Transportation Management Program Office Newsletter J U L Y

Transcription

1 I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : Traffic Changes at Eads Street; Temporary Relocation of Slug Stations FSD Director s Message 1 1 Upcoming Events 2 Transportation Management Program Office Newsletter J U L Y Traffic Changes at Eads St; Temporary Relocation of Slug Stations Construction work continues at the Pork Chop and along Eads Street between the Pentagon Reservation and Army Navy Drive as part o f the 95 Express Lanes / South Parking Improvements Project. Construction began along the west side of Eads Street (existing southbound travel lanes) on July 16, 2018 to demolish concrete, widen pavement, install drainage, sidewalks, overhead structures, and curb and gutter in preparation for the 4th lane addition on South Rotary Road to access the future 95 Express/Toll Lanes. Duration of construction work on the west side of Eads Street will take approximately 6 to 8 weeks, or until early/mid-september 2018, subject to weather conditions. Mobile Commuter Store Schedule at PTC 95 Express Lanes Project Corner 95 Express Lanes/ Eads Street Construction Information Table on July 16, 2018 Temporary Relocation of Slug Stations at the Pentagon Drive Safely to Keep Our Roads Safe Orange, Blue and Silver Metrorail Lines Reduction: Aug 11 to Aug 26 Top Ways to Keep Informed King Street Metrorail Station Access Improvement Project beginning Sep Bridge Rehabilitation Work on GW Parkway and Memorial Bridge July 2018 DASH Passes All traffic along Eads Street between South Rotary Road and Army Navy Drive is shifted to the east side of Eads Street (existing northbound travel lanes), with access to the I-95 HOV Ramps preserved. There are different restrictions and detours during the AM Peak between 6:00am to 9:00am, the offpeak period from 9:00am to :00pm, and the PM Peak from :00pm to 8:00pm. Detours with signage are set up on Eads Street, South Rotary Road, as well as surrounding roadways such as Fern Street. Intermittent/Temporary Nighttime and Weekend Closures of Eads Street may occur. Detours with signage will be set up to re-direct traffic. Additionally, two slug stations by the motorcycle lot, 610 Mine Road and 610 Stafford, are temporarily relocated to North Rotary Road towards the Pentagon Memorial to alleviate traffic congestion along South Rotary Road, Eads Street and Fern Street. This temporary relocation is planned to be in effect during Eads Street construction. Information on the detailed traffic pattern changes are posted on 95ExpressLanes.com/pentagon. Updates on the next phase of the Eads Street Construction (east side of Eads Street) will be available as we get closer to September. You can also follow us on WHSTransportation #95ExpressInfo. Remember to practice safety, follow signs and traffic control direction, and be familiar with travel alternatives. FSD Director s Message As construction work continues along Eads Street, it is important to be aware and adjust to changes in traffic patterns and volume. The recent temporary relocation of two slug stations is intended to improve traffic flow on the Reservation. Please follow traffic and pedestrian signs and traffic control directions. Be patient and allow extra time for your travel plans. Follow WHS TMPO on WHSTransportation for the latest updates. Sajeel S. Ahmed 1 Mr. Sajeel S. Ahmed, SES, Director, FSD

2 Upcoming Events Transportation Information Table August; Date to be announced 10:0am 1:00pm Mark Center Pentagon Preparedness Fair September 20 Time to be announced Pentagon 95 Express Lanes Project Corner Project Overview: The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Express Lane Project will extend the I-95 Express Lanes (also known as High Occupancy Toll - HOT Lanes) eight miles north from Turkeycock Run near Edsall Road to past the Eads Street Interchange in Arlington. The scope of the project includes: (1) conversion of the current two High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes into three HOT lanes; (2) relocation of tour bus drop-off from South Parking "Pork Chop" area to the Hayes Street Lot (completed in Sep 2017); () the construction of a bus loop in the "Pork Chop" area to improve traffic flow and safety on the Reservation (began in Feb 2018); and (4) the addition of a dedicated lane on South Rotary Road to act as the on ramp to access the new HOT Lanes during the PM rush hours. To stay informed on the construction progress, lane closure notifications and travel alternatives, visit the 95 Express Lanes Project website 95ExpressLanes.com/pentagon. Mobile Commuter Store at the Pentagon Schedule The Mobile Commuter Store currently comes to Upper Level Bus Bay U7 at the PTC every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7:0am 1:00pm. A new Pentagon Commuter Store, located at the former WMATA sales office at the Pentagon Transit Center, is scheduled to open in mid August to offer expanded commuter assistance. Stay tuned for opening date and daily operating hours. Weekend Closures of 95 General Purpose Lanes As part of the 95 Express Lanes Project, there are major lane closures on the I-95 General Purpose Lanes beginning July 20 and continuing for at least six consecutive weekends, subject to weather conditions. These weekend closures, occurring from Friday nights until Monday mornings, are necessary multiple bridge rehabilitation work along I-95 between the Springfield Interchange and the Washington, D.C. line. Expect delays and plan ahead. Two general purpose lanes on I-95 will close for entire weekend periods starting on Friday nights through Monday mornings (alternating between south- and northbound directions, depending on location of bridge work); additional lane closures will occur in the opposite direction of I-95 as needed to allow crews to access work areas. At least two general purpose lanes will remain open on I-95 (in both directions) during peak-travel daytime hours. The HOV lanes from just north of Edsall Road to the D.C. line will be open in the same direction as the bridge work, whether northbound or southbound. Thru-traffic (northbound to DC and southbound to Springfield) will be encouraged to use the HOV lanes, while local traffic will need to use the two open general purpose lanes. Weekly updates with specific closure information will be available at 95ExpressLanes.com WHS TMPO can provide additional assistance. Contact us today at whs.pentagon.em.mbx.dod-shuttle-bus@mail.mil. 2

