Improving Bicycle/Pedestrian Access at Select Rail Stations

Transcription

1 Improving Bicycle/Pedestrian Access at Select Rail Stations Wheaton Station, Montgomery County This document is part of a Transportation Planning Board project focused on identifying and documenting specific, high-impact bicycle and pedestrian investments that could improve access to and from rail stations around the Washington, D.C. region. This station profile summarizes the observations and findings for Wheaton Station in Montgomery County. For more background information on this initiative, see Page 11. Station Description Wheaton Station is a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Red Line station located in Montgomery County, Maryland. In 2013, WMATA reported an average of 4,094 eekday boardings at Wheaton, hich is significantly loer than the system average of 7,975. The station is bounded by Georgia Avenue to the southeast, Veirs Mill Road to the southest, and Reedie Drive to the north. There is a significant amount of multifamily housing to the north and east of the station, as ell as thriving retail nodes, including the Westfield Wheaton Mall to the station s est and north. The Wheaton CBD and (2012) calls for major redevelopment throughout the station area, facilitating increased density of residential, commercial/retail and office land uses. Redevelopment has already taken place on the east side of Georgia Avenue at the station, and on properties north of the station near Arcola Road, ith other redevelopments in the application process. Plan Revi Existing local and regional plans and studies ere revied to identify recommendations that ould improve pedestrian and/or bicycle access to the station. These recommendations ere compiled in a central database that includes a variety of attributes for each record, including location, modes served, type of improvement, estimated cost, etc. Pedestrian related improvements ere included if they ere located ithin one mile of the station; bicycling improvements if ithin three miles. Plans and studies revied for the Wheaton station included: Wheaton CBD and (2012) Countyide Bikays Functional Master Plan (2005) WMATA Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Station Needs (2011) 1 Corner of Reedie Drive and Georgia Avenue near Wheaton Station Field Work The Wheaton station as selected for field ork in consultation ith local planners in Montgomery County. The field evaluation focused on the folloing themes: a) pedestrian-oriented needs ithin one mile of the station, b) pedestrian and bicycle access needs that ould serve the higher density residential neighborhoods southeast and north of the station, and c) pedestrian and bicycle access improvements serving employment destinations such as the nearby public schools and adjacent shopping mall. Toole Design Group (TDG) used aerial photography and the U.S. Census OnTheMap tool to confirm hich field ork focus areas contained higher density housing and employment and generally limited field investigation to areas ithin to miles of the station. The field ork as conducted by Toole Design Group staff in October 2014.

2 Key Themes Related to Station Access Building upon the recommendations identified in the plan revi process, the TDG field ork team identified n, specific bicycle and pedestrian facility investments that could improve access to the Wheaton Metro Station. The field ork recommendations are shon on Page 5 and in the table at the end of this document. Key themes from the field ork include the folloing needs: A. Improved pedestrian accommodations in the area immediately surrounding the Metro Station site, hich is bounded by large state highays: Georgia Avenue, Viers Mill Road and University Boulevard The TDG field team identified a number of pedestrian access improvements in the immediate station area, including filling in gaps in the netork at the Viers Mill/Georgia Y and a suggested mid-block crossing of Georgia Avenue to serve n, high density residential community to the east. Potential midblock crossing location on Georgia Avenue B. High quality linkages to the multi-family residential areas south and east of the station South and east of the station, there is a need for higher quality bicycle and pedestrian linkages at the end of cul de sacs. Passagays linking to cul de sacs or a cul de sac to a park trail should be 6-10 feet ide, ADA accessible here feasible, and feature lighting and ayfinding signage for pedestrians and bicyclists. Landscaping, stormater treatments and erosion prevention infrastructure may also be needed to ensure the durability of capital improvements made in these types of locations. on Bucknell Drive lacks direct bicycle access C. High quality linkages and arterial crossings to existing and future development north of the station There is a need for improved station access for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling to/from redevelopment areas north and east of the station, as ell as crossing improvements on University Boulevard. The field ork team recommended bicycle and pedestrian improvements along Elkin Street and a climbing lane along Grandvi Avenue, rather than shared lane markings ( sharros ) as recommended in the CBD and. Existing curb to curb idths support the recommended climbing lane. Additionally, TDG recommended that all short connecting streets in the 2 Pedestrians using unstriped midblock crossing on University Boulevard

