College of Southern Maryland, Hughesville Transportation Study MWCOG, Charles County, Calvert County and St. Mary s County

Transcription

1 College of Southern Maryland, Hughesville Transportation Study MWCOG, Charles County, Calvert County and St. Mary s County September 9, 2015

2

3 College of Southern Maryland, Hughesville Transportation Study MWCOG, Charles County, Calvert County and St. Mary s County September 9, 2015 Prepared by: TLC College of Southern Maryland

4 Contents Introduction Existing Conditions Regional Overview of Service Calvert County Charles County St. Mary s County Existing Land Use College of Southern Maryland Hughesville Development Points of Interest and Trip Generators Student Populations Demographic Breakdown of Students Travel Maps of Student Home Origin Distribution Recommendations Transit Recommendations Existing Service Expansions New Service Prioritization Recommendations Summary Transportation Demand Management Recommendations Site Access and Transit Infrastructure Campus Access Prince Fredrick Road Foster Lane Mileage Transit Infrastructure Transit Amenities TLC College of Southern Maryland i

5 3.2.2 Recommendations Conclusion Appendix: Methodology Transit Propensity Analysis Transit Oriented Index Commuter Index Employment Index Non-Work Trip Index Educational Index Travel Flows Table 1 Calvert County Transit Bus Service... 5 Table 2 VanGO Bus Service... 8 Table 3 STS Bus Service Table 4 CSM Students Family Income Table 5 CSM Students Race Table 6 CSM Students Age Table 7 Enrollment by Campus Table 8 Number of Campuses Attended Table 9 Students Attending Two Campuses Table 10 Charlotte Hall Route: Service Adjustments Table 11 Charlotte Hall Route: Operational Adjustments Table 12 County Span Route: Service Adjustments Table 13 County Span Route: Operational Adjustments Table 14 Leonardtown Route: Service Adjustments Table 15 Leonardtown Route: Operational Adjustments Table 16 Calvert Connection Route: Service Adjustments Table 17 Calvert Connection Route: Operational Adjustments Table 18 La Plata Hughesville Route: Service Description Table 19 La Plata Hughesville Route: Operational Descriptions Table 20 Prince Frederick Hughesville Route: Service Description Table 21 Prince Frederick Hughesville Route: Operational Descriptions Table 22 Recommendations Phasing and Estimated Annual Costs Table 23 TDM Strategies Toolbox Table 24 Access Point Mileage TLC College of Southern Maryland ii

6 Table 25 Transit Oriented Index Factors Table 26 Commuter Index Factors Table 27 Employment Index Factors Table 28 Non-Work Trip Index Factors Table 29 Educational Index Factors Figure 1 Southern Maryland Study Area... 3 Figure 2 Calvert County Transit and Activity Centers... 6 Figure 3 Charles County Transit and Activity Centers Figure 4 St. Mary s Transit and Activity Centers Figure 5 Entry Goal of CSM Students Figure 6 Students Reason for Attending CSM Figure 7 Student Home Origin for All Campuses Figure 8 Student Home Origin for Leonardtown Campus Figure 9 Students Home Origin for La Plata Campus Figure 10 Students Home Origin for Prince Frederick Campus Figure 11 Student Home Origin for Waldorf Center for Higher Education Figure 12 Proposed Charlotte Hall Route Figure 13 Proposed County Span Route Figure 14 Proposed Leonardtown Route Figure 15 Proposed Calvert Connection Route Figure 16 Proposed La Plata - Hughesville Route Figure 17 Proposed Prince Frederick - Hughesville Route Figure 18 Campus Access Options Figure 19 Prince Frederick Access with Roundabout Figure 20 Prince Frederick Road Access with Signalized Intersection Figure 21 Foster Lane Access Figure 22 Transit Center Proposed Location Figure 23 Proposed Phase 1 Transit Infrastructure Figure 24 Proposed Phase 2 Transit Infrastructure Figure 25 Transit Oriented Propensity Figure 26 Commuter Propensity Figure 27 Employment Propensity Figure 28 Non-Work Trip Propensity Figure 29 Educational Propensity TLC College of Southern Maryland iii

7 Introduction Southern Maryland is currently in a period of transformation, with the region s population more than doubling over the last 25 years. The three county region comprised of Calvert, St. Mary s, and Charles counties is served by the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), a regional community college of 27,000 students. In May 2014, CSM approved a new regional campus in Hughesville, Maryland to accommodate the school s growth and consolidate academic programs. The new campus, when completed, will centralize certain programs and will draw students from all three counties. The purpose of this study is to provide an opportunity for the region to assess how to serve the campus through public transportation and ensure CSM-Hughesville develops in a responsible manner. The contents of this report are: Existing Conditions This section analyzes the region s existing land use and transit service, as well as current CSM student demographics. Recommendations This section summarizes the proposed transit recommendations and transportation demand management strategies. Land Use This section outlines the proposed campus access points and the recommended campus transit facility. This study was made possible under the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) Transportation-Land Use Connection (TLC) program, which assists communities in their effort to better coordinate transportation and land-use planning. TLC College of Southern Maryland 1