3 95 Express Lanes/Eads Street Construction Information Table on July 16, 2018 The WHS TMPO hosted an information table at the Pentagon on July 16, 2018, the first day of the major construction work on Eads Street. A project representative from the 95 Express Lanes / Transurban project team was also present to answer specific questions from the 95 Express Lanes Project. WHS TMPO staff provided information on the construction detours and travel alternatives. Over 120 customers visited our table from 10:0 am to 12:0 pm. WHS TMPO staff also provided information on the future look of the Pork Chop and access to the 95 Express Lanes from Eads Street and South Rotary Road that is scheduled to be complete next Spring. For more information, please contact the WHS TMPO at whs.pentagon.em.mbx.dod-shuttle-bus@mail.mil. Ms. Regina M. Grant (center), Director, Integrated Services Division, talked to customers about the Construction Project. Transurban Representative and WHS TMPO Staff provided traffic information to a customer. Temporary Relocation of Slug Stations at the Pentagon Beginning Monday, July 2 and through the duration of the Eads Street construction, two slug stations, 610 Mine Road and 610 Stafford, were temporarily relocated to North Rotary Road to alleviate traffic congestion along Eads Street, South Rotary Road and Fern Street. Directional signs and electronic message boards are in place to direct vehicles and pedestrians to the new location. WHS TMPO staff members were also present at various South Parking locations and the Pentagon Transit Center to provide assistance during the first week. New updates will be provided as construction progresses on Eads Street. Visit 95expresslanes.com/Pentagon and sluglines.com for more information. Drive Safely to Keep Our Roads Safe With various construction activities going on in the region, it is even more important to practice safety on the roads. The WHS Fleet Management Program Office offers the following safe driving tips: Focus on Driving Keep 100% of your attention on driving at all times no multi-tasking. Don t use your phone or any other electronic device to talk or text while driving. Slow down. Speeding gives you less time to react and increases the severity of an accident. Plan Ahead Build time into your trip schedule to stop for phone calls, texting or other business. Adjust your seat, mirrors and climate control before putting the car in gear. Ms. Regina M. Grant (right), Director, Integrated Services Division, observed new traffic condition at the new 610 Mine Road location on July 24. Drive Defensively Be aware of what other drivers around you are doing, and expect the unexpected. Assume other motorists will do something out of the norm and always be prepared to avoid it. Keep a 2-second cushion between you and the car in front of you (4 seconds during inclement weather) Practice Safety Secure cargo that may move around in a vehicle. Don t attempt to retrieve items that fall to the floor. Have items needed within easy reach such as toll fees, toll cards and garage passes. Wear your seat belt and drive sober and drug-free.

4 Orange, Blue and Silver Metrorail Lines Reduction: Aug 11 to Aug 26 While the current Red Line project at Rhode Island Avenue and Brookland stations is in progress through Labor Day (September ), the next capital improvement project will affect the Orange, Blue and Silver lines beginning Saturday, August 11 to Sunday, August 26. This 16-day project, including 10 commuting days, will involve a 24/7 work zone with single tracking between McPherson Square and Smithsonian Stations. Silver Line trains will operate between Wiehle- Reston East and Largo Town Center every 20 minutes at all times. Orange Line trains will operate between Vienna and New Carrollton every 20 minutes at all times. Blue Line trains will operate between Franconia- Springfield and Arlington Cemetery every 16 minutes during rush hour periods; every 12 minutes midday and evenings; every 20 minutes after 10 p.m. During rush hour, additional Yellow Line trains will operate between Franconia-Springfield and Greenbelt every 16 minutes for added capacity into DC and to accommodate Blue Line customers traveling between Virginia and Downtown DC. No rail or bus service between Rosslyn and Arlington Cemetery. Use the Yellow Line and transfer to/from the Orange or Silver lines at L'Enfant Plaza. Details of these capital improvement projects (including weekend services and travel alternatives) can be found at Weekday Rail Service during the McPherson Square/Smithsonian stations work from August 11 to 26. Major service impact (50 to 80% reduction) on Orange, Silver and Blue Lines. Top Ways to Keep Informed Visit our CAC enabled website to access our DoD shuttle schedules for both the Pentagon and Mark Center Access transportation alerts Subscribe to our distribution list and monthly TMPO Newsletter. Receive traffic alerts and advisories on projects and events information 4

