MINNESOTA AVENUE METRORAIL STATION ACCESS IMPROVEMENT STUDY WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OFFICE OF BUSINESS PLANNING AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT FINAL REPORT JANUARY 2006 MINNESOTA AVENUE STATION ACCESS IMPROVEMENT STUDY Contents Table 8: Curbside Transit – Pros and Cons .............................................................................. 22 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 Table 9: Center Lane Transit – Pros and Cons ......................................................................... 22 Background............................................................................................................................. 1 Table 10: Order of Magnitude Cost Estimates.............................................................................24 Study Purpose ........................................................................................................................ 1 Planning Context..................................................................................................................... 1 Figures Relationship to Other Transportation Studies ......................................................................... 2 Figure 1: Aerial View of Minnesota Avenue Station and Anacostia River ................................... 1 Figure 2: Other Transportation Studies ....................................................................................... 2 Existing Conditions.................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 3: Pedestrians Crossing Minnesota Avenue .................................................................... 3 Transit Ridership..................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 4: Minnesota Avenue Station Area and Facilities............................................................. 4 Transportation Facilities.......................................................................................................... 3 Figure 5: Bus and Pedestrian Routes ......................................................................................... 5 Pedestrian and Bicycle Access .................................................................................... 5 Figure 6: Aerial View of Pedestrian Bridge.................................................................................. 5 Transit Access.............................................................................................................. 7 Figure 7: Ramps from Pedestrian Bridge to Tunnel .................................................................... 6 Kiss & Ride Access ...................................................................................................... 7 Figure 8: Pedestrian Access from Minnesota Avenue................................................................. 6 Park & Ride Access ..................................................................................................... 8 Figure 9: View of Bus Facility ...................................................................................................... 7 Growth Forecasts and Future Projects .................................................................................... 8 Figure 10: Kiss & Ride Area........................................................................................................ 7 Ridership Projections .............................................................................................................. 8 Figure 11: Passenger Pick-up/Drop-offs on Minnesota Avenue.................................................. 8 Station Area Development ...................................................................................................... 8 Figure 12: Station Area Development Locations ......................................................................... 8 Minnesota Avenue – Benning Road Government Center ............................................ 9 Figure 13: Government Center Buildings .................................................................................... 9 Parkside ....................................................................................................................... 9 Figure 14: Parkside Pedestrian Bridge Concept ......................................................................... 9 Alternatives............................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 15: Pedestrian Bridge Options ....................................................................................... 11 Design Principles .................................................................................................................. 10 Figure 16: Curved Pedestrian Bridge Design at New Carrolton Station .................................... 11 Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities................................................................................ 10 Figure 17: Bus Transfer Facility Alternative 1............................................................................ 13 Transit Facilities ......................................................................................................... 10 Figure 18: Bus Transfer Facility Alternative 1(with Transit Vehicles in Curbside Lanes on Kiss & Ride and Park & Ride Facilities....................................................................... 10 Minnesota Avenue................................................................................................... 14 Other Design Precepts............................................................................................... 10 Figure 19: Bus Transfer Facility Alternative 1(with Transit Vehicles in Center Lanes on Improvement Alternatives ..................................................................................................... 11 Minnesota Avenue................................................................................................... 15 Pedestrian Bridge Options ......................................................................................... 11 Figure 20: Bus Transfer Facility Alternative 2............................................................................ 16 Bus Facility................................................................................................................. 12 Figure 21: Bus Transfer Facility Alternative 2(with Transit Vehicles in Curbside Lanes on Kiss & Ride Options ................................................................................................... 12 Minnesota Avenue................................................................................................... 17 Recommended Station Amenities .............................................................................. 12 Figure 22: Bus Transfer Facility Alternative 2(with Transit Vehicles in Center Lanes on Alternatives Analysis............................................................................................................. 21 Minnesota Avenue................................................................................................... 18 Station Capacity and Enhancements......................................................................................22 Figure 23: Kiss and Ride with Vehicle Storage (with Transit Vehicles in Curbside Lanes on Next Steps................................................................................................................................. 23 Minnesota Avenue) ................................................................................................. 19 Figure 24: Kiss and Ride with Vehicle Storage (with Transit Vehicles in Center Lanes on Tables Minnesota Avenue................................................................................................... 20 Table 1: Existing Modes of Access at Minnesota Avenue Station............................................... 3 Figure 25: Diagram of Mezzanine (with Additional Elevators)................................................... 23 Table 2: Bus Lines and Routes with Stops at the Station............................................................ 7 Table 3: 2030 Forecast Modes of Access at Minnesota Avenue Station..................................... 8 Table 4: Parkside Pedestrian Bridge – Pros and Cons ............................................................. 21 Table 5: Curved Bridge Option – Pros and Cons ...................................................................... 21 Table 6: Bus Facility Alternative 1 – Pros and Cons ................................................................. 21 Table 7: Bus Facility Alternative 2 – Pros and Cons ................................................................. 22 i MINNESOTA AVENUE STATION ACCESS IMPROVEMENT STUDY INTRODUCTION many existing Metrorail stations designed thirty years ago, such as the Minnesota Avenue station, need a new assessment to determine if existing site conditions for pedestrian access, bus operations, and Background vehicular traffic are adequate to meet existing capacity and future demand. The Minnesota Avenue Metrorail station is located just east of the Anacostia River in Ward 7. The station Study Purpose was one of five stations that opened on November 20, 1978 when the Metrorail Orange Line was extended to