Feasibility Study Palisades Trolley Trail and Foundry Branch Trolley Trestle Bridge Prepared by: Kittelson & Associates Jacobs Traceries Commun-ET FINAL: December 2019 Feasibility Study Palisades Trolley Trail and Foundry Branch Trolley Trestle Bridge Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary 2 1.1. Opportunities and Constraints ...................................................................................................... 3 1.2. Concept Design ............................................................................................................................. 5 1.2.1. Trail Alignment ...................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.2. New Bridges .......................................................................................................................... 8 1.2.3. Foundry Trestle Bridge .......................................................................................................... 9 1.2.4. New Connection to CCT ...................................................................................................... 10 1.2.5. Cost Estimates ..................................................................................................................... 11 2.0 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 12 2.1. Project Background ..................................................................................................................... 12 2.2. Study Purpose ............................................................................................................................. 13 2.3. Neighborhood Context ............................................................................................................... 14 2.4. Review of Other Planning Documents ........................................................................................ 16 2.4.1. MoveDC ............................................................................................................................... 16 2.4.2. Vision Zero .......................................................................................................................... 18 2.4.3. Sustainable DC .................................................................................................................... 18 2.4.4. Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of the Pedestrian Bridge and Connecting Trail at Arizona Avenue ................................................................................................................................... 18 2.4.5. Rock Creek Far West Livability Study .................................................................................. 21 2.4.6. DC Water Potomac River Tunnel ........................................................................................ 21 3.0 Stakeholder and Public Involvement.......................................................................... 23 3.1. Stakeholder Involvement ............................................................................................................ 23 3.2. Public Involvement...................................................................................................................... 25 3.2.1. Project Website ................................................................................................................... 25 3.2.2. Public Meetings ................................................................................................................... 25 3.2.3. Online Survey ...................................................................................................................... 28 3.2.4. Online Comment Map ......................................................................................................... 29 4.0 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................... 31 4.1. Current Trail Characteristics ....................................................................................................... 31 4.1.1. Location and Access ............................................................................................................ 31 4.1.2. Condition ............................................................................................................................. 35 4.1.3. Trail Crossings ..................................................................................................................... 39 4.1.4. Ownership ........................................................................................................................... 42 4.1.5. Trail Use .............................................................................................................................. 43 4.2. Street Network ............................................................................................................................ 44 4.3. Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities ..................................................................................................... 44 4.4. Safety .......................................................................................................................................... 50 4.5. Environmental Resources ........................................................................................................... 53 4.5.1. Topography, Geology, and Soils .......................................................................................... 53 4.5.2. Water Quality and Wetlands .............................................................................................. 54 4.5.3. Hazardous Waste Sites ........................................................................................................ 54 4.5.4. Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................................. 55 4.5.5. Parkland .............................................................................................................................. 55 4.5.6. Historic and Cultural Resources .......................................................................................... 55 4.5.7. Socioeconomic Resources and Community Destinations ................................................... 58 4.5.8. Noise ................................................................................................................................... 60 4.5.9. Visual Resources ................................................................................................................. 60 4.5.10. Utilities ................................................................................................................................ 60 5.0 Project Opportunities and Constraints ....................................................................... 62 5.1. Project Opportunities.................................................................................................................. 62 5.1.1. Safety: Vision Zero, Pro-active, Pre-emptive ...................................................................... 62 5.1.2. Demand ............................................................................................................................... 63 5.1.3. Regional and Local Connections ......................................................................................... 65 5.1.4. Historic Preservation ........................................................................................................... 70 5.1.5. Stormwater Management/Erosion Mitigation ................................................................... 71 5.2. Project Constraints ...................................................................................................................... 71 5.2.1. Land Ownership .................................................................................................................. 71 5.2.2. Utility Impacts ..................................................................................................................... 72 5.2.3. Constructability of Foundry Branch Trolley Trestle Bridge Rehabilitation ......................... 74 5.2.4. Constructability of New Bridges ......................................................................................... 76 5.2.5. Trail Crossings at High-Stress Roadways ............................................................................. 77 5.2.6. Complex Conditions East of Foxhall Road ........................................................................... 77 5.2.7. Roadway Context in Georgetown at Trail Terminus ........................................................... 78 5.2.8. Community Perspective on the Proposed Trail .................................................................. 79 5.2.9. Cost ..................................................................................................................................... 80 5.2.10. Environmental Resources ................................................................................................... 80 5.2.11. Environmental Permitting + Coordination .......................................................................... 81 6.0 Concept Design ......................................................................................................... 83 6.1. Trail Overview ............................................................................................................................. 84 6.1.1. General Alignment