8 1 Existing Conditions 1.1 REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF SERVICE The region of Southern Maryland is comprised of Calvert County, St Mary s County, and Charles County. The area is geographically bordered on the east by the Chesapeake Bay, on the west by the Potomac River, and on the north by Prince George s County and Anne Arundel County, Maryland (see Figure 1). Southern Maryland has a population of approximately 340,000, and is experiencing significant growth as the Washington metro area expands. Between 2000 and 2010, Southern Maryland was the fastest growing region in Maryland with a population increase of 21 percent. St Mary s County had the highest growth in the region with 22 percent. Today, Charles County is the region s largest county in land area and population, while Calvert County is the smallest in land area and population. However, even with significant growth, the region remains mainly rural with forest and agriculture comprising approximately 75 percent of the region s land use. The Navy is the biggest employer in the region operating the Naval Air Station (PAX) in St. Mary s County, and the Naval Support Facility Indian Head in Charles County. Each county operates local bus service with connections available between the local systems and commuter buses. Charles County operates sixteen deviated-fixed routes making it the largest system in Southern Maryland. St Mary s Transit (STS) operates eleven deviated-fixed routes, and Calvert County Transit operates eight deviated-fixed routes. Each system provides weekday peak and off-peak service, as well as limited weekend service. Routes connect office, residential, medical, and commercial areas along major arterial roads within each county. Continued growth has increased economic opportunities within the region; however, a large portion of Southern Maryland residents work outside the region. Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) operates eleven fixed peak-only commuter bus routes connecting Southern Maryland and downtown Washington DC, with some routes also providing service to Prince George s County and Anne Arundel County. TLC College of Southern Maryland 2

9 Figure 1 Southern Maryland Study Area TLC College of Southern Maryland 3

10 1.1.1 Calvert County Overview Calvert County has a population of approximately 92,000 people, and is Maryland s smallest county with 213 square miles. The county is part of the Washington DC Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is located 30 miles southeast of Washington DC and 55 miles south of Baltimore, Maryland. The county is a peninsula, bounded on the east by the Chesapeake Bay and on the west by the Patuxent River. Calvert County has two incorporated towns: North Beach and Chesapeake Beach; and, seven town centers: Dunkirk, Owings, Huntingtown, Prince Frederick, St. Leonard, Lusby, and Solomons. Calvert County Transit provides public bus transportation service linking the county s major shopping, medical, and employment centers. Major trip generators within the system include the Calvert Memorial Hospital system with three medical centers in Prince Frederick, Dunkirk, and Solomons; the College of Southern Maryland in Prince Frederick; and, the three major senior centers: Calvert Pines, Southern Pines, and North Beach. The system operates seven fixed routes, four standard routes and three shuttles, and four demandresponse/para-transit routes (see Figure 2). The Dunkirk Route, the Lusby Shuttle, and the Midcounty Route provide weekday only service. The North County Route, Prince Frederick Shuttle I and South Route provide weekday and limited Saturday service. The Lusby Shuttle route operates on a seasonal schedule, with the Lusby Summer Shuttle operating between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Table 1 shows existing weekday ridership conditions for Calvert County Transit. The routes range from 60-minute headways to 125-minute headways during peak periods. Prince Frederick Shuttle I has the highest average weekday ridership in the system. Fares vary by demographic and type of service. Bus fares can be purchased as one way trips, all-day passes, or multi-trip tickets. One-way regular fare on shuttles is $0.75, and $1.50 on standard routes. Discounted fares are available to youth, senior citizens, Medicare card holders, and CCPT Disability Cardholders. Buses are equipped with an electronic fare box, and riders can purchase Value Cards at the Transportation Office or from the bus driver with 24 hour advanced notice. There are three transfer points in the system: the main transfer point, Calvert Pines Senior Center, serving the Prince Frederick Shuttle I and II, the North Route, the South Route, and the Mid-County Route; the Sunderland Park & Ride, serving the Dunkirk Route and North Route; and, the Southern Pines Community Center, serving the Lusby Shuttle and South Route. TLC College of Southern Maryland 4

11 Table 1 Calvert County Transit Bus Service Average Weekday Span of Frequency Route Weekday Services Service (Peak/Off-Peak) Ridership 1 Dunkirk Route Dunkirk, Chaneyville, and 7:45 AM - 5:24 PM 60 / (Orange) Sunderland Lusby Shuttle Chesapeake Ranch Estates, 7:21 AM - 4:50 PM 100 / * (Gold) Lusby Area, and Solomons Lusby Summer Chesapeake Ranch Estates, 7:18 AM - 4:50 PM 100 / * Shuttle (Purple) Lusby Area, and Solomons Prince Frederick, St Leonard, Mid County 7:55 AM - 3:23 PM 90 / Broomes Island, Adelina, and Route (Yellow) Solomons Prince Frederick, Huntington, Chesapeake Beach, North North County 6:30 AM - 5:16 PM 120 / Beach & Sunderland; No Route (Pink) service to North Beach on Saturday Prince Frederick 6:35 AM - 7:57 PM 60 / Prince Frederick Shuttle I (White) Prince Frederick 8:30 AM - 2:20 PM 70 / Prince Frederick Shuttle II (Green) Prince Frederick to St Leonard, South Route Olivet, Lusby, Dowell, Ranch 7:15 AM - 6:45 PM 125 / (Blue) Estates and Solomons; Saturday is Solomons Service *Ridership information for the Lusby Shuttles is combined. 1 Average Weekday Ridership for each route was calculated from Annual Ridership. The percentage of the route s trips on weekdays was determined, and multiplied by annual ridership to determine annual weekday ridership. TLC College of Southern Maryland 5

