Crystal City Streetcar Newsletter - October 2013

7/27/2019 Crystal City Streetcar Newsletter - October 2013

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T

he purpose o the Environmental

Assessment is to examine the eects

the proposed streetcar will have on

the community by identiying possible

environmental impacts and related solutions.

The Crystal City Sector Plan identied a

proposed streetcar route that served as the

starting point or this assessment. Examination

o the Sector Plan route identied potential

impacts that could be addressed by modiying

a portion o the route. The Crystal City SectorPlan showed the southbound streetcar tracks

along the west side o Clark Bell Street

between 12th and 18th Streets. The Rened

Alignment locates the southbound streetcar

tracks immediately adjacent to the east side

o Jeerson Davis Highway between 12th and

18th Streets, yet at grade (level with) with

Clark Bell. The remainder o the streetcar routeis identical to the Sector Plan. The proposed

route modication reduces community impacts

while eectively supporting the urban design

and growth policies contained in the Sector

Plan. The streetcar route modication is only

slightly dierent than the original alignment,

but contains adjustments that will provide

solutions or:

Underground Spaces

The Sector Plan alignment passed over a

number o underground spaces that would

have required structural reinorcement like

those at the Crystal City Shops causing

potential disruption o use. The alternative

alignment minimizes those impacts by shiting

the southbound tracks to the west, adjacent to

Jeerson Davis Highway (U.S. Route 1).

Station Operations

The Sector Plan shows anticipated major

residential and commercial growth in Crystal

City, which will require new transportation

modes that all must work in concert to move

people eiciently through the area. Speciically,

the plan identiied the need or a multi-modalstation or buses, Metro and the streetcar.

In its original alignment, the intersection o

18th Street and Clark-Bell was identiied as

a potential pinch point on the streetcar

route. The alternative alignment minimizes

conlicts with existing bus operations, provides

convenient access to Metro and meets the

requirements o the proposed multi-modal

transer acility.

Low Building Clearance

Growth will bring changes to buildings along

the U.S. Route 1 corridor, and the Environmental

Assessment must consider environmental

issues as they relate to both existing structuresand predicted development. In assessing

existing structures along the original route

alignment, it was determined that clearance

beneath a building on Bell Street will not be

adequate or streetcar passage. The updated

alignment now eliminates that issue.

Assessment Identifies Need for Route Refinement
http://www.crystalcitystreetcar.com/related%2520studies/crystal-city-sector-plan/http://www.crystalcitystreetcar.com/related%2520studies/crystal-city-sector-plan/


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Crystal City Sector Plan

Proposed Route

Proposed Route

Modifications


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As part o the Environmental Assessment, a number

o environmental concerns have been identied andare being investigated. Many o these concerns were

received at public meetings and through comment

orms and email:

NoiseStudies in other cities have ound that the noise rom

streetcar operations is generally compatible withan urban environment. Areas that are particularly

sensitive and/or near sharp curves in the track may

require additional study. A detailed noise analysiswill be included in the Environmental Assessment.

Trafc

In general, streetcars operate just like othervehicles on the road and are controlled by the same

trac signals. As the detailed operational planis developed, conditions requiring special trac

control will be identied, analyzed and incorporated

i t th t t d i Th P j t T i

Saety

Sae streetcar operations are paramount in thedesign process. The streetcar design needs

to provide or sae interactions with vehicles,pedestrians and bicycles. The Sector Plan providesa plan or adequate sidewalks and continuous

bike routes, which will be maintained through thestreetcar design. In addition, all streetcar acilities

will be designed in compliance with the Americanswith Disabilities Act.

Community Character

The Sector Plan anticipates that there will be 8,500additional residents and 35,500 additional jobsin Crystal City and Pentagon City by 2040. The

proposed streetcar system will encourage high-quality, mixed use development, and help the

community mature into a vibrant, attractive, livable24/7 neighborhood.

Cultural Resources

C l l i l d b h di hi i

Preliminary Environmental Findings

Project Timeline


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2013 2014

Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Baseline Conditions

Assess Environmental Eects

Prepare Drat EA

Notice o Availability

Public Comment Period

Public Meeting

Prepare Final EA

Project Schedule

W w !

Heres how you can reach us:

[email protected]

571-482-9734

Crystal City Streetcar Project

P.O. Box 18023, Washington, DC 20036

www.CrystalCityStreetcar.com

Crystal City Streetcar Newsletter - October 2013

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Transcript of Crystal City Streetcar Newsletter - October 2013