AAMMEERRIICCAANN UUNNIIVVEERRSSIITTYY Transportation Existing Conditions Assessment for 2011 Master Plan Update GOROVE/SLADE ASSOCIATES, INC. Transportation Planners and Engineers July 2009 PREPARED FOR: TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF PHOTOS American University Executive Summary................................................................. i Figure 1: AU Campus Locations ...............................................1 Photo 1: Eric Frieheim Quadrangle ......................................... 2 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Introduction ........................................................................... 1 Figure 2: Pedestrian Pathways & Conditions...........................2 Photo 2: Bicycle Parking Conditions on Campus..................... 3 Washington, D.C. 20016 Report Organization and Summary................................... 1 Figure 3: Bicycle Facilities Near AU Campuses ........................3 Photo 3: AU Shuttle Stops On‐Campus ................................... 4 Report Scope..................................................................... 1 Figure 4: AU Shuttle Routes & Stops .......................................4 Photo 4: Tenley Campus Main Entrance and Sidewalk......... 13 PREPARED BY: Existing Conditions ‐ Main Campus........................................ 2 Figure 5: AU Shuttle Annual Ridership ....................................5 Photo 5: Tenley Campus Driveway and Adjacent Bus Stop .. 15 Gorove/Slade Associates, Inc. Pedestrian ......................................................................... 2 Figure 6: AU Shuttle Ridership by Month ................................5 1140 Connecticut Avenue Bicycle................................................................................ 3 Figure 7: WMATA Bus Service near AU Campuses ..................6 Suite 700 LIST OF TABLES Washington, DC 20036 AU Shuttle Service............................................................. 4 Figure 8: Campus Parking Inventory........................................7 Transit................................................................................ 6 Figure 9: Traffic Controls .........................................................8 Table 1: Annual Permit Sales................................................... 7 Tel: 202.296.8625 Parking............................................................................... 7 Figure 10: Loading & Pick‐up/Drop‐off Activity.......................9 Table 2: Parking Inventory & Occupancy (Fall 2008) .............. 7 Fax: 202.785.1276 Figure 11: AU & Regional Roadway Traffic..............................9 Table 3: Intersection Accident Rates..................................... 12 Traffic Overview ................................................................ 8 Table 4: Tenley Campus Parking Inventory........................... 14 ADDITIONAL OFFICES: Existing Conditions ‐ Tenley campus.................................... 13 Figure 12: AM Peak Hour Observations.................................10 Pedestrian ....................................................................... 13 Figure 13: AM Peak Hour Levels of Service ...........................10 Table 5: Existing Levels of Service ......................................... 25 3914 Centreville Road Bicycle.............................................................................. 13 Figure 14: PM Peak Hour Observations.................................11 Suite 330 Chantilly, VA 20151 AU Shuttle Service........................................................... 14 Figure 15: PM Peak Hour Levels of Service............................11 Transit.............................................................................. 14 Figure 16: Tenley Campus......................................................13 Tel: 703.787.9595 Fax: 703.787.9905 Parking............................................................................. 14 Figure 17: Bicycle Facilities at Tenley Campus.......................13 Traffic Overview .............................................................. 15 Figure 18: AU Shuttles Routes at Tenley Campus..................14 Sustainability........................................................................ 16 Figure 19: WMATA Bus Service at Tenley Campus................14 Improve Accessibility and Mobility ................................. 16 Figure 20: Tenley Campus Loading & Pick‐up Activity...........15 Conserve Environmental Resources................................ 16 Figure 22: Roadway Functional Class and Daily Volumes......20 Enhance Social Equity and Economic Vitality.................. 17 Figure 23: Existing Lane Configurations and Traffic Controls 21 Recommendations .......................................................... 17 Figure 24: Existing Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ......................22 Trends and Areas of Opportunity......................................... 18 Overall Trends ................................................................. 18 Summary and Areas of Opportunity ............................... 18 Appendix A: AU Transportation Document Review............. 19 American University Master Plan (2000) ........................ 19 2005 Parking Garage Study ............................................. 19 WWW.GOROVESLADE.COM Appendix B: Detailed Traffic Capacity Analysis .................... 20 Existing Road Network .................................................... 20 This document, together with the concepts and designs presented herein, as an instrument of services, is intended for the specific purpose and client for Site Access....................................................................... 21 which is was prepared. Reuse of and improper reliance on this document without written authorization by Gorove/Slade Associates, Inc., shall be Existing Volumes ............................................................. 21 without liability to Gorove/Slade Associates, Inc. Field Observations........................................................... 23 Existing Capacity Analysis................................................ 24 Summary of Existing Capacity Analysis Results............... 26 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2005 Bicycle Master Plan recommends creating multi‐use Traffic: In the area surrounding the main campus the bike routes along Massachusetts and Nebraska Avenues, percentage of traffic attributable to AU is equal to 4.38% and The following report contains the 2009 American University which would significantly improve bicycling conditions and 12.64% of the morning and afternoon peak hour, transportation existing conditions assessment. It summarizes encourage more bicycle commuting. Long‐term bicycle respectively. Capacity analyses of intersection surrounding the existing conditions of University transportation facilities storage may desirable, for students that bring their bikes to campus indicate that all study area intersections operate at and services and details opportunities and concerns identified campus to use and do so infrequently but often enough to acceptable levels of service during both the morning and during a series of campus visits and meetings with campus want convenient parking options. It is worth investigating afternoon peak hours, although certain movements at officials. American University is located at the intersection of whether bicycle‐sharing can be brought to campus, possibly intersections experience unacceptable levels of congestion. Massachusetts Avenue and Nebraska Avenue at Ward Circle as part of an expansion of the DC SmartBike program to Commuting traffic heavily influences traffic patterns on street in Northwest, Washington, D.C. northwest DC. adjacent to the University. Key findings including the following: AU Shuttle Service: AU provides free shuttle service between Sustainability: AU recently created a sustainability the main campus and the Tenley campus, Washington College coordinator and is a signatory to The American College & AU has a compact, walkable campus containing of Law and Tenleytown/AU Metro station. AU shuttle service University Presidents Climate Commitment. Current AU favorable walkways and a vibrant, pedestrian only is an essential transportation service provided by the campus. transportation programs, such as the AU shuttle program, center. In 2008, AU shuttle provide approximately 1.7 million already accomplish many transportation suitability goals. In Bicyclists are visible throughout the campus during passenger trips. The on‐campus routes and stops are well addition, the location of AU, and its compact design indirectly pleasant weather and bicycle racks are often full. located because they separate vehicle routes and pedestrian lead to many sustainable transportation qualities. There are AU provides convenient and high quality shuttle routes, which limit conflicts. A review of shuttle conditions several opportunities to enhance sustainability, including service between campus and major off‐campus found no major areas of concern but improvements to shuttle incentives that encourage walking, bicycling and transit, a destinations. The shuttles are an essential routes and stops are possible. Transportation Demand Management program, and transportation service that reduce the number of initiatives that reduce environmental impacts associated with campus generated vehicle trips and parking demand. Transit: AU is directly served by Metrobus and linked with transportation, such as storm water management and These shuttles link the campus with a regional transit Metrorail Stations