Streetcardistrict of columbia Land Use Study phase one Goody Clancy Kittelson & Associates W-ZHA Zimmerman/Volk Associates EHT Traceries January 2012 Streetcardistrict of columbia Land Use Study phase one January 2012 submitted to the District of Columbia Office of Planning by Goody Clancy Land Use PLan for the district of coLUmbia streetcar system | i acknowledgements Executive Office of the Mayor Jen Hughes Department of Housing and Community Vincent C. Gray, Mayor Former Capital City Fellow, Citywide Planning Development Art Rodgers Director, John E. Hall Office of Planning Senior Housing Planner DC Housing Authority Harriet Tregoning Sakina Khan Executive Director, Adrianne Todman Director, Office of Planning Senior Economic Planner Department of Small and Local Business Rosalynn Hughey Development Deputy Director, Citywide and Neighborhood Consultant Team Director, Harold B. Pettigrew Jr. Planning Goody Clancy W-ZHA Citywide Resources Kimberly Driggins ZVA Associate Director, Citywide Planning National Capital Planning Commission Kittleson WMATA Geraldine Gardner EHT Traceries Downtown BID Associate Director, Neighborhood Planning Historic Preservation David Maloney NOMA BID State Historic Preservation Officer Agency Resources Capitol Riverfront BID Joel Lawson Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Washington DC Economic Partnership Associate Director, Development Review Economic Development River East Emerging Leaders (REEL) Melissa Bird Deputy Mayor, Victor Hoskins Anacostia Economic Development Council Project Manager, Neighborhood Planning District Department of Transportation H Street Main Street Colleen Mitchell Director, Terry Bellamy Barracks Row Main Street Project Manager, Citywide Planning Ward 8 Business Council DC Surface Transit ii | Land Use P Lan for the district of coLUmbia streetcar system January 2012 households, job growth, and real estate impacts. The study also considers potential challenges to the introduction of streetcar service such as the impact on historic and cultural Dear Resident: resources, housing costs and small business retention. The report examines the benefits and challenges along each The District of Columbia is committed to bringing a proposed corridor and proposes adjustments to phasing streetcar system to the city to improve transit services and small segments to maximize mobility and economic available to residents and create walkable, vibrant development benefits of the investment. communities. In the spring of 2010, the DC Office of Planning (OP) initiated a land planning study to ensure that In the months ahead, the Streetcar Land Use Study will the city and its residents gain the greatest possible benefits provide an initial foundation of analysis that OP, DDOT and from the new system, and that the overarching vision and other involved agencies will use to make recommendations goals for the District are furthered by the new system. regarding the District’s streetcar system. Future elements of the Streetcar Land Use Study will examine specific land Goals of the DC Streetcar system: use recommendations at the corridor and neighborhood • Link neighborhoods with a modern, convenient and level including zoning, retail and residential uses, attractive transportation alternative. streetscape and urban design. The District Department • Provide quality service to retain and grow transit of Transportation (DDOT) will lead the system design, ridership. financing, construction and operation of the streetcar, • Offer a broader range of transit options for District and DDOT is moving forward with the initial phase of the residents. streetcar system with construction of the H Street/Benning • Reduce short inner-city auto trips, parking demand, Road line. As DDOT completes system planning for each traffic congestion and air pollution. corridor, extensive public outreach to local residents and • Connect people to jobs and services with frequent, businesses will take place. The findings supported in this affordable, reliable transit service. study will further the dialogue between communities and • Encourage economic development and affordable District agencies as we continue planning for future lines. housing options along streetcar corridors. The Streetcar Land Use Study provides an assessment of the citywide benefits of the system in terms of access to Harriet Tregoning jobs and schools, quality of life, transportation costs for Director, Office of Planning Land Use PLan for the district of coLUmbia streetcar system | iii iv | Land Use P Lan for the district of coLUmbia streetcar system contents 1. Introduction f. provides real estate market benefits 24 > Residential market 25 a. planning for a streetcar system 1 > Office market 27 > Study purpose and methodology 1 > Retail market 29 > The District’s suitability for streetcar service 4 > Lessons from other cities 4 g. increases tax revenues 30 > How the streetcar compares to other transit h. expands the creative economy 31 options 7 b. summary of findings 8 3. Systemwide Challenges and > Streetcar benefits (Chapter 2) 8 Mitigation Strategies > Challenges and mitigation strategies > Housing affordability 33 (Chapter 3) 11 > Market shifts 35 > Neighborhood analysis (Chapter 4) 11 > Small business preservation 36 > Strategies and tools for optimizing land use > Constrained right of way on city streets 36 benefits (Chapter 5) 12 > Parking 37 > Congestion 37 2. Systemwide Benefits > Bicycles 37 a. improves access to premium transit 13 4. Corridor/Neighborhood Analysis b. reduces transportation costs 13 a. assessing benefits and challenges in each c. offers quality-of-life benefits 15 corridor 39 > Improves walkability 15 > Corridor 1: MLK, Firth Sterling Avenue, and > Promotes public health 16 South Capital Street 40 > “Extends the walk” 17 > Corridor 2: Good Hope Road and Minnesota > Encourages development of Main Streets 17 Avenue 42 > Broadens access to schools 18 > Corridor 3: Capitol Riverfront, Buzzard Point, > Preserves historic resources 19 Capitol Hill, and 7th Street 44 > Expands housing choices 21 > Corridor 4: K and H streets to Union Station; d. improves job access 21 F, 14th, and 7th streets downtown 46 e. attracts new jobs and residents 22 > Corridor 5: H Street/Benning Road 48 Land Use PLan for the district of coLUmbia streetcar system | v > Corridor 6: 14th, 18th (Adams Morgan), U streets, Florida Avenue, and 8th Street 50 > Corridor 7: Rhode Island Avenue NE 52 > Corridor 8: Woodley Park, Columbia Heights, Washington Hospital Center, and Brookland 54 > Corridor 9: Georgia Avenue and Takoma 56 b. capturing opportunity through alternative routing or phasing 58 5. Strategies and Tools for Optimizing Land Use Impacts a. Maximizing land use benefits, minimizing implementation costs 65 > Potential development tools 65 > Potential land use and design-guidance tools 67 > Coordination with other infrastructure investments 67 b. Funding 68 > Development-driven funding mechanisms 68 > Improved eligibility for federal funding 70 6. Next Steps vi | Land Use P Lan for the district of coLUmbia streetcar system 1. introduction he District of Columbia’s decision to build a As the District agency responsible for the system planning, streetcar network emerged from a long-term design, financing and construction of the project, DDOT has assessment of the city’s transportation needs. collaborated with other agencies, including the Office of Integrated with Metrorail and other transit Planning, to ensure that efforts are coordinated and benefits services, the 37-mile system would extend transit to large, of the investment are maximized. The Office of Planning led Tunderserved portions of the District, and it would expand the this Streetcar Land Use Study to investigate impacts of the The streetcar represents benefits of transit for many areas already served by Metrorail. proposed system on land uses, as well as job access, quality of life and housing affordability. an effective strategy for advancing many of the 1a Planning for a streetcar system To reduce disruption to residents and businesses, DDOT District’s core economic The District of Columbia Department of Transportation has begun building sections of two streetcar lines as (DDOT) has initiated a program to reestablish streetcar part of previously planned roadway reconstruction and social goals. service in the District. The purpose of the DC Streetcar is along H Street/Benning Road NE and Firth Sterling Road to provide high-capacity and high-quality transit service SE. Environmental work has begun on other lines, but to residents and invest in infrastructure that will catalyze decisions still need to be made about many routes and economic development. The planned system is the result of other critical aspects of streetcar planning. 14 years of planning (see Figure 1) and touches every ward in the District. The recommended plan includes a network STUDY PURPOSE AND METHODOLOGY of streetcar lines operating in eight corridors. The selection Commissioned by the District Office of Planning, this criteria for these corridors included ı) ridership potential, 2) Streetcar Land Use Study constitutes an integral part of demand for additional capacity on existing Metrorail and bus the planning for the new system. Among possible land lines, 3) gaps in existing service that connect neighborhoods, use impacts of a streetcar system, the study examines employment, and retail centers, and 4) economic jobs, quality of life, and the affordability of housing in development opportunities. Map 3, Full