12 Figure 2 Calvert County Transit and Activity Centers TLC College of Southern Maryland 6

13 Connections to External Services Calvert County Transit provides connection services to St. Mary s Transit and MTA Commuter Bus. Calvert County Transit provides connection service to St Mary s Transit (STS) at the Patuxent Plaza Shopping Center in Calvert County via the South Route, the Mid-County Route, and the Lusby Shuttle. Calvert County Transit also provides direct connection to two Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) commuter peak-only express services. MTA Route 902 serves Calvert County and downtown Washington DC, and the 904 serves Calvert County, Anne Arundel County, Prince George s County, and downtown Washington DC. The Dunkirk Route connects to MTA 902 at the Sunderland Park & Ride, which is located at MD-2 near MD-4 and MD-262, and the Dunkirk Park & Ride, which is located at Town Center Blvd. The Prince Frederick Shuttle I and II connect to MTA 902 at the Prince Frederick Park & Ride, which is located at Fairgrounds Road and Armory Road. The North Route connects to MTA 902 at the Sunderland Park & Ride, and to MTA Route 904 at the North Beach Municipal Lot, which is located at 5 th Street and Chesapeake Avenue. 2 Proposed Services from TDP Calvert County s 2007 Transit Development Plan (TDP) identified a variety of suggestions for improving the existing bus service. Suggestions included adopting an on-time performance standard to prevent buses from arriving early, making minor adjustments to route schedules, and making adjustments to routes to prevent out of direction travel for passengers Charles County Overview Charles County has a population of approximately 152,000 people, and a land area of 457 square miles. It is the largest county in Southern Maryland. Charles County is a part of the Washington DC Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is located 25 miles south of Washington DC, and 55 miles southwest of Baltimore, Maryland. The county is bordered on the north by Prince George s County, on the east by St. Mary s County, and on the south and west by the Potomac River. The county has three incorporated towns: Indian Head, La Plata, and Port Tobacco Village; and seven census-designated places: Bensville, Bryans Road, Hughesville, Potomac Heights, Benedict, Cobb Island, and Waldorf. Charles County Department of Community Services provides public bus transportation through the VanGO system, which links the county s major shopping, medical, and employment centers. Major transit generators include the College of Southern Maryland in LaPlata, and the St. Charles Towne Center Mall in Waldorf. VanGO operates 16 fixed routes, with the Nanjemoy Route offering part subscription service (see Figure 3). All routes provide weekday and Saturday service. Table 2 shows existing weekday ridership conditions 2 Starting on November 1, 2015, MTA routes 902 and 904 will change to 810, 820, 830, 840, and 850. Daily trips will increase from 64 to 96 per day. Information received from George Clark, Tri County Council on 4/2/2015. TLC College of Southern Maryland 7

14 for VanGO service. The routes range from 30-minute headways to 240-minute headways during peak periods. The 301 Connector has the highest average weekday ridership in the system. Fares vary by demographic and type of service. Bus fares can be purchased as one-way trips, all-day passes, or multi-trip tickets. Riders can purchase all-day passes on-board, or $10 discounted passes at the Department of Community Services. VanGO One-way regular fare is $1. Discounted fares are available to senior citizens, Medicare card holders, and CCPT Disability Cardholders. Buses are equipped with an electronic fare box, the GFI Odyssey Validating Farebox. Drivers cannot make change, but can provide a Change Card for future VanGO rides. There are two transfer points within the system. The La Plata Transfer Point is located at 40 Drury Drive, the Walmart Parking Lot, and serves the 301 Connector, Bryans Road, La Plata, Nanjemoy, and Newburg routes. The Waldorf Transfer Point is located at US 301/Smallwood Park & Ride and serves the 301 Connector, Brandywine Connector, Indian Head, Berry Road, Business A, Business B, Charlotte Hall, Pinefield, and St Charles A, B, C, and D routes. Table 2 VanGO Bus Service Route Weekday Span of Frequency Average Weekday Service (Peak/Off-Peak) Ridership 3 Services 301 Connector 7:00 AM - 9:51 PM 30 / Waldorf, La Plata Berry Road 7:00 AM - 8:47 PM 45 / Berry Road Waldorf, Brandywine 7:00 PM - 9:45 PM 120 / Brandywine Connector Crossing Bryans Road 7:30 AM - 6:21 PM 60 / (lumped with La Plata, Bryans Newburg in 2A) Road Business A 7:06 AM - 8:19 PM 60 / Leonardtown Road Business B 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM 60 / Crain Highway Charlotte Hall 6:47 AM- 8:24 PM 60 / St Mary's County, Waldorf Indian Head 6:26 AM - 9:41 PM 60 / Waldorf, Indian Head La Plata 7:00 AM - 9:25 PM 60 / Glen Albin, Kent Avenue, Radio Station Road 5:30 AM - 7:22 PM; Nanjemoy Subscription Service La Plata (Route 6), 240 / between 5:30 AM and Nanjemoy 7:30 AM 3 Average Weekday Ridership for each route was calculated from Annual Ridership. The percentage of the route s trips on weekdays was determined, and multiplied by annual ridership to determine annual weekday ridership. TLC College of Southern Maryland 8

15 Route Weekday Span of Frequency Average Weekday Service (Peak/Off-Peak) Ridership 3 Newburg 7:04 AM -7:25 PM 120 / (lumped with Bryans Road in 2A) Pinefield 7:00 AM - 10:29 PM 60 / St Charles A 6:30 AM - 10:17 PM 60 / St Charles B 6:30 AM - 10:23 PM 60 / St Charles C 6:30 AM - 7:53 PM 60 / Data not currently St Charles D 6:30 AM - 9:53 PM 60 / 60 available. Route started on January 5, Services La Plata, Newburg Old Washington Road, Pinefield Road University Drive, Sheffield Circle, St Patricks Drive, Billingsley Road Wakefield Circle, Bannister Circle, Lancaster Circle, Hampshire Circle Middletown Road, Dorchester Circle, Pinecone Road, Copley Avenue Gleneagles South, Regency Furniture Stadium TLC College of Southern Maryland 9

