PHASE 2 ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS Summary Report and Appendix 1: Concept Summaries E02852 Work Order #1 February 2018 Final Re p ort Page 1 network assignment model was developed to project traffic EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TECHNICAL MEMORANDA AND REPORTS TABLE OF CONTENTS growth in the corridor and to evaluate the potential impact of The Parkway East (I-376) is a major transportation link in changes to the transportation network. An evaluation was (Prepared and Submitted Previously) Executive Summary .............................................................. 1 Southwestern Pennsylvania, extending from Downtown also conducted of transit ridership and travel patterns, to Technical Memorandum #1- Review of Previous Studies Table of Contents ................................................................. 1 Pittsburgh to Monroeville. The Parkway is part of a more 1.0 Introduction 2 identify areas of unmet demand and the potential need for Technical Memorandum #2 - Traffic Counts ................................................................... extensive transportation network, referred to as the Parkway additional transit service. Technical Memorandum #3 - Crash Analysis 1.1 Background ............................................................. 2 East Corridor Transportation Network, consisting of the 1.2 Study Approach 2 Technical Memorandum #4 - Geometric Evaluation ....................................................... Parkway East (I 376) and its ramps between Downtown In the Phase 1 Screening, an initial broad list of potential 2.0 Data Collection 3 - Technical Memorandum #5 - Transit Demand Analysis ............................................................... Pittsburgh and Monroeville, and also including intersecting improvement concepts was generated, based upon needs 2.1 Review of Previous Studies ..................................... 3 identified by the public and the technical analysis. This was Technical Memorandum #6 - Capacity Analysis and parallel arterial routes extending as far as the Allegheny 2.2 Geometric Review ................................................... 3 condensed into approximately 100 concepts, which were Technical Memorandum #7 - Bottleneck Analysis and Monongahela rivers. It serves a broad range of users. Public Meeting Summary 2.3 Crash Analysis/Safety Study .................................... 4 The corridor is multimodal, serving autos and trucks on the developed further, evaluated qualitatively on a range of 2.4 Traffic Counts .......................................................... 4 measures of effectiveness, and screened through a process Phase 1 Alternatives Analysis Summary Report roadway network; pedestrians and bicyclists on an adjoining 2.5 Origin – Destination Study ...................................... 4 network of sidewalks and trails; and transit riders on the and weighting that was developed in conjunction with key 3.0 Public Involvement ........................................................ 6 stakeholders. Approximately 70 concepts were advanced for Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway and a network of express 3.1 Stakeholder interviews ........................................... 6 and local bus routes. further screening. 3.2 Public Meeting ........................................................ 6 3.3 Website ................................................................... 6 This project was undertaken to identify improvements that These concepts were developed in greater detail in the Phase 3.4 Stakeholder Meeting .............................................. 6 will enhance the corridor by reducing crashes, improving 2 Screening, including, where appropriate, development of a 4.0 Understanding the Corridor ........................................... 7 travel time reliability, reducing congestion and providing or preliminary line and grade. Several concepts were determined 4.1 Capacity Analysis..................................................... 7 enhancing travel options. Beyond the immediate project, a to be infeasible due to geometric or other constraints, while 4.2 Network Model ....................................................... 7 range of improvements was expected to be identified that multiple options were developed for certain others. Traffic 4.3 Network Simulation ................................................ 7 could provide additional benefits throughout the corridor as impacts, safety and user benefits were evaluated using the VISSIM simulation model and other tools as appropriate. 4.4 Bottleneck Analysis ................................................. 8 part of future projects. Construction, Right-of-Way (ROW), design costs, and 4.5 Transit Demand Analysis ......................................... 8 An extensive public involvement program was undertaken to 5.0 Identifying Needs ........................................................... 9 anticipated operating costs were estimated from the bring adjacent communities into the discussion from the conceptual designs. Environmental constraints were Purpose ......................................................................... 9 Need ............................................................................. 9 beginning and to understand the perception and needs for the evaluated along with other issues which could affect project. This program included a series of 25 interviews with implementation. The results of this analysis was presented in 6.0 Developing Solutions ................................................... 10 6.1 Brainstorming Workshop 10 key stakeholders including municipalities and other a preliminary matrix for further evaluation and prioritization. ...................................... organizations; a round of public meetings and elected officials 6.2 Initial List ............................................................... 10 In the final phase of the project, the Department will move briefings; a project website including an online survey; and a 6.3 Measures of Effectiveness and Weighting ............ 10 stakeholder meeting. forward with implementing solutions. As noted in Section 6, 6.4 Phase 1 Screening ................................................. 11 this is already underway. During the Phase 1 Screening, 7.0 Phase 2 Screening ........................................................ 13 The public involvement program was supplemented by multiple concepts were identified as “early action” items and 7.1 Development of Concepts .................................... 13 gathering and analyzing existing technical data, including were evaluated for implementation by PennDOT maintenance 7.2 Evaluation of Concepts ......................................... 13 previous studies of the corridor, roadway plans, and crash forces. Several additional concepts are being advanced under 7.3 Matrix ................................................................... 17 data. An extensive program of field data collection was separate projects. 7.4 Public Involvement ............................................... 23 undertaken, including 24-hour traffic counts at key locations, A refined matrix was developed, consisting of eleven feasible 8.0 Implementation ........................................................... 24 peak-hour ramp and Parkway traffic volume counts using aerial photography, and manual turning movement counts at a projects. As part of this project, the Department is looking to number of intersections. This phase of work also included the fund corridor-wide active traffic management, improvements Appendices collection of origin-destination information using Bluetooth to the Bates Street and Squirrel Hill interchanges, and two Appendix 1: Concept Summaries (attached) sensors. minor improvements to the Edgewood/Swissvale interchange. Appendix 2: Line and Grade Plans Additional projects including larger improvements to the Appendix 3: Environmental Overview Maps The collected data was analyzed to develop a comprehensive Edgewood/Swissvale, Wilkinsburg, and Churchill interchanges Appendix 4: Evaluation of Concepts technical understanding of the corridor. This included appear to be feasible but are not being advanced at this time. capacity analysis of existing traffic conditions at intersections Multimodal improvements including enhanced transit and and freeway interchanges to provide a baseline for analysis. bicycle facilities, may be advanced by other agencies. Particular attention was given to identifying existing and potential capacity bottlenecks to understand the potential for Implementation of identified projects will include identifying funding, conducting environmental analysis and improvements. A detailed VISSIM microscopic simulation model was developed for the Parkway East corridor and documentation, further public involvement, engineering calibrated to model the existing conditions. A separate design, and construction as appropriate. Executive Summary and Table of Contents Page 2 This project was undertaken to identify improvements that Study Process Developing Solutions 1.0 INTRODUCTION will enhance the corridor by reducing crashes, improving A broad range of potential improvement concepts were travel time reliability, reducing congestion and providing or identified and evaluated in a two-step screening process. 1.1 Background enhancing travel options. Beyond the immediate project, a The Parkway East (I-376) is a major transportation link in range of improvements was expected to be identified that In the Phase 1 Screening, an initial broad list of potential