Annapolis to downtown DC using HOV lanes. The Transit Development Plan also includes this recommendation. Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities » No pedestrian or bicycle improvements are Advance projects from the BPMP and: recommended for US 50. This corridor is a limited » Upgrade bicycle lanes to separated facilities on Naval access highway, and no pedestrians or bicycles are Academy Bridge over the Severn River. permitted.