16 Figure 3 Charles County Transit and Activity Centers Connections to External Services VanGO service provides direct connections to St. Mary s Transit (STS), MTA Commuter Bus, Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA), and Prince George s Transit ( TheBus ). Monday through Saturday between 7:00 AM and 8:30 PM, VanGO provides connection services to St. Mary s Transit at Charlotte Hall Square Shopping Center via VanGO s Charlotte Hall Route. VanGO Transit provides direct connections to five Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) peak-only commuter express services: the 610, the 620, the 630, the 640, and the 650. MTA 610, 620, 630, and 640 provide service between Charles County and downtown Washington DC, and MTA 650 provides service between Charles County, Prince George s County, and downtown Washington DC. The VanGO 301 Connector connects to MTA Routes 610, 620, and 630 at the Waldorf Transfer Point, and to MTA Route 650 at Route 301 & Marshall Corner Road. The Brandywine Connector, Indian Head, St. Charles Route A and C, and Business Route B connect to MTA Routes 610, 620 and 630 at the Waldorf Transfer Point. St. TLC College of Southern Maryland 10

17 Charles Route D connects with MTA Routes 610, 620, and 630 at the Waldorf Transfer Point, and to MTA Route 640 at the Regency Furniture (Blue Crabs) Stadium. The La Plata Route connects to MTA 610, 640, and 650 at the La Plata Park & Ride located at Washington Avenue and Rosewick Road. The Bryans Road Route connects to MTA 650 at the Bryans Road Shopping Center/Bryans Road Park & Ride. VanGO provides connection services to WMATA Route W19, which provides express weekday peak service from Indian Head and Bryans Road Park & Ride Lot to Washington DC. Monday through Saturday between 7:30 AM and 6:30 PM VanGO s Bryans Road Route provides a connection to W19 at Livingston Road. Monday through Saturday between 6:30 AM and 10:00 PM, VanGO s Indian Head route connects to W19 at the Indian Head Post Office, Indian Head Main Gate, the Bryans Road Shopping Center/Bryans Road Park & Ride, and at Livingston Road. MTA Commuter Routes 640 and 650 also connect with the W19 at the Accokeek Park & Ride. VanGO also provides connection service to TheBus, Prince George s County transit system, at the Pinefield South Shopping Center. Between 6:00 am and 7:20 pm, VanGO riders can use either Business Route A or the Pinefield Route to connect with TheBus route 36. During evenings and on Saturdays, VanGO riders can use the Brandywine Connector to access the Brandywine Shopping Center in Prince George s County. Proposed Services from TDP Charles County s 2010 Transit Development Plan (TDP) identified a variety of suggestions for improving the existing bus service. Suggestions include expanding VanGO service days and hours, reducing the need for customers to transfer, the introduction of more one-seat rides, shortening travel times through service modifications, increasing frequency of services, and reducing headways. More specifically, service alternatives include restoring one hour mid-day service gaps, splitting current 60-minute routes into 30- minute segments, interlining routes, modifying the St. Charles East Routes, operating Business A and B Routes as a common trunk, implementing Sunday service, expanding early morning and evening services, expanding the Nanjemoy Subscription Service, and modifying the Newburg Route. Non-service related suggestions include implementing a mobility manager, establishing an ongoing advisory committee, and elevating VanGO to a county department St. Mary s County Overview St Mary s County has a population of approximately 109,000 people, and a land area of 357 square miles. It is part of the California-Lexington Park Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is located 54 miles south of Washington DC, and 81 miles south of Baltimore, Maryland. The county is situated on a peninsula in Southern Maryland bordered by Charles County to the northwest, the Patuxent River to the northeast, the Potomac River to the southwest, and the Chesapeake Bay to the east. The county has one incorporated town, Leonardtown, and four census-designated places: California, Charlotte Hall, Golden Beach, and Lexington Park. TLC College of Southern Maryland 11

18 St. Mary s Transit (STS) provides public bus transportation service linking the county s major shopping, educational, medical, and employment centers. Major trip generators include the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, St Mary s College of Maryland, and the College of Southern Maryland in Leonardtown. The system operates eleven fixed routes, with five routes offering Saturday service, and one route offering Sunday service (see Figure 4). If traffic and road conditions permit, riders are allowed to flag buses along regular routes to discharge or pick up passengers. Table 3 shows existing weekday ridership conditions for STS service. The routes range from 60-minute headways to 120-minute headways during peak periods. The California Route, Route 1, has the highest average weekday ridership in the system. Bus fares can be purchased as one-way trips, daily passes, or monthly passes. STS one-way regular fare is $1.00. Discounted fares are available to youth, students, senior citizens, Medicare card holders, and CCPT Disability Cardholders. Acceptable fare media includes cash, STS tickets, STS transfers, and monthly passes. STS buses are not equipped with electronic fare boxes, and drivers are not equipped to provide riders with change. There are four transfer points in the system: the Governmental Center in Leonardtown, the Tulagi Place Park & Ride lot in Lexington Park, Patuxent Plaza Shopping Center in Solomons, and Charlotte Hall Square in Charlotte Hall. Table 3 STS Bus Service Route Route 1 - California Route Route 2 - Charlotte Hall Route 3 - Great Mills Route Route 4/14 - County Span Route Route 5 - Calvert Connection Route 6 -Northern Route Route 7 - Southern Route Weekday Span of Service Frequency (Peak/Off-Peak) Average Weekday Ridership 4 5:42 AM - 6:48 PM 60 / :50 AM - 5:53 PM 60 / :25 AM - 7:35 PM 60 / :00 AM - 6:51 PM 120 / :00 AM - 5:53 PM 120 / :00 AM - 5:48 PM 120 / :51 AM - 7:17 PM 60 / Services Leonardtown, Lexington Park, California Leonardtown, Charlotte Hall, Loveville Lexington Park, Leonardtown, Great Mills Lexington Park, Charlotte Hall Lexington Park, Solomons Charlotte Hall, Budds Creek, Mechanicsville Lexington Park, Ridge, St. Mary's City 4 Average Weekday Ridership for each route was calculated from Annual Ridership. The percentage of the route s trips on weekdays was determined, and multiplied by annual ridership to determine ridership for weekday trips. TLC College of Southern Maryland 12

