Middle Anacostia River Crossings Transportation Study

Client: D.C. Department of Transportation

Location: Washington, D.C.

Services: Traffic engineering and analyses, public involvement

As part of the overall Anacostia Waterfront Initiative, KCI conducted a $700,000 transportation study for the Middle Anacostia area of the District of Columbia. The project’s objectives were established as a result of the incomplete interchanges on the Anacostia Freeway/Kenilworth Avenue, commuter cut-through traffic in the neighborhoods, and the presence of unnecessary expressway facilities. This study was performed with the twin goals of reducing the adverse affect of the transportation system on the neighborhoods while increasing mobility for residents of Southeast DC on both sides of the Anacostia River. The study evaluated existing traffic conditions and assessed improvement options to enhance mobility in the area, including addressing missing interchange movements on the Anacostia Freeway at Pennsylvania Avenue and 11th Street, as well as the Southeast Freeway at Barney Circle. The study also investigated alternative uses of existing lane capacity on the Southeast Freeway between 11th Street and Barney Circle as well as the potential for increased pedestrian and bicycle access within the study area and along the Anacostia River.

The following were key components of the study area:

Along with the Anacostia River crossings, portions of the Anacostia Park, Navy Yard, Congressional Cemetery, and Public Reservation 13 encompass the major features of the study area.

Public/Agency Involvement. The effort included a comprehensive public involvement and agency coordination program. As part of the public involvement program, the KCI Team developed and maintained a project mailing list comprised of all stakeholders and interested citizens, conducted public meetings, coordinated with established steering committees, and developed and maintained a project web site. The team also coordinated with all District and Federal agencies, including the D.C. Department of Transportation, D.C. Office of Planning, Federal Highway Administration, National Park Service, General Services Administration, National Capitol Planning Commission, WMATA, DC Sports and Entertainment Commission, District Department of Health Environmental Health Administration, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.

Data Collection. KCI’s traffic engineers inventoried all of the existing physical characteristics of the roadways and intersections in the study area to document the number, use and width of lanes; presence, location and type of parking and bus stops; presence and condition of sidewalks; presence of crosswalks; type of traffic control devices, and speed limits. The team performed 13-hour intersection turning movement counts for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles at 33 intersections throughout the area. Volume, speed, and classification data was collected via 48-hour automatic traffic recorders. Other data collected included existing land use, existing mappings, existing traffic signal timing, accident data, and WMATA transit data.

Traffic Analysis. Once all the relevant data was collected, the team performed capacity analyses of the existing study intersections and interchanges. SYNCHRO/SIM-TRAFFIC and CORSIM simulation models were prepared for existing weekday peak hours. KCI conducted an accident analysis to identify accident trends or patterns and determine the correlation between the trends and the roadway characteristics and volume data. Future traffic volumes were developed using regional land use model data for future year 2030. KCI then performed capacity analyses and prepared SYNCHRO/SIM-TRAFFIC and CORSIM simulation models for the 2030 peak hours for the no build condition and proposed improvement alternatives.

Improvement Alternatives. Based on deficiencies identified during the data collection and analyses phases, KCI identified concepts of potential short-term and long-term improvements and enhancements to the system. Seven near-term improvements were proposed spanning timeframes from 2005 to 2006 and focusing on immediate action improvement options, including improvements to the pedestrian network, bicycle network, transit stops, traffic safety and circulation, access control, and traffic signal optimization. The seven mid-term improvements proposed were estimated to be completed within the 2005 to 2010 timeframe. These included mid-term action improvement options for pedestrian safety, the bicycle network, transit stops, traffic safety and circulation, riverfront access, and Anacostia Park wayfinding. Transit recommendations included bus stop enhancements, potential for new or relocated bus stops, and access improvements at transit stops. Recommendations to improve pedestrian and bicycle movements focused on safety, ease of mobility, compatibility with land use and development, volume of pedestrian and bicycle traffic, enhancing community cohesiveness, and supporting future growth and improvement plans. Long-term improvements represented the ultimate build improvements and focused mainly at the interchanges throughout the study area. The timeframe established for long-term ranges from 2005-2025. Proposed long-term improvements included:

Air Quality. After refining the list of improvement alternatives, KCI conducted an analysis to determine potential air quality impacts of the proposed recommendations. A regional air quality analysis was conducted to determine the overall effect of air quality levels of the proposed recommendations. The analysis used regional estimates of Vehicle Miles Traveled and Vehicle Hours Traveled to determine pollutant burdens with and without the recommendations. A local air quality analysis was performed to ensure that potential hotspots are not relocated or created by the proposed recommendations. A screening analysis evaluated changes in roadway volumes, level of service and vehicular delay to determine if potential adverse local air quality impacts may occur. KCI then conducted a detailed local analysis at selected locations using EPA’s CAL3QHC dispersion model and MOBILE6 emission factor model.

Social/Cultural Impacts. KCI assessed social and cultural impacts of the traffic study improvements by identifying potential changes in the social fabric of the community. This analysis considered how infrastructure improvements change community access to public facilities and services and mobility with the neighborhood as well as how the improvements support traffic movement within the community and discourage through (commuter) traffic. Access to parks, public transportation, neighborhood parking, schools, churches, shopping, and employment were evaluated. KCI also analyzed how these improvements support the sustainable, livable community, promote the communities values, and contribute to the general quality of life in the affected community.

Mapping. KCI prepared numerous display mappings throughout the life of the project, including a detailed issues/opportunities map and a series of improvement alternatives maps. The issues/opportunities map documented major travel movements of cars, trucks, buses, pedestrians, and bicycles; significant auto, pedestrian, and bike destinations inside and immediately outside the study area; sidewalk and pedestrian facilities; generalized land use patterns; key cultural, environmental, and historic resources; and major development opportunities and plans. KCI also developed a series of improvement alternatives maps that displayed the conceptual layout of proposed improvements along with associated traffic information.

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