5 King Street Metrorail Station Access Improvement Project beginning Sep 2018 The King Street Metrorail Station is the largest transit facility in the City of Alexandria and provides multi-modal transportation such as Metro and DASH buses, the King Street Trolley, Capital Bikeshare stations, bicycle parking, carshare, taxis, private shuttles, and individual vehicles. The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Amtrak station is also located adjacent to the King Street Metrorail Station. The goal of this improvement project is to enhance the pedestrian experience and safety, maintain effective level of service for transit access and accommodate future growth. During construction, the King Street Phase 1 Construction Impacts - Summer Winter 2020 ( SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Metrorail Station will remain open with no impact to train service, but there will be significant changes to areas outside the station during construction. The project, split into two phases, will be under construction for the next two years, and is expected to be completed in summer The first phase of construction (approximately 17 months) will require the relocation of bus bays to surrounding streets. The AT2/2X servicing the Mark Center will be temporarily relocated to Bus Bay D with the closest access to the South Entrance of the King Street Metrorail station. After completion of the first phase, buses will move back to the station. Other facilities including locations for Kiss & Ride, and shuttles will remain closed for the duration of the project construction. Additional information on the construction phasing and impacts can be found at Bridge Rehabilitation Work on GW Parkway and Memorial Bridge Beginning Monday, July 0, the National Park Service (NPS) began construction to repair the bridge over Windy Run on the George Washington Memorial Parkway (about one mile north of Spout Run Parkway). Motorists should expect delays and changes to the normal traffic pattern. Some of the major pattern changes include Lowered work zone speed limit to 5 miles per hour, Reduced travel lanes near and over Windy Run Bridge, Traffic directed into three narrow travel lanes and Travel lanes shifted to accommodate rush hour traffic. One southbound lane and one northbound lane will always remain open. The third lane is reversible to accommodate morning and evening rush hours. The reversible lane will run northbound from noon to 8 p.m. and run southbound from 8 p.m. to noon. On Saturday and Sunday the reversible lane will only be southbound. U.S. Park Police officers will temporarily stop traffic in all directions to facilitate a safe shift in traffic flow at noon and 8 p.m. Traffic shifts is expected to take about 15 minutes to complete. Construction anticipated to complete by this fall. Specific project information and updates are located at The NPS is also in the process of strengthening the road deck on Arlington Memorial Bridge to prepare for the full rehabilitation project beginning this fall. Throughout this summer, occasional lane and sidewalk closures will occur. In fall 2018, three lanes will be closed on Arlington Memorial Bridge with traffic shifting to the other side of the bridge. There will always be one lane open eastbound and one lane open westbound. Traffic may shift in the third lane to accommodate rush hour traffic in and out of Washington DC. More information can be found at As with most construction projects, traffic delays are inevitable. You should plan ahead and consider detours, alternatives to commuting, or using public transit while the bridges are under construction. 5

6 July and August 2018 DASH Passes Available The WHS Transportation Office provides paper DASH passes for Mark Center employees. The DASH pass allows free travel on all DASH routes at any time, including evenings and weekends. July DASH passes are available now, and August DASH passes will be available for pick up beginning the last week in July. CAC or PFAC cards are required at the time of pick up. Passes are good for one month and are available in the Transportation Office at Mark Center in Suite 0F21. Transportation Alerts For the latest transportation alerts including shuttle delays, route modifications and changes visit: Shuttle Schedules For information about DoD Shuttles that service the Pentagon Transit Center (PTC) and Mark Center Station (MCS), visit our CAC-enabled website at: **Please arrive at the shuttle stop at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.** Ridematching WHS TMPO partners with Commuter Connections for ridematching at the Pentagon and Mark Center. For more information, please download our Ridematching Brochure: 20Ridematching%20Brochure%20v1.0_0.pdf Pentagon and Mark Center transportation questions/ concerns, please contact: (571) or Mass Transportation Benefits Program questions/ concerns, please contact: (571) or Parking Management Office questions/concerns, please contact: (70) (Pentagon), (571) (Mark Center/Suffolk Building), or Mark Center Transportation Office Location: Suite 0F21 Hours: 7:0am - 4:00pm (Mon-Fri) Phone: (571) whs.pentagon.em.mbx.dod-shuttle-bus@mail.mil Pentagon Transportation Office Location: Room B19A Hours: 7:0am - 4:00pm (Mon-Fri) Transportation CAC-Enabled Website: Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 6