19 Route Route 11 - Great Mills/California Route Route 12 - Leonardtown Route Weekday Span of Frequency Average Weekday Service (Peak/Off-Peak) Ridership 4 Services 6:00 PM - 10:45 PM 60 / California, Great Mills 6:00 PM - 8:53 PM 60 / California, Charlotte Hall, Leonardtown TLC College of Southern Maryland 13

20 Figure 4 St. Mary s Transit and Activity Centers TLC College of Southern Maryland 14

21 Connections to External Services STS service provides connections to Calvert County Transit, Charles County Transit (VanGO), and MTA Commuter Bus. STS provides connection service to Calvert County Transit at the Patuxent Plaza Shopping Center via the Calvert Connection. STS also provides direct connection services to VanGO transit at Charlotte Hall Square in Charlotte Hall via the Charlotte Hall Route, the Northern Route, the County Span Route, and the Leonardtown Route. STS provides direct connections to four Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) peak-only commuter express service: the 705, the 715, the 725, and the 735. MTA 705 and 715 provide service between St. Mary s County, Charles County, and downtown Washington DC. MTA 725 provides service between St. Mary s County, and downtown Washington DC, and MTA 735 provides service between St. Mary s County, Charles County, Prince George s County and downtown Washington DC. The North and Mid-County Route connect to MTA Route 705 at the Charlotte Hall Square Shopping Center, and to MTA Route 715, 725, and 735 at the Golden Beach Park & Ride in Charlotte Hall. Proposed Services from TDP The Transit Development Plan (TDP) from 2011 recommends a variety of service suggestions. Suggestions range from short term improvements such as system-wide efficiency improvements, bus stop safety improvements, and continued mobility enhancements; to mid-term plans including park and ride/commuter bus connectivity, extended evening hours (Southern Route), Sunday service expansion, increased frequency in Lexington Park/Great Mills, MTA commuter bus connection to Leonardtown, rural fixed route service expansion, and improved passenger transfer facilities; and long term plans including real time bus information, electronic fare collection, and transition to larger vehicles. 1.2 EXISTING LAND USE More than 55 percent of the existing land use in Southern Maryland is forest and an additional 25 percent is agricultural and water. The region is majority rural with small areas of low-to-medium dense commercial and industrial land use. In Charles County, the developed areas include Waldorf, Bryans Road/Indian Head, La Plata, and areas along MD-5 between Hughesville and the St. Mary s County line. In St. Mary s County, the biggest areas of development are around Lexington Park, California, and Great Mills. In Calvert County, development is focused in the seven town centers: Dunkirk, Owings, Huntington, Prince Frederick, St. Leonard, Lusby, and Solomons College of Southern Maryland The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) is an accredited community college that operates four campuses and two centers in Southern Maryland s tri-county area. Approximately 8,400 students are enrolled at the four campuses, with 25 percent of students taking classes at more than one campus. CSM offers associate degrees in a wide variety of disciplines, certificates, and classes for non-degree seeking students. The La TLC College of Southern Maryland 15

22 Plata Campus and the Waldorf Center for Higher Education are located in Charles County. The Prince Frederick Campus is located in Calvert County, and the Leonardtown Campus is located in St. Mary s County. The Center for Trades and Energy Training and the Center for Transportation Training are both located in Charles County. The La Plata Campus is located at 8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata, Maryland. The campus has the largest enrollment with approximately 5,700 students. The campus boasts a large indoor pool, a fine arts center, high-tech computer laboratories, outdoor and indoor sports facilities, a bookstore, fitness center and cafeteria, an online learning center, and a state of the art conference center. The Waldorf Center for Higher Education is located at 3261 Old Washington Road in Waldorf, Maryland. It was founded in 1997 and offers associate and bachelor degrees through the College of Southern Maryland and the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) alliance. The center serves approximately 600 students. The center is a three floor facility with administrative space, 12 classrooms, three instructional computer labs, a student lounge, and a student and alumni computer lab. The Leonardtown Campus is located at Hollywood Road in Leonardtown, Maryland. The campus enrolls approximately 2,200 students. It is located on 62 acres and has three modern facilities that boast science labs, a wellness and aquatic center, and an auditorium. The Prince Frederick Campus is located at 115 J.W Williams Road in Prince Frederick, Maryland. The campus also enrolls approximately 2,200 students. The campus has two buildings consisting of nearly 90,000 square feet with specialized science and health labs, a career and academic services center, and a college store. The Center for Trades and Energy Training is located at 17 Irongate Drive in Waldorf, Maryland. It is a 17,858 square foot facility with an electrical, welding, HVAC, and carpentry labs. The Center for Transportation Training is located at 5825 Radio Station Road in La Plata, Maryland. The center provides facilities for Driver Training Programs and other industrial training programs. Hughesville is the largest village center in Charles County with a population of approximately 2,000 residents. Its central location within the Southern Maryland region makes it accessible from Prince Frederick in Calvert County, and Charlotte Hall and Lexington Park in St. Mary s County. In 2007, Charles County Commissioners approved a development plan for Hughesville, which envisions a revitalized Hughesville Village Hughesville Development In 2007, Charles County Commissioners approved the Hughesville Village Revitalization Plan. Hughesville, Maryland, located at the crossroads of MD-5 and MD-231, is the largest village center in Charles County. Hughesville is centrally located in Southern Maryland, providing easy connections to St. Mary s County and Calvert County. The area planned for redevelopment is currently a mix of low density residential and commercial development, while the surrounding Hughesville area is rural. The Hughesville revitalization TLC College of Southern Maryland 16

