Designing Roadways in a Complete Streets...

County of Fairfax, Virginia

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Designing Roadways in

a Complete Streets

EnvironmentFebruary 13, 2019

Eric M. Teitelman, P.E. F.ASCE


Agenda

• Projects Overview− Richmond Highway BRT

− Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway

• The Future of Urban Planning

• Design Challenges

• Design Tools

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Route 1 Multimodal Alternatives Analysis

• Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT).

• Studied 15-mile segment of Richmond Highway in Prince William and Fairfax Counties.

• Alternatives Alignment for NEPA.

• Extensive public involvement.

• Study completed in January 2015.

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Richmond Highway BRT Project

• Recommendation:− Richmond Highway Bus Rapid

Transit (BRT) from Huntington Metrorail Station to Fort Belvoir.

− Nine BRT stations.

• Phasing:− Phase I: Huntington Station to

Hybla Valley

− Phase II: Hybla Valley to Fort Belvoir

− Long-term: Metrorail extension to Hybla Valley with BRT

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Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan Amendment

• Work began in 2015.

• Corridor-wide planning goals and objectives with an urban design vision and land use changes to support of BRT.

• Extensive public outreach with community and stakeholders.

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Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan Amendment

• Guidance for creating transit-oriented places.

• Implementation through the rezoning and development process.

• Adopted March 20, 2018.

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*

* Potential BRT Station


Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements

• Project 1: Telegraph Road to Mount Vernon Highway: [FHWA Eastern Federal Lands Administered]

− Completed in fall 2017.

• Project 2: Jeff Todd Way to Napper Road: [VDOT Administered]

− Preliminary Engineering phase

− Project length: 2.9 miles

− Environmental work underway

− Last remaining four-lane section north of Fort Belvoir

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Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements

• Additional lane each direction, one-way cycle tracks, sidewalks, and BRT accommodations.

• Median reservation for BRT.

• Construction anticipated for 2023-2025.

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The intent of

this graphic is

to depict the

configuration

of elements

within the

proposed

right-of-way.

For clarity,

potential

landscaping is

not shown.

TYPICAL SECTION


What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?

• BRT is high-quality public transit system designed to be fast, reliable, and convenient.

• It operates like rail service on a dedicated transit way, near level boarding, and off-board payment, but with more flexibility and lower cost than rail.

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What is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?

• Key elements of BRT:− Frequent, efficient service

− Dedicated lanes with signal priority: early green and extended

− Information technology systems

− Rail-style stations

− High-quality buses

− Unique graphics and branding

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Where else is BRT?

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Virginia

Existing:

• Alexandria /

Arlington

(Metroway)

Completed (2018):

• Richmond

(GRTC Pulse)

Planned:

• Fairfax County

(Richmond

Highway BRT)

• Route 7 Tysons

to Alexandria


Richmond Highway BRT Improvements

• Two dedicated BRT lanes in median.

• Roadway widening (no increase in number of through lanes).

• Future connections to walkways, trails, and bicycle facilities.

• Streetscape, including stations, walkways, and medians:− Street furniture, including bikeshare stations

− Pedestrian lighting (facial recognition)

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CONCEPTUAL ROADWAY CROSS SECTION


Richmond Highway BRT Improvements

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Public Outreach

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Challenges

• Construction in a built commercial environment

• Posted speed limit:− Clear zone

− Sight distance

• Accommodating the future grid of streets.

• Accommodating future connections to walkways, trails, and bicycle facilities.

• Pedestrian safety and crossing times.

• Interim condition between full build-out and existing land use.

• Storm water management.15 15


Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway

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Implementation Case Study


Arlington County Multi-modal Culture

• Transportation snapshot:− 1,100 lane-miles

− 19 miles of HOV lanes

− 80+ Capital Bikeshare stations

− 50 miles of multi-use trails

− 36 miles of on-street bike facilities

− Extensive regional and local bus service

− 12 miles of Metrorail lines and 11 stations

− VRE commuter rail

− Expanding car-share program

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Crystal City Vicinity

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Pentagon

Washington

National Airport

Arlington National

Cemetery

Amazon


Crystal City — Location and History

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Crystal City Sector Plan — Transportation

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Phased development of Street Network


Crystal City Area Projects

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Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway

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Project Details

• Joint project between Arlington County and City of Alexandria.

• 4.5-mile corridor between Pentagon City and Braddock Road Metrorail stations.

• First surface transitway of its kind in the Washington region.

• Operated by WMATA under new “Metroway” branding.

• City and County maintain roadway and stations.

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Project Details

• Dedicated lanes and exclusive right-of-way.

• 30 station platforms.

• Off-vehicle fare collection and all-door boarding.

• Frequent service 7-days a week:

− 6 minutes weekday peak in Crystal City

− 12 minutes weekday off peak

− 20 minutes late nights and weekends

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Design Challenges

• How well does the traffic operate in a complete streets environment?

• How well do shared lanes operate during the peak periods?− What are the compromises?

− How do we balance needs?

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Complete Streets Challenges

• Multi-jurisdiction Transit Signal Priority: Who governs?

• Cross-section Design: Capacity vs. mobility.

• Operation and safety: Minimizing conflict Points.

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Transitway Operational Challenges

• Traffic signal operations

• Transit signal priority:− Coordination with WMATA

− Coordination between two jurisdictions

− Technology

• Right turns vs. transit ops. on exclusive ROW.

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Design & Curbside Management

• Built urban environment:− Limited, expensive ROW

• Cross-section alternatives:− Bike accommodation

options

− Location of bike lane

• Curbside management.

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Design Tools

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VDOT DRPT NACTO


Questions?

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Designing Roadways in a Complete Streets...

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