3 station area, such as Price Avenue, and any n small streets built as a part of redevelopment should have bike lanes, climbing lanes or shared lane markings depending on their idth and other design characteristics. Although existing County plans recommend sharros for Viers Mill Road and parts of Georgia Avenue, traffic volumes and speeds indicate that sharros may not be appropriate or provide adequate comfort for bicyclists traveling in these areas. D. Formal and upgraded linkages to the ring road around the shopping mall from the neighborhoods south and est of the mall Crossalk ithout ADA on Mall Ring Road The TDG field team identified multiple bicycle and pedestrian access improvements near and on the Wheaton Mall Ring Road, including curb ramp upgrades, parking lot crossing accommodations, stair runnels (i.e. rolling trays for bicycle heels), and reconstruction of aging pathays. Additionally, and trail improvements are recommended to link multi-family residential properties along University Boulevard est of the Mall to the Mall and Metro Station, and to link Nport Mill Middle School and Einstein High School to the ton center and Metro. Informal bicycle/pedestrian connection to Windham Lane from Faulkner Place to Mall Ring Road in disrepair Faded crossalk at Mall Entrance and Veirs Mill Road 3

4 Widen Bike Lane Maps of Plan Revi and Field Work Recommendations Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community MWCOG Wheaton Miles Plan revi recommendations Further study needed Repair/Resurface Climbing Lane Climbing Lane Install n Widen Widen Existing Repair/Resurface ÉM Metro Station Spot Improvements Intersection Trail/ Sidalk Wayfinding Linear Improvements Bike Parking On Street Bike Facility Bus Stop Improvement Trail/ Other Improvement Sidalk Wayfinding Lighting Other Improvement Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community MWCOG Wheaton Miles Field ork recommendations 4

5 n Install urther alk F sid needed study Sha rro Sh ar ro ne de Wi Sha Co ns tru ct Ne all n Inst alk sid Intersection Trail/ Sidalk Wayfinding Spot Improvements ro g tin Metro Station Sh ar xis rro M É c t Ne tn e sid ct N alk all Inst n lk a side den Wi uc alk side Con stru n Wide rro Sha Co ns tr Bike Lan Sh ar ane rro L bing Sha ln tal alk s n I de si Clim R / air ep ce rfa su e R Constru tn Lane uc n Install lk sida Climbing Co ns tr ro ro Shar Sh ar ro Repair/Resurface Bike Parking Bus Stop Improvement Other Improvement Linear Improvements On Street Bike Facility Trail/ Sidalk Wayfinding Lighting Other Improvement Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community MWCOG Wheaton Miles All area recommendations 5

6 Plan Revi and Field Work Recommendations STREET LOCATION IMPROVEMENT CATEGORY N Connection N Connection N Connection N Connection Amherst Ave University Blvd East Ave Upton Dr McComas Ave/ Douglas Ave Mall Ring Rd Blueridge Ave Valleyvi Dr/Mall Ring Rd Beteen Georgia Ave - Blueridge Ave, & Elkin St Beteen Georgia Ave - Blueridge Ave, & Elkin St East of Amherst Ave - north of Readie Dr Connection beteen Peregoy Dr & Wheaton Mall From Windham Ln to Arcola Ave From Amherst Ave & Sector Plan Boundary From Upton Dr to Mall Ring Rd From Hillsdale Dr & East Dr From Peregoy Dr & Amherst Dr From Faulkner Place to Reedie Dr entrance From Galt Ave to Amherst Ave From Hillsdale Dr to LB-3 IMPROVEMENT DESCRIPTION SOURCE Pedestrian/ADA Wheaton CBD and Pedestrian/ADA Wheaton CBD and Pedestrian/ADA Wheaton CBD and Pedestrian/ADA Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Bike Lane Wheaton CBD and Bicycle Trail/ Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Mall Ring Rd From LB-3 to SR-25 Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Prichard Rd/Horde St Kensington Blvd Kensington Blvd Elkin St From Amherst Ave to Windham Ln From Upton Dr to Fenimore Rd/SR-21 From Veirs Mill Rd to Fenimore Rd/ SR-21 From Amherst Ave to Sector Plan Boundary Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and 6

7 Plan Revi and Field Work Recommendations (continued) STREET LOCATION IMPROVEMENT CATEGORY Horde St From Prichard Rd/ Bicycle Carmody Dr to Wheaton Forest Park Boundary Blueridge Ave From Amherst Bicycle Ave to Sector Plan Boundary Georgia Ave From Windham Ln & Reedie Dr IMPROVEMENT DESCRIPTION Trail/ Trail/ SOURCE Wheaton CBD and Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Fenimore Rd From Galt Ave to Grandvi Ave Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Grandvi Ave From Reedie Dr to Dason Ave Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Galt Ave From Fenimore Rd to Dason Ave Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Torrance Ct From Douglas Ave to Mall Ring Rd Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Mall Ring Rd From Torrance Ct to Reedie Dr entrance Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Reedie Dr From Mall Ring Rd to Amherst Ave Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Windham Lane From Amherst Ave to Horde St Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Veirs Mill Rd From Georgia Ave to Kensington Blvd Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Windham Lane Upton Dr Plyers Mill Rd From Amherst Ave to the Sligo Creek Trail From Nport Mill Middle School to Upton Dr From Beach Dr to Georgia Ave Bicycle N Wheaton CBD and Bicycle 7 Trail/ Wheaton CBD and Bicycle N Countyide Bikays Functional Master Plan

8 Plan Revi and Field Work Recommendations (continued) STREET LOCATION IMPROVEMENT CATEGORY University Blvd From Sligo Creek Bicycle Parkay to Veirs Mill Rd Ernalls Ave Hickerson Dr Beteen Veirs Mill Rd and Grandvi Ave Grandvi Ave to Elkin St IMPROVEMENT DESCRIPTION Trail/ SOURCE Countyide Bikays Functional Master Plan Pedestrian/ADA Wheaton CBD and Pedestrian/ADA Wheaton CBD and From Hickerson Dr to University Blvd Pedestrian/ADA Wheaton CBD and Georgia Ave Veirs Mill to Slip Lane Pedestrian/ADA TCSP Fieldork Veirs Mill Rd Georgia Ave to Slip Lane Pedestrian/ADA Construct n TCSP Fieldork Bucknell Dr North dead end to Bucknell Terrace Bicycle Widen existing trail/ path TCSP Fieldork Windham Dr dead end to other dead end Combination Repair/resurface trail/path TCSP Fieldork Carmody Dr Alberti Dr to Horde St Bicycle N TCSP Fieldork Alberti Dr Inood Ave to Horde St Bicycle N TCSP Fieldork Elkin St Price Ave to Amherst Ave Bicycle N TCSP Fieldork N Street Leesborough Circle to Elkin to Blueridge Combination / More study needed for bike facility TCSP Fieldork Goat path beteen Melvin Grove Ct and Littleford Ln McComas Ave to Mall Ring Road Combination Trail/ TCSP Fieldork Existing path Faulkner Ct to Mall Ring Road Pedestrian/ADA Repair/resurface Trail/ TCSP Fieldork 8