23 plan supports Smart Growth principles. The goal of the plan is to create a vibrant and economically sustainable rural village with a pedestrian friendly main street. The village core is centralized around the MD-5 and MD-231 intersection, with the plan s village core streetscape concept running along MD-231 and Old Leonardtown Road. Planned improvements to the village core include implementing streetscaping measures, improving parking and transportation, and promoting mixed-use redevelopment. This proposed redevelopment hopes to enhance village character and make Hughesville a resident and tourist destination. The plan includes a build out option to include industrial, commercial, and residential development to the north and east of the envisioned village core. In 2013, the College of Southern Maryland approved a master plan for the college s new Regional Campus in Hughesville, Maryland. The campus will be located on 74 acres along MD-5 in Hughesville. This development will create a sense of community within five phrases of growth. Phases include the construction of a new Center for Trades and Energy Training, which currently exists at the Waldorf campus, a Health Science building, a Fine Arts building, a field house, and relocation of the college s athletic fields Points of Interest and Trip Generators Calvert County Most of Calvert County s major trip generators and points of interest are located in Prince Frederick. The county s major employers are Calvert Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick, Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, and Walmart in Prince Frederick. The only major educational facility in the county is the College of Southern Maryland in Prince Frederick. A majority of the county s medical facilities are in Prince Frederick including the Calvert Memorial Hospital and the Calvert County Health Department. The Calvert Memorial Hospital also operates the Dunkirk Medical Center in Dunkirk and the Solomons Medical Center in Solomons. A majority of the county s shopping centers are in Prince Frederick including Calvert Village, Central Square, Fox Run, Prince Frederick Shopping Center, and Walmart. Other shopping centers include Avondale Shopping Center and Patuxent Plaza in Solomons; Dunkirk Market Place and Country Village Plaza in Dunkirk; Lyons Creek Shopping Center in Lyons Creek; and, Chesapeake Station in Chesapeake Beach. There are five senior housing facilities in the county: Asbury Solomons Island in Solomons, Calvert Pines Apartment in Prince Frederick, Southern Pines Apartments in Lusby, Rainbow Acres in Sunderland, and Town Center Apartments in North Beach. The County s Department of Social Services and Community Services are located in Prince Frederick. A majority of social service providers are also based in Prince Frederick. TLC College of Southern Maryland 17

24 Charles County Most of the Charles County s major trip generators and points of interest are located in La Plata and Waldorf. The county s major employers are Naval Support Facility in Indian Head, Charles County Government in La Plata, Civista Medical Center in La Plata, College of Southern Maryland in La Plata and Waldorf, and Facchina Construction Company in La Plata. The College of Southern Maryland operates the county s three major educational facilities: the Waldorf Campus, the La Plata Campus, and the Industrial Training Center in La Plata. A majority of the county s medical facilities are in La Plata and Waldorf. The University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center is located in La Plata, and the Waldorf Healthcare Center and Waldorf Medical Clinic are located in Waldorf. The County Health Department is located in White Plains. A majority of the county s shopping centers are in Waldorf including Charles County Plaza, Pinefield Shopping Center, St. Charles Towne Center, and St. Charles Plaza. There is also a concentration of big box stores in Waldorf including Target, Lowes, Home Depot, and Giant Food. In La Plata there is La Plata Shopping Center, Potomac Square Shopping Center, and Hawthorne Shopping Center. Other major shopping centers include Bryans Road Shopping Center in Bryans Road, and Indian Head Shopping Center in Indian Head. There are ten senior housing facilities in the county primarily located in Waldorf and La Plata, with additional facilities in Bryans Road and White Plains. The County s Department of Social Services is located in Port Tobacco. A majority of social service providers are located in La Plata and Waldorf. St Mary s County Most of St. Mary s County s major trip generators and points of interest are located in Leonardtown, Lexington Park, and California. The major employers in the county are Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Patuxent River, St. Mary s Hospital in Leonardtown, DynCorp International in Patuxent River, BAE Systems Technology in California, and Wyle Laboratories in Lexington Park. There are six major educational facilities including the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center in California, the St. Mary s County Technical Center in Leonardtown, the Lexington Park Training Center in Lexington Park, St. Mary s College of Maryland in St. Mary s City, UMUC Patuxent River in Patuxent River, and the College of Southern Maryland in Leonardtown. TLC College of Southern Maryland 18

