A APPENDIX A: Baseline Study Report October 2008 Technical Report #1 - Baseline Studies Report Prepared for: District Department of Transportation October 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION 2.6.1 Facilities ..........................................................................................2-13 1.1 Study Area ................................................................................................................ 1-1 2.6.2 Ridership .........................................................................................2-13 1.2 Study Context............................................................................................................. 1-1 2.6.3 Operations .......................................................................................2-13 SECTION 2 – EXISTING CONDITIONS SECTION 3 – PLANNED AND PROPOSED TRANSPORTATION COMPONENTS 2.1 Neighborhood and Community Overview......................................................................... 2-1 3.1 Vehicular Connection between Massachusetts Avenue and H Street NE ................................3-1 2.2 Traffic........................................................................................................................ 2-2 3.2 Integration of Inter-city Bus Service into the Union Station Garage .....................................3-1 2.2.1 Existing Street Network..................................................................................... 2-2 3.3 Integrating Streetcar Service from H Street .....................................................................3-2 2.2.2 Circulation....................................................................................................... 2-2 3.4 Other Modes Needs ......................................................................................................3-2 2.2.3 Parking ........................................................................................................... 2-3 3.5 Proposed Developments Affecting Union Station ...............................................................3-2 2.3 Pedestrian and Bicycle Activity ...................................................................................... 2-5 SECTION 4 — SUMMARY 2.3.1 External Pedestrian Movements.......................................................................... 2-5 APPENDIX A – INVENTORY AND TRAVEL DEMAND TABLES/FIGURES 2.3.2 Internal Pedestrian Movements .......................................................................... 2-6 A-1 Field Collected Turning Movements................................................................................ A-1 2.3.3 ADA Issues...................................................................................................... 2-7 A-2 Available Parking Spaces at Union Station Garage During Peak Parking Hour ....................... A-2 2.3.4 Bicycles .......................................................................................................... 2-8 A-3 Available Parking Spaces at Union Station Garage During Peak Parking Hour Ticket Counts 2.4 Transportation Services at Union Station ........................................................................ 2-8 at Union Station Parking Garage over 12 Month Period ..................................................... A-3 2.4.1 Metrobus ........................................................................................................ 2-9 A-4 Parking Rates for the Union Station Parking Garage ......................................................... A-3 2.4.2 DC Circulator ................................................................................................. 2-10 A-5 Summary of Bus Routes within Study Area ..................................................................... A-3 2.4.3 Commuter Buses............................................................................................ 2-10 A-6 Overall Weekday Ridership of Metrobus Routes Servicing Union Station Study Area ....................A-3 2.4.4 Metrorail ....................................................................................................... 2-11 A-7 Metrobus Daily Boardings/Alightings at Busiest Bus Stops................................................. A-4 2.4.5 Inter-city Bus ................................................................................................ 2-12 A-8 Weekday Hourly Metrobus Volumes at Busiest Intersections.............................................. A-4 2.5 Rail at Union Station .................................................................................................. 2-12 A-9 Number of Commuter Bus Runs Servicing Union Station Area and DC ................................ A-5 2.5.1 Commuter Rail............................................................................................... 2-12 A-10 Commuter Rail Ridership at Union Station by Hour .......................................................... A-5 2.5.2 Intercity Rail .................................................................................................... 2-12 A-11 Scheduled Weekday Metrobus Volumes.......................................................................... A-5 2.6 Tour Buses ............................................................................................................... 2-13 A-12 Scheduled Metrorail Volume at Union Station .................................................................. A-5 Union Station Intermodal Transportation Center i Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2-12 Commuter Train Activity at Union Station ............................................................2-12 Figure 1-1 Study Area Overview ........................................................................................ 1-2 Figure 2-13 Amtrak Activity at Union Station.........................................................................2-13 Figure 2-1 Levels of Service ............................................................................................... 2-3 Figure 3-1 Future Development Activity near Union Station .....................................................3-1 Figure 2-2 Typical Vehicular Circulation Patterns around Union Station .................................... 2-4 Figure 2-3 On-Street Parking in the Vicinity of Union Station................................................... 2-5 Figure 2-4 One Hour Pedestrian Volumes on Roads Adjacent to Union Station ........................... 2-6 Figure 2-5 Morning Rush Period Pedestrian Platoon Paths ....................................................... 2-7 LIST OF TABLES Figure 2-6 Evening Rush Period Pedestrian Platoon Paths ....................................................... 2-7 Table 2-1 Transportation Modes Served at Union Station .......................................................2-1 Figure 2-7 Observed Platoon Conflict Points and Bottlenecks .................................................. 2-7 Table 2-2 Ridership of Commuter Buses which Serve Union Station Area ...............................2-10 Figure 2-8 Map of Bicycle Trails in Study Area....................................................................... 2-8 Table 2-3 Volumes of Weekday Metrorail Trips Beginning or Figure 2-9 Conceptual Design of Proposed Bicycle Facility at Union Station................................ 2-8 Ending at Union Station ...................................................................................2-11 Figure 2-10 Relative Number of Boardings and Alightings at Metrobus Stops............................... 2-9 Table 2-4 Combined Tour and Commuter Bus Populations Observed Near Downtown Washington ................................................................2-13 Figure 2-11 Circulator Monthly Ridership by Time of Day (April 2008) ...................................... 2-10 Union Station Intermodal Transportation Center ii 1 – INTRODUCTION Union Station and the Union Station Tracks opened in 1908 as A key aspect of the study is a comprehensive analysis of Union ports will describe the study’s recommendations based on fore- a replacement for train service which had previous used the Station and its functions as a whole. This includes assessments casted demand for Union Station Services and will include, as area that is now the National Mall. Designed by Daniel Burn- of existing operations and needs, as well as a review of current appropriate, project details such as estimated costs, implemen- ham of Burnham and Root in Chicago, the station saw increas- plans by the various users of the facility. Within the context of tation strategiestimelines, feasibility considerations, and the ing traffic through the 1950’s, followed by a decline in ridership an overall assessment, some of the specific items being re- identification of necessary environmental and permitting re- through the 1980’s. In 1981, the Redevelopment Act created viewed and addressed by the study include examining the fea- quirements. the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, which was sibility of: charged with developing the station into the multi-use facility it 1.1 STUDY AREA is today, serving local, regional, and inter-state travelers as • Constructing a new rail passenger concourse for The project focuses on Union Station, located in downtown Dis- well as shoppers and citizens of DC. In particular, the Redevel- commuter rail operations; trict of Columbia. The station itself is located north of Columbus opment Act sought “restoration and operation of a portion of • Improved emergency evacuation of both Union