9 Plan Revi and Field Work Recommendations (continued) STREET LOCATION IMPROVEMENT CATEGORY Valley Vi Dr University to Mall Combination Ring Road IMPROVEMENT DESCRIPTION Trail/ SOURCE TCSP Fieldork University Bl Nport Mill to Veirs Mill Combination Widen TCSP Fieldork Grandvi Ave Kensington to Reedie Bicycle N Climbing lane TCSP Fieldork Georgia Ave Reedie Dr to Veirs Mill Rd Pedestrian/ADA Widen TCSP Fieldork Fern Rd Reedie Dr to University Ave Bicycle N Climbing lane TCSP Fieldork Veirs Mill Rd at Reedie Dr Pedestrian/ADA Improved Crossalk WMATA Veirs Mill Rd at North bus entrance Pedestrian/ADA Repair curb ramp TCSP Fieldork Veirs Mill Rd at North bus entrance Pedestrian/ADA Combination TCSP Fieldork Georgia Ave halfay beteen Pritchard and Reedie Pedestrian/ADA N crossing location TCSP Fieldork Veirs Mill Rd Georgia Ave Pedestrian/ADA Improved crossalk TCSP Fieldork Reedie Dr Georgia Ave Pedestrian/ADA Combination TCSP Fieldork Reedie Dr Georgia Ave Pedestrian/ADA Address barrier or obstruction TCSP Fieldork Reedie Dr at Veirs Mill Rd Pedestrian/ADA Combination TCSP Fieldork Bucknell Dr Just north of Windham Dr Pedestrian/ADA Improved Crossalk TCSP Fieldork 9

10 Plan Revi and Field Work Recommendations (continued) STREET LOCATION IMPROVEMENT CATEGORY Bucknell Dr North and south Bicycle dead ends Bucknell Dr North and south dead ends Bicycle IMPROVEMENT DESCRIPTION Dead end connection Dead end connection Glenhaven Dr at Windham Dr Bicycle Dead end connection Jamaica Dr at Windham Dr Bicycle Dead end connection Windham Dr at east dead end by elementary school Bicycle Dead end connection Windham Dr At Francis Bicycle Dead end connection Windham Dr at Huntley Ave Bicycle Dead end connection University Bl at Elkin St Pedestrian/ADA N crossing location Torrance Dr at Mall Ring Road Bicycle Reconstruct stair for runnel SOURCE TCSP Fieldork TCSP Fieldork TCSP Fieldork TCSP Fieldork TCSP Fieldork TCSP Fieldork TCSP Fieldork TCSP Fieldork TCSP Fieldork Torrance Dr at Mall Ring Road Pedestrian/ADA N curb TCSP Fieldork Mall Ring Rd at Target entrance Pedestrian/ADA N crossalk TCSP Fieldork Georgia Ave at Veirs Mill Rd Pedestrian/ADA N crossalk TCSP Fieldork Georgia Ave at Veirs Mill Rd Pedestrian/ADA N crossalk TCSP Fieldork 10

11 Project Background The purpose of the Improving Bicycle/Pedestrian Access at Select Stations analysis is to identify and document specific, high-impact investments that ill improve multimodal access to and from rail stations around the Washington, D.C. region. This project as funded by a grant from the Federal Highay Administration s Transportation, Community and System Preservation (TCSP) Grant Program. Tenty-five selected stations ere identified among the region s Metro, VRE and MARC stations using to criteria: A) stations ith excess rail capacity (more people could take advantage of existing transit service at this location) and B) stations ith concentrations of employment and/or transit-dependent populations nearby. All of the selected stations are adopted Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) Activity Centers. Existing local and regional plans for these stations (e.g. sector plans, station area plans, comprehensive plans, etc.) ere revied and pedestrian and bicycle facility recommendations ere complied into a central database. Additional field ork as conducted at a subset of the selected stations. Wheaton TPB Project Selected Stations Pentagon City, Arlington County Virginia Square, Arlington County Eisenhoer Avenue, City of Alexandria King Street, City of Alexandria Anacostia, District of Columbia Capitol Heights, District of Columbia Congress Heights, District of Columbia Friendship Heights, District of Columbia Minnesota Avenue, District of Columbia Mt. Vernon Square/7th St Convention Cntr, DC Rhode Island Avenue, District of Columbia Waterfront SEU, District of Columbia Dunn Loring/Merrifield Avenue, Fairfax County Franconia/Springfield, Fairfax County McLean, Fairfax County Silver Spring, Montgomery County Tinbrook, Montgomery County Wheaton, Montgomery County White Flint, Montgomery County Branch Ave, Prince George's County Largo Ton Center, Prince George's County N Carrollton, Prince George's County Prince George's Plaza, Prince George's County West Hyattsville, Prince George's County Woodbridge, Prince William County 11