25 A majority of the county s medical facilities are in Leonardtown including St. Mary s Hospital, St. Mary s Nursing Center, St. Mary s County Health Department, and the BMA of Leonardtown. The Chesapeake Regional Cancer Center is in Charlotte Hall. A majority of the county s shopping centers are in California including Bay Center, Esperanza & San Souci Shopping Center, Hickory Hills Shopping Center, Laurel Glen Shopping Center, Lowe s, and Wildewood Center. In Lexington Park there is Millison Plaza and St Mary s Square. In Charlotte Hall there is Charlotte Hall Square Shopping Center and McKay s Plaza, and in Leonardtown there is Leonardtown Centre. There are six senior housing facilities in the county including Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Charlotte Hall, Cedar Lane Apartments in Leonardtown, New Towne Village in Leonardtown, Victory Woods Senior Housing in California, Wildewood Retirement Village in Wildewood, and Lexington Park Active Adult Community in Lexington Park. The County s Department of Social Services is located in Leonardtown. Other social service providers are dispersed throughout the county in Leonardtown, Lexington Park, Hollywood, and Charlotte Hall. 1.3 STUDENT POPULATIONS The College of Southern Maryland students are demographically diverse representing a range of incomes, races, and age. With campuses in each county, students travel both within counties and between counties to reach campuses Demographic Breakdown of Students One third, or 33 percent, of the students family income range is below $25,000, approximately 40 percent is between $25,000 and $100,000, and about a quarter of students family income is above $100,000. Table 4 shows the breakdown of family income ranges for CSM students. Table 4 CSM Students Family Income Family Income Range Students Percent of Total $0 to $24,999 1,452 33% $25,000 to $49, % $50,000 to $74, % $75,000 to $99, % $100,000 or more 1,076 24% Total 4, % The student body is representative of the region s ethnicity and race. Students identifying as two or more races make up only about two percent more of the student population than the region s population, and those whose ethnicity or race is unknown make up about six percent more of the student population. African Americans are equally represented at CSM compared to the region. Non-minority whites are TLC College of Southern Maryland 19

26 slightly underrepresented with about 58 percent in the student population, compared to 67 percent in the region. Table 5 shows the ethnicity and racial demographics of the CSM population compared to the entire regions demographic. Table 5 CSM Students Race Race CSM Students Percent of Students Southern Maryland Percent of Region American Indian or Alaskan Native % 1, % Asian % 8, % Black or African American 2, % 86, % Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific % % Islander White 4, % 228, % Two or more races % 11, % Non-Resident Alien % 0 Race Unknown % 3, % Total 8, % 340, % The majority of students, 45 percent, are between 18 and 21 years old. Eighteen-year-olds are the most represented age in the student body. Ages 22 to 29 make up the second highest group with 25 percent of the population. Approximately 20 percent of the population is above 30 years old, and less than eight percent is under 18. The average age of the student body is 25. Table 6 shows the age of the CSM student population. Table 6 CSM Students Age Age Students Percent of Total 17 and Under % Years 3, % Years 2, % Years % Years % 60 and Over % Median Age Modal Age Mean Age 25 - Total 8, % TLC College of Southern Maryland 20

27 Almost three fourths of students attending CSM are pursuing an associate degree, typically requiring at least two years of study to complete. Figure 5 shows the entry goal of CSM students. Figure 5 Entry Goal of CSM Students 2.5% 7.3% 9.8% 9.2% Associate Degree Certificate Non-degree Seeking Undecided 71.1% Missing About half of the students attending CSM are preparing for a transfer to another university. Figure 6 shows students reasons for attending CSM. Figure 6 Students Reason for Attending CSM 8.9% 5.8% 13.3% Explore New Career 3.0% 6.8% 12.2% Prepare for First Career Prepare for Transfer Update Job Skills Self-enrichment Other 50.0% Missing The college offers courses at a variety of times to be suitable to its diverse student body. Of the students attending the college, approximately 56 percent of students take credit hours during traditional business hours or before 5pm, 20 percent take them after 5 pm, and 24 percent take them non-traditionally through online classes. TLC College of Southern Maryland 21

28 1.3.2 Travel The College of Southern Maryland has a student body of approximately 8,400 students. The largest of the campuses, La Plata, has 5,781 students attending, while the Leonardtown and Prince Frederick have around 2,000 students attending. The Waldorf Center has the fewest number of students and offers the fewest number of programs. Table 7 shows the total student headcount and each campus headcount. Table 7 Enrollment by Campus Campus Enrollment Students Total Students Enrolled (unduplicated) 5 8,426 La Plata Campus 5,781 Leonardtown Campus 2,277 Prince Frederick Campus 2,199 Waldorf Center 626 While a majority of students, 75 percent, attend only one campus, about 10 percent attend classes at two campuses. Less than one percent of students take classes at three campuses, and no students take classes at all four campuses. CSM also offers online courses to complete a degree or certificate, and about 14 percent of the students enrolled at CSM partake in only online courses. Table 8 shows the number of campuses students attend. Table 8 Number of Campuses Attended Campuses Attended Students Percent of Total One Campus 6, % Two Campuses % Three Campuses % All Four Campuses 0 0.0% Online Courses Only 1, % Total 8, % Table 9 shows the breakdown of the students who take classes at more than one campus. This matrix provides insight into the need for intercampus travel. The highest amount of intercampus travel occurs between La Plata and Waldorf Center, with approximately 315 students, the second highest between La Plata and Leonardtown with 210 students, and the third highest between Prince Frederick and La Plata with 188 students. Over 100 students take classes at both Leonardtown and Prince Frederick. However, fewer than 15 students take classes at both Prince Frederick and Waldorf Center, and Leonardtown and Waldorf Center. 5 The sum of enrollment at each campus is greater than Total Students Enrolled because multiple students attend more than one campus. TLC College of Southern Maryland 22

