Penrose Neighborhood Association Mr. Tom Greenfield Arlington View Civic Association Mr. George Figliozzi

Transcription

1 Overview of 4 th Bridge Working Group Meeting For the Route 27/244 Interchange Modification Project (VDOT Project No V01, UPC 13528) Held June 12, 2006 At the Carver Center, Arlington The fourth meeting of the Washington Boulevard/Columbia Pike Bridge Working Group was held on June 12, 2006 from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at the Carver Center in Arlington. The following representatives were in attendance: Arlington View Civic Association Mr. George Figliozzi gfigliozzi@nhpco.org Mr. Wilbert Briggs, Sr. wbriggsr@aol.com Mr. Tom Barlow tobarlow@aol.com Ms. Marie Gee Ms. Karen Butler beadswithbooks@verizon.com Mr. Lewis Gee lgee04@verizon.net Mr. Richard E. Smith Mr. Earl W. Barber Ms. Theresa Ray & Mr. Roger Ray Rtray3@verizon.net Kate Rettenmaier krettenm@yahoo.com Mr. Josh Rhoads josh.rhoads@gmail.com Columbia Heights Civic Association Mr. Ed Miltenberger miltenberger@afsa.org Penrose Neighborhood Association Mr. Tom Greenfield Tomg01y@yahoo.com West Hampton Mews Condominium Association Ms. Betty Hartman Parking889@cs.com VDOT Bud Siegel bud.siegel@vdot.virginia.gov Carol Bondurant carol.bondurant@vdot.virginia.gov Arlington County Bill Roberts wroberts@arlingtonva.us Dennis Leach dleach@arlingtonva.us Wasim Raja wraja@arlingtonva.us Patricia Bush pbush@arlingtonva.us VHB Robert Brander rbrander@vhb.com Warren Hughes whughes@vhb.com 1

2 TY Lin International Kevin Ducharme Adel Kotb After brief introductions of all the participants, Bud Siegel turned the meeting over to Warren Hughes (VHB). He gave a brief synopsis of the Traffic Operations Study the objectives, background, and methodology of the report. There was an immediate complaint from the citizens regarding what is described in the report as the base alternative. It shows S. Queen St. cut off from Columbia Pike, and it is their understanding that the concept approved in 2003 showed S. Queen St. having access to Columbia Pike. VHB mentioned that they just received the crash data for the project area. There were 126 crashes within the interchange area, with 50 occuring at the S. Queen St. junction. A citizen asked how many accidents were at S. Quinn Street, and VHB replied that they did not have the exact numbers in front of them, but that they believe there were 38 accidents. VHB began by giving a brief overview of each of the alternatives analyzed during the Tier I analysis, as well as noting which alternatives were being recommended for further study (Tier II analysis). Alternative A1 (realign Ramp F to stop bar) and A2 (allow NB through movement from S. Quinn St under Alternative A1) were recommended for further study. o There was a citizen question regarding the grades of the ramps since the bridge will be raised. TYLIN responded that the grades will be raised to tie into the bridge, but the profiles will tie into the existing ground at Columbia Pike and there will be no impact to the townhouses at Penrose o There was some citizen concern regarding the length of crosswalk between Ramp F and G because there is no provision for an island now that NB S. Quinn St traffic will continue to Ramp F. Alternative B (remove the time of day description on Ramp G left-only/shared thruright to be allowed at all times) was removed from consideration due to the queue spillback onto Washington Blvd. o There was a citizen comment that there currently is driver confusion at Ramp G. Recently added pavement markings denoting turning movements conflict with the time of day sign restrictions. The pavement markings show the left only/shared thru-right, and the time of day restriction sign shows left only/thru movement in the PM. Arlington County responded that they would look into this matter to clarify. o There was a citizen comment that the traffic should be slowed down through the area. o A citizen commented that EB Columbia Pike traffic accelerates to get onto Ramp E, which leads to accidents at the S. Quinn St. intersection. It is also difficult to cross Columbia Pike due to EB drivers frequently running red lights, and at the 2

3 Rolfe St intersection there is no stoplight. It was also noted that the citizens wish for the signals to be synchronized. Alternative C1 (adding a pedestrian signal at Ramp E near S. Queen St.) was removed from consideration because the existing number of pedestrian crossings were not large enough to warrant the pedestrian signal. In addition, the location of the signal would be in the middle of the on-ramp which violates driver expectancy and could affect safety and efficiency. o The question was raised as to why S. Queen St. was closed off in this alternative. VHB responded that S. Queen St. should have been shown similar to Alternative B (remain open with access to Ramp E) o The question was raised regarding the high speed of vehicles between S. Quinn St. and S. Queen St. VHB replied that the pedestrian signal would be synchronized with the S. Quinn St signal to alleviate this issue. Alternative C2 (adding a new signal at Columbia Pike and S. Queen St., realigning Ramp E away from S. Queen St., and provide access from S. Queen St. to EB Columbia Pike and to Ramp E) and C3 (adding a new signal at Columbia Pike and S. Queen St., realigning Ramp E away from S. Queen St., and provide all movements to/from EB and WB Columbia Pike) were also removed from consideration. In the case of Alternative C2, a signal is not warranted per the MUTCD. In the case of Alternative C3, there would be signficant delays for EB and WB Columbia Pike during the peak hour, and in addition Ramp B would back up onto Washington Blvd. o The question was raised if a single lane on Ramp E would work. VHB responded that it could not accommodate the AM peak hour volumes (up to 2 ½ hour period), but it could accommodate the traffic in the remainder of the day Alternative D (adding a left turn bay from WB Columbia Pike to S. Quinn St) was recommended for further study. It was noted that a substandard taper/storage length would be required to provide adequate left turn storage from EB Columbia Pike to Ramp B. o The question was raised as to why this dedicated left turn is even necessary, since the sense is that most traffic turns left at Rolfe St. They feel this will unnecessarily bring more traffic into the neighborhood Alternative E1 (realigning Ramp D to a new signal at S. Orme St.) and Alternative E2 (Alt. E1 + permit left turns from Ramp D) were both recommended for further study. VHB noted that the intersection would be slightly skewed due to the Arlington County Rehab Center building located at the corner of Ramp D and EB Columbia Pike. o There was the citizen comment regarding South Gate Road being closed in the future due to the Army/Navy Annex. Arlington County mentioned that the population east of S. Orme St. will decrease due to the two Army/Navy buildings being closed. o The question was raised if Ramp C is to be closed, and VHB replied that it would be closed. 3

4 o The question was raised as to why there were 2 lanes on Ramp B. VHB responded that 1 lane was for the right turns onto WB Columbia Pike and the other was for the left turns onto EB Columbia Pike o VHB added that the right turn volumes from Ramp D to EB Columbia Pike were low Alternative F1 (single lane on Ramp E with a through/through-right on EB Columbia Pike) and Alternative F2 (removal of time of day restriction from Rolfe St to Ramp E) were both removed from consideration. In the case of Alternate F1, VHB mentioned that there will be significant queueing during the AM peak that would back up all the way to Courthouse Rd. There are also safety issues with potential queue jumpers. In the case of Alternative F2, in the AM peak the network would operate similar to Alternative F1 since only the right lane will be feeding Ramp E. o The question was raised as to why the traffic analysis is based on the peak hour. Arlington County responded that this is to strike a balance by taking into consideration pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and transit. Traffic studies and improvements are designed for the worst case scenario in terms of traffic volumes, such that the network will not experience break down conditions, where no one is able to move through the roadway system during the peak periods and thereby extending the time that extreme traffic congestion prevails. o The question was raised if it would be possible to close Ramp E. VHB responded that this would not work. Alternative G (eliminate Ramp D) was removed from consideration. This would mean all vehicles bound for Columbia Pike from NB Washington Boulevard and NB I-395 would use Ramp B, which would increase delays on NB Washington Blvd, and increase weaving from NB I-395/Arlington Ridge Rd ramp to Ramp B. VHB then summarized all the alternatives and which ones were carried forward to Tier II analysis. The following issues were raised by the citizens: Regarding Alternate B (remove the time of day restriction on Ramp G left-only/shared thru-right to be allowed at all times), the question was raised why two lefts are needed in the first place. VHB responded that during the PM peak hour there would be spillback onto Washington Blvd in the future given the projected traffic volumes. Arlington County mentioned that they would prefer the single left turn if feasible. Regarding Alternate C1 (adding a pedestrian signal at Ramp E near S. Queen St.), a citizen commented that currently it is dangerous to cross Ramp E. Arlington County responded that the goal is to provide safe passage for pedestrians on both sides of Columbia Pike. A citizen commented that S. Queen St. being totally blocked off or with only access to Ramp E via right in/right out is unacceptable Regarding Alternate C3 (adding a new signal at Columbia Pike and S. Queen St./Ramp E, to provide all movements to/from EB and WB Columbia Pike), the question was raised why it cannot be considered for Tier II analysis, as it is the only acceptable option for the citizens. Arlington County responded that Alternate C3 was removed from consideration on a technical basis, but the County has not eliminated it altogether. 4

5 A citizen commented that there should be no changes on Columbia Pike safety of the pedestrians should be the only concern, and now the potential of closing S. Queen St. off to Columbia Pike will make things that much worse. A citizen commented that S. Queen St. is the safest way out of the neighborhood. There are frequent accidents on S. Quinn St and there is no signal at Rolfe St. Bill Roberts stated that the next Bridge Working Group Meeting will focus on bridge aesthetics. Dennis Leach briefly summarized the meeting by saying the the improvements to S. Quinn St/ Ramp F & G, Ramp A/B, and S. Orme St./Ramp D have generally been accepted. The only outstanding issue involves S. Queen St. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM. 5