29 Table 9 Students Attending Two Campuses La Plata Leonardtown Prince Frederick Waldorf Center La Plata 3,331* Leonardtown 210 1,529* Prince Frederick ,378* 10 Waldorf Center * Total 7,219** *Count of students attending just one campus. **Includes only students that attend a physical campus, excludes the 1,165 students enrolled in online courses only. TLC College of Southern Maryland 23

30 1.3.3 Maps of Student Home Origin Distribution The CSM Campuses are centrally located in each county. Overall, most of the students attending CSM are from the more developed areas in the tri-county region. The highest concentrations of students are seen in St. Charles and Waldorf in Charles County, Charlotte Hall and St. Mary s City in St. Mary s County, and Lusby and Solomons in Calvert County. Charles County and St. Mary s County are more represented across the campuses than students from Calvert County. Figure 7 shows the student concentration by zip codes for the four CSM campuses. Figure 7 Student Home Origin for All Campuses TLC College of Southern Maryland 24

31 Students attending the Leonardtown campus in St. Mary s County mainly live in St. Mary s County. There is a small percentage of students from southern Calvert County, which is connected to St. Mary s County via a bridge over the Patuxent River. Within St. Mary s County, students are concentrated around the more populous regions including Lexington Park and St. Mary s City in the southeast, Charlotte Hall in the northwest, and Leonardtown in the south. Figure 8 shows the student concentration by zip codes for the Leonardtown Campus. Figure 8 Student Home Origin for Leonardtown Campus TLC College of Southern Maryland 25

32 Students attending the La Plata Campus mainly live in Charles County. However, there is sizable representation from northern St. Mary s County, near the border with Charles County around Charlotte Hall. Within Charles County, students are concentrated in St. Charles, Waldorf, and La Plata. These areas are more developed than the rest of the county and are in close proximity to the campus. Figure 9 shows the student concentration by zip codes for the La Plata Campus. Figure 9 Students Home Origin for La Plata Campus TLC College of Southern Maryland 26

33 Students attending the Prince Frederick Campus mainly live in Calvert County. There is a small percentage of students from Southern St. Mary s County, which is connected to southern Calvert County via a bridge over the Patuxent River. Within Calvert County, students are concentrated in the more densely populated areas in the south near Lusby and Solomons, and in the north around Huntington and Prince Frederick. Figure 10 shows the student concentration by zip codes for the Prince Frederick Campus. Figure 10 Students Home Origin for Prince Frederick Campus TLC College of Southern Maryland 27

34 Students attending the Waldorf Center for Higher Education mainly live in Charles County. However, there is a small percentage of students from northern St. Mary s County, near the border with Charles County around Charlotte Hall. Within Charles County, students are concentrated around the campus in St. Charles and Waldorf. There is less significant representation from the more central part of the county around La Plata. Figure 11 shows the student concentration by zip codes for the Waldorf Center for Higher Education. Figure 11 Student Home Origin for Waldorf Center for Higher Education TLC College of Southern Maryland 28

35 2 Recommendations The following sections detail the recommendations related to regional transit service for the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Hughesville Campus. The new CSM Hughesville Campus will be constructed in two phases. Phase I will consist of the Center for Trades and Energy Training facility, which is expected to be completed in Phase II will consist of the Health Sciences Center facility and is expected to be completed in More information on these phases was provided in the Existing Conditions chapter. The recommendations are broken out by transit and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) strategies. A two-step process was utilized to develop the transit recommendations. The first step consisted of developing a transit propensity index 6 that used census data to calculate the areas of Southern Maryland that are most suitable for transit. The second step analyzed CSM students travel flows in conjunction with the propensity analysis to determine where there is a current and future need for additional transit service. The TDM strategies were developed through a peer analysis of other local campuses TDM plans, and an analysis of CSM s existing transportation infrastructure and TDM services. 7 The selected strategies will address the existing and future transportation needs of CSM students and employees by enhancing the campus s non-sov transportation options. 2.1 TRANSIT RECOMMENDATIONS The TDP s for the three counties of Charles, St. Mary s, and Calvert, all indicate a need for increasing connections in the region, and specifically between the jurisdictions. These proposed recommendations enhance connection opportunities for riders between the counties by establishing a convenient transfer point, increasing existing service, and creating and expanding routes to serve multiple counties. The Hughesville Campus will serve as a central transit hub for the tri-county region, with services to all three counties connecting there. If the campus becomes directly accessible from MD-5 then the Hughesville Campus should replace the current Charlotte Hall transfer point in St. Mary s County. If the campus is not accessible from MD-5, then Charlotte Hall will remain the transfer point. Based on the future CSM Hughesville Campus transit needs, extensions of four existing bus routes and two new routes are being recommended. These proposed services will provide students from the tricounty region greater access to the campus, and improve intercampus and inter-county connections. These recommendations are described in further detail in the following sections. 6 The transit propensity analysis is a multi-factor model used to identify where in the region there currently exists the highest propensity for transit, or in other words, where ridership is likely to be the highest. 7 TDM Campus Plans included: James Madison University, George Mason University, University of Maryland, and University of Virginia. TLC College of